AC MILAN VS INTER PREVIEW & PREDICTION
The derby of Milan is always a showdown for the followers of Italian football. AC Milan wants to extend the good line against the fellow countryman, while Internazionale is desperate for the shape of the first months of the season.
AC Milan:
When Gennaro Gattuso was appointed as a replacement for the fired Vincenzo Montella, that certainly raised some frowning, but it has now become clear that the former iron devil has the necessary qualities. With Gattuso at the helm, AC Milan is making an unprecedented advance. The upswing was certainly necessary given the dramatic first period of the season and for the supporters of AC Milan it is hoped that there is still time enough to reach the top five, or even the top four. The figures of the last few months speak volumes. AC Milan is now thirteen games unbeaten in all competitions and in the last six matches the Milanese also managed to keep the zero. With the current form it is therefore good. The last three matches in the Serie A were won, Ludogorets was eliminated from the Europa League and mid-week AC Milan managed to win a ticket for the final of the Coppa Italia by eliminating Lazio Roma.
For that duel with Lazio in Rome, the hosts were in advance the favorite to reach the final. The first showdown had ended in a bloodless 0-0 and that’s why Lazio seemed to have the best papers available. After 120 minutes of football in the Italian capital, the glasses stand was still on the board and therefore the penalties had to make the decision. Ricardo Rodriguez and Riccardo Montolivo missed the first two penalties, but then AC Milan managed to win the game, as Lazio Roma missed no less than three penalties. The team of Gattuso will now work with confidence to the showdown with Internazionale, but has a heavy duel in the legs.
For the showdown with Internazionale Gattuso has to deal with some (minor) injuries, but this mainly concerns players who normally start at the bank. AC Milan will therefore appear at the kickoff with a good team. It is also striking that AC Milan is not really dependent on the peak in goal production. Most teams have a much scoring attacker, but at AC Milan it mainly comes from the collective. Patrick Cutrone and Suso are currently leading when it comes to goals with six hits.
Inter:
Internazionale is busy with a season of extremes. The formation of trainer Luciano Spalletti reported surprisingly early in the year at the top of the ranking, but in one way or another the Milanese did not manage to hold on to the level. An unprecedented crisis quickly resulted in a big gap with Napoli and Juventus and Inter will now have to regain the confidence to win a ticket for the Champions League. The gap with Napoli and Juventus has simply become too big, but the third place can still be seen as a realistic goal. The team of Spalletti is on the fourth spot, but the gap with number three AS Roma is only one point. In order to pass AS Roma again in the rankings, Inter will have to start from a different keg. Of the last eleven matches in Serie A, the Milanese won only two and that is simply too little. Those two victories were booked in February and Spalletti hopes to continue the good line now.
Still, the shape is not quite right yet. Home was then won from Bologna and Benevento, not real high flyers, but between those two duels was lost again from Genoa. Last week, Inter managed to defeat Benevento in Milan. The current number twenty of the Serie A could hope for one hour on a stunt, but then Inter put an end to all illusions within a period of four minutes. Milan Skriniar and Andrea Ranocchia put the 2-0 score on the board and that lead was no longer in jeopardy.
For the showdown with AC Milan, Spalletti can use his best potential and that is always an advantage during the preparation for an important game. Tommaso Berni is the only one who suffers from physical discomfort, but Spalletti will certainly not be awake if the reserve keeper is not fit. Positive news is that Mauro Icardi is expected in the base. The top striker missed several matches in the last weeks due to an injury.
PREDICTION: Under 2.5 goals @ 1.72
