Serie A Preview: Inter Milan Vs. Ac Milan

Sunday, January 24, 2010, 20:45 CET.

Ac Milan have gone in-form and they are now challenging off-form Inter for the title. The last meeeting between these two sides had Inter win 4-0, but now Milan are looking to win the Serie A.

Inter

Inter have not made the greatest to start to the new year, and now the rosonneri can help the title race become wide open again if they win on Sunday. Ac Milan also have a game in hand where they can catch up with Inter.

Inter won 1-0 against Chievo at t he start of the month, and then they had to come from behind to beat Siena 4-3 and draw Bari 2-2.

The situation is almost the same as the Milan Derby at the start of the season. Inter had tied Bari 1-1, while Ronaldinho had helped Milan defeat Siena. Inter recently drew Bari 2-2 and Ronaldinho got a hat trick against Siena.

Milan

Milan have had a great start to the second half of the season, winning 3 in a row, including an impressive 3-0 victory against Juventus.

If the rosonneri defeat Inter on Sunday and win their game in hand against Fiorentina, they will be tied with Inter on 46 points.

At the start of the season, Milan were starting to be written off, they had taken just 10 points from a possible 20 by October 4th.

But Milan have had a huge turnaround, losing just once since September, and winning all four of their matches in all competitions this month.

Borrielo's goals have made up for Milan missing Pato through injury, while Ronaldinho is on red hot form of late.

Form Guide

Inter

January 16 v Bari (A) - DREW 2-2 (Serie A)

January 9 v Siena (H) - WON 4-3 (Serie A)

January 6 v Chievo (A) - WON 1-0 (Serie A)

December 20 v Lazio (H) - WON 1-0 (Serie A)

December 16 v Livorno (H) - WON 1-0 (Coppa Italia)

Milan

January 17 v Siena (H) - WON 4-0 (Serie A)

January 13 v Novara (H) - WON 2-1 (Coppa Italia)

January 10 v Juventus (A) - WON 3-0 (Serie A)

January 6 v Genoa (H) - WON 5-2 (Serie A)

December 13 v Palermo (H) - LOST 2-0 (Serie A)

Inter Team News

Thiago Motta and Dejan Stankovic are both doubts while Sulley Muntari also picked up a thigh problem in training on Wednesday.

Eto'o is at the African Nations Cup, so  Pandev will be able to start again and he must try to impress his coach. Cristian Chivu remains sidelined with a fractured skull.

AC Milan Team News

Nesta reamins a doubt for Milan, having picked up a muscle strain in last weekend's game versus Siena.

Pato is still out for injury, meaning Becham is expected to continue to play on the right side of Milan's front three.

Clarence Seedorf, Mathieu Flamini and Gianluca Zambrotta are all doubts.

Probable Inter Milan Line-up (4-2-3-1): Julio Cesar, Maicon, Walter Samuel, Lucio, Ivan Cordoba, Javier Zanetti, Esteban Cambiasso, Mario Balotelli, Wesley Sneijder, Goran Pandev, Diego Milito.

Probable AC Milan Line-up (4-3-3): Dida, Ignazio Abate, Thiago Silva, Alessandro Nesta, Luca Antonini, Andrea Pirlo, Gennaro Gattuso, Massimo Ambrosini, Ronaldinho, Marco Borriello, David Beckham.

Key Players

Goran Pandev (Inter)

Pandev has started three games with Inter since joining from Lazio. With Eto'o out at the African Cup of Nations it is expected he will continue to start. Pandev proved most influential, he assisted Walter Samuel in an injury-time winner for Inter to come back against Siena, and Pandev scored his first goal for the nerazurri against Bari, sparking a spirited comeback.

Ronaldinho (AC Milan)

The Brazilian has gone in-form in late, scoring a hat trick in Milan's 4-0 win over Siena. He leads the way in the Seria A with eight assists, and he has also scored nine goals in the league this season. He may not have returned to his form with Barcelona, but he is still playing very well, scoring six goals in his last three games.

Prediction: Milan have not won this derby in a while, but they have hit their stride of late. While Inter is struggling to salvage points, but something they can take from their slump is that they are managing to salvage amazing comebacks. Milan would be considered favourites by many with their recent form, but Inter are playing at home and they have pulled off several good comebacks this month.

Inter Milan 2-2 AC Milan