Inter V Milan: Title Credentials To Be Tested in the Milan Derby

It is a big weekend in Italy’s Serie A. All the top six sides are set to meet each other in a weekend of exciting football. Juventus meet Roma on Saturday night and Lazio take on Napoli. But the biggest one of all is unquestionably the match that will take place at the San Siro between Inter and Milan on Sunday night.  

For many a season now Inter have been the dominant force in Italian football. Five Serie A titles in a row including last season’s Champions League triumph has left the Rossoneri lurking in the shadows of their fiercest rivals. Though Milan’s 2007 Champions League victory has meant that it has not all been doom and gloom for the Rossoneri.

In fact, before from last year’s two humiliating derby defeats, since 2005 Inter were only ahead on head to head basis by four wins to three. But, led by Jose Mourinho last season Inter absolutely dominated the Rossoneri in both ties, overall scoring six goals and conceding none.

But, in football things can change dramatically. Milan may have played second fiddle to Inter in the Serie A for the last five years, but things are different this season. This season Milan will actually enter the derby ahead of Inter by a margin of three points.

Not only are the Rossoneri ahead of Inter on points, but things are much more rosy in the red half of Milan compared to the blue half where coach Rafa Benitez has outspokenly commented on his current Inter blues.

Inter have only managed one win in their last four Serie A matches, drawing the other three. The goals have also dried up for Inter this season as the last time the Nerazzurri scored more one than one goal in Serie A match was back on September 22^nd.

Much of Inter’s current struggles are down to the severe injury crisis that has hit the club. Against Brescia last weekend, no less than three Inter players went off injured. Wesley Schneider, Maicon and Walter Samuel all suffered injuries with the latter being ruled out for the season while Maicon and Sneijder are still fighting to be ready for this weekends’ derby.

These recent injury setbacks have only compounded problems for Benitez as he was already without the services of Thiago Motta, Esteban Cambiasso and now Dejan Stankovic who joins this group.

Milan are not without their injury setbacks, though their problems pale in comparison. But, the loss of Pato for six weeks is a major loss especially with some important Champions League ties ahead. Pippo Inzaghi has also come down with injury and will be out for the rest of the season.

But Allegri will sigh with relief knowing that he has got Robinho to call upon and even Ronaldinho if he gets desperate.

With Inter struggling, Milan’s current flirtation with top spot in the standings is made that much sweeter for the fans of the red devils. Though, the club’s climb to the top has not been a steady one.

In recent weeks Allegri’s side has shown significant improvement and are looking more like real title contenders. Though they may be vulnerable at the back, with thirteen goals in the last six matches, Milan are always capable of scoring.

Milan’s main threat in attack is, of course, none other than former Inter star Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Since arriving from Barcelona in September, Ibra has been an effective striker, scoring a number of goals and providing a few assists too. With Pato and Inzaghi out, much will rest upon the big Swede’s shoulders to lead Milan from the front. Though, with this being a home game for Inter, their fans will try to make it as difficult as possible for him.

The form guide will suggest that Milan are the favourites. Yet, as was highlighted in the Rome derby last weekend, standings count for little in such age-old derbies such as these.

It will be an extremely intriguing affair and whoever comes out on top in this contest will be making a loud claim for the title. One suspects that despite Inter’s depleted playing roster, it will be a much closer contest compared to the same fixture last season.

One thing we can expect is that there will be a winner when full time is blown on Sunday night.  For not since January 1^st in 2001 has a Milan derby ended all square.