1 vs 1
Played
February 24, 2013 10:45 PM EAT
Stadio Giuseppe Meazza — Milano
Referee:‬ P. Mazzoleni‎
Attendance:‬ 79341‎
 

Inter-AC Milan Preview: Balotelli return sets stage for a fiery Derby della Madonnina

The Italian striker has had an electric start to his career with the Rossoneri and will be hopeful for momentum to continue against one of his former clubs

By Tom Webber

More On :  Inter, Milan, Inter vs Milan
Mario Balotelli - Milan
AFP
  PROBABLE LINEUPS


INTER

Handanovic
Zanetti, Chivu, Juan, Nagatomo
Kuzmanovic, Kovacic, Cambiasso
Guarin
Palacio, Cassano
AC MILAN
AC Milan
Abbiati
Abate, Zapata, Mexes, Constant
Montolivo, Ambrosini, Muntari
Bojan, Balotelli, El Shaarawy

Inter host an AC Milan side which includes former Nerazzurri star Mario Balotelli, as both clubs target victory at the San Siro to mount a push for automatic Champions League qualification.

Andrea Stramaccioni has some new faces of his own as, despite being January additions to the Inter ranks, Zdravko Kuzmanovic and Mateo Kovacic have already become regulars in the starting XI. The pair should both feature from kick off but with Alvaro Pereira suspended Dejan Stankovic could be called in to provide more experience in midfield.

Andrea Ranocchia is not expected to feature due to injury, so Christian Chivu will return to the fold, with Yuto Nagatomo beginning the game from left-back having been rested during the midweek Europa League win over Cluj.

Mario Balotelli will make his return to the Derby della Madonnina, though this time he will feature on the side of the Rossoneri. The striker was ineligible for Wednesday's victory against Barcelona and could be supported in attack by on-loan Blaugrana talent Bojan.

With Antonio Nocerino, Mathieu Flamini and Nigel de Jong all sidelined, Massimiliano Allegri is unlikely to make changes to his midfield trio.

  DID YOU KNOW?
  • Inter have won the last three meetings between these two sides, two of which ended 1-0.
  • A fourth-minute goal from Walter Samuel handed the Nerazzurri all the points in the reverse of the fixture earlier this season.
  • Andrea Stramaccioni's men are undefeated in their last 10 home matches in Serie A.
  • Zdravko Kuzmanovic and Mateo Kovacic (pictured right) could both make their Derby della Madonnina debut this weekend.
  • Milan sit in third position in the table, just one point above their fifth-placed opponents.
  • The Rossoneri last shared the spoils with Inter 20 games ago, a record which stretches back to October 2004.
  • Milan hold the upper hand in terms of derby wins, boasting 81 triumphs to their arch-rival's 77.
  • Massimiliano Allegri's men are currently on an eight-game undefeated run in the league.

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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
  • Inter 0-2 Milan
    18.95 %
  • Inter 1-2 Milan
    13.52 %
  • Inter 1-3 Milan
    10.94 %
Head to Head
Italy - Serie A ‎(ITA1)‎ Feb 24, 2013 Inter 1 - Milan 1
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Italy - Serie A ‎(ITA1)‎ Oct 7, 2012 Milan 0 - Inter 1
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Italy - Serie A ‎(ITA1)‎ May 6, 2012 Inter 4 - Milan 2
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Italy - Serie A ‎(ITA1)‎ Jan 15, 2012 Milan 0 - Inter 1
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Club Friendlies ‎(FR)‎ Aug 18, 2011 Milan 0 - Inter 1
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Last Five Matches
Inter
May 19, 2013Inter 2 - Udinese 5ITA1
May 12, 2013Genoa 0 - Inter 0ITA1
May 8, 2013Inter 1 - Lazio 3ITA1
May 5, 2013Napoli 3 - Inter 1ITA1
Apr 28, 2013Palermo 1 - Inter 0ITA1
Milan
May 19, 2013Siena 1 - Milan 2ITA1
May 12, 2013Milan 0 - Roma 0ITA1
May 8, 2013Pescara 0 - Milan 4ITA1
May 5, 2013Milan 1 - Torino 0ITA1
Apr 28, 2013Milan 4 - Catania 2ITA1
Odds
Returns: Inter $35.00 Ladbrokes Sign up today with Ladbrokes and get a $20 welcome bonus!
Returns: Draw $34.00 Ladbrokes Sign up today with Ladbrokes and get a $20 welcome bonus!
Returns: Milan $20.50 Ladbrokes Sign up today with Ladbrokes and get a $20 welcome bonus!
Team News
Available Squads
1Samir HandanoviçGoalkeeper
4Javier Adelmar ZanettiDefender
23Andrea RanocchiaDefender
55Yuto NagatomoDefender
40JuanDefender
11Ricardo Gabriel ÁlvarezMidfielder
14Fredy GuarínMidfielder
19Esteban Matias CambiassoMidfielder
5Walter GarganoMidfielder
8Rodrigo PalacioStriker
99Antonio CassanoStriker
27Vid BelecGoalkeeper
84Juan Pablo CarrizoGoalkeeper
26Cristian ChivuDefender
33Ibrahima MbayeDefender
42JonathanDefender
5Dejan StankovicMidfielder
-Ezequiel SchelottoMidfielder
8Mateo KovačićMidfielder
8Zdravko KuzmanovicMidfielder
24Marco BenassiMidfielder
-Simone PasaMidfielder
9Tommaso RocchiStriker
32Christian AbbiatiGoalkeeper
2Mattia De SciglioDefender
5Philippe MexesDefender
17Cristian ZapataDefender
20Ignazio AbateDefender
4Sulley Ali MuntariMidfielder
8Antonio NocerinoMidfielder
10Kevin-Prince BoatengMidfielder
18Riccardo MontolivoMidfielder
45Mario BalotelliStriker
92Stephan El ShaarawyMidfielder
1Marco AmeliaGoalkeeper
59GabrielGoalkeeper
-Bartosz SalamonDefender
76Mario Alberto YepesDefender
77Luca AntoniniDefender
2Cristian ZaccardoDefender
12Bakaye TraoréMidfielder
23Massimo AmbrosiniMidfielder
11Giampaolo PazziniStriker
9L. NiangGoalkeeper
22Bojan KrkicStriker
Results
ALL MATCHES >>
 
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Edinson Cavani Edinson Cavani
Striker
Napoli 		29 7
Antonio Di Natale Antonio Di Natale
Striker
Udinese 		23 4
Pablo Daniel Osvaldo Pablo Daniel Osvaldo
Striker
Roma 		16 2
Stephan El Shaarawy Stephan El Shaarawy
Midfielder
Milan 		16 0
Germán Denis Germán Denis
Striker
Atalanta 		15 5