Italy - Serie A
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Played
October 7, 2012 7:45 PM BST
Stadio Giuseppe Meazza — Milano
Referee:‬ P. Valeri‎
Attendance:‬ 40155‎
 

AC Milan - Inter Preview: The Nerazzurri will be slight favourites at San Siro despite what Stramaccioni believes

Both sides have had their troubles on and off the pitch this season but this match offers an opportunity for the Lombardy giants to kick-start their campaigns

By Craig Turnbull

More On :  AC Milan, FC Internazionale, AC Milan vs FC Internazionale
Stephan El Shaarawy - Milan
AFP
  PROBABLE LINEUPS

AC MILAN

Abbiati
De Sciglio, Bonera, Zapata, Antonini
De Jong, Ambrosini
Nocerino, El Shaarawy, Emanuelson
Pazzini
INTER

Handanovic
Ranocchia, Samuel, Juan
Zanetti, Gargano, Guarin, Pereira, Nagatomo
Milito, Cassano

It is the first Derby della Madonnina of the season and in terms of importance for either side, the stakes could not be higher. The 'San Zero' hoodoo may be over as both Milan clubs recently recorded victories against Cagliari and Fiorentina respectively, but the frustration felt by fans in recent weeks will pale in comparison to a defeat to their fiercest rivals on Sunday.

Inter coach Andrea Stramaccioni has already played down his side's chances of victory insisting that the Rossoneri are favourites, but whether he is just attempting mind games with under-fire boss Massimiliano Allegri is up for debate, having steered his side to third in Serie A with a 100 per cent record away from home, while Milan lie in 11th position.

Both teams head into this fixture with morale-boosting victories in Europe as Milan saw off Russian champions Zenit St Petersburg 3-2 in the Champions League while Inter overcame Azerbaijani club Neftchi Baku 3-1 in the Europa League on Thursday.

Dutch talisman Wesley Sneijder is a major doubt for Inter having sustained a thigh injury. Rodrigo Palacio, Dejan Stankovic and McDonald Mariga are also expected to miss out while there will be a late fitness test on defender Cristian Chivu, though Inter are unlikely to change from their back three which has served them well thus far.

The Rossoneri are still likely to be without star Brazilian striker Pato, which means Giampaolo Pazzini is in contention to start upfront with in-form Stephan El Shaarawy playing in behind the Italian. Defender Didac Vila and midfielders Sulley Muntari and Rodney Strasser are also unavailable.

  DID YOU KNOW?
  • AC Milan and Inter last shared the spoils 19 games ago, a record which stretches back to October 2004.
  • The Rossoneri's biggest ever win against their bitter rivals was an 8-1 hammering in the Coppa Mauro back in the 1917-18 season.
  • The Diavolo have the upper hand in derbies as in all competitions they have won 81 games to Inter's 76.
  • Inter have had the bragging rights in the last two league clashes winning 4-2 in May as Diego Milito (pictured, right) scored a hat-trick, (the first in a Milan derby since 1953) and a 1-0 victory before that with the Argentine again being the difference.
  • The Nerazzurri's biggest win against their closest opponents was a 5-0 thumping back in February 1910.
  • If Inter score two or more goals against Milan on Sunday, they will have scored over 300 goals against the Rossoneri.

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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
  • AC Milan 2-1 FC Internazionale
    17.56 %
  • AC Milan 1-3 FC Internazionale
    14.16 %
  • AC Milan 0-2 FC Internazionale
    9.68 %
Head to Head
Italy - Serie A ‎(ITA1)‎ Feb 24, 2013 FC Internazionale 1 - AC Milan 1
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  • Match Report
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Italy - Serie A ‎(ITA1)‎ Oct 7, 2012 AC Milan 0 - FC Internazionale 1
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Italy - Serie A ‎(ITA1)‎ May 6, 2012 FC Internazionale 4 - AC Milan 2
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Italy - Serie A ‎(ITA1)‎ Jan 15, 2012 AC Milan 0 - FC Internazionale 1
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Club Friendlies ‎(FR)‎ Aug 18, 2011 AC Milan 0 - FC Internazionale 1
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Last Five Matches
AC Milan
May 19, 2013Siena 1 - AC Milan 2ITA1
May 12, 2013AC Milan 0 - Roma 0ITA1
May 8, 2013Pescara 0 - AC Milan 4ITA1
May 5, 2013AC Milan 1 - Torino 0ITA1
Apr 28, 2013AC Milan 4 - Catania 2ITA1
FC Internazionale
May 19, 2013FC Internazionale 2 - Udinese 5ITA1
May 12, 2013Genoa 0 - FC Internazionale 0ITA1
May 8, 2013FC Internazionale 1 - Lazio 3ITA1
May 5, 2013SSC Napoli 3 - FC Internazionale 1ITA1
Apr 28, 2013Palermo 1 - FC Internazionale 0ITA1
Odds
Returns: Milan £810.00 Bet365 Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200
Returns: Draw £55.00 Bet365 Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200
Returns: Inter £31.00 PaddyPower Sign up to Paddy Power for £250 in free bets
Team News
Available Squads
32Christian AbbiatiGoalkeeper
2Mattia De SciglioDefender
5Philippe MexesDefender
25Daniele BoneraDefender
76Mario Alberto YepesDefender
10Kevin-Prince BoatengMidfielder
18Riccardo MontolivoMidfielder
8Urby EmanuelsonMidfielder
34Nigel De JongMidfielder
22Bojan KrkicStriker
92Stephan El ShaarawyMidfielder
1Marco AmeliaGoalkeeper
59GabrielGoalkeeper
15Francesco AcerbiDefender
17Cristian ZapataDefender
20Ignazio AbateDefender
77Luca AntoniniDefender
8Antonio NocerinoMidfielder
16Mathieu FlaminiMidfielder
21Kevin Constant Midfielder
23Massimo AmbrosiniMidfielder
7RobinhoStriker
11Giampaolo PazziniStriker
1Samir HandanoviçGoalkeeper
4Javier Adelmar ZanettiDefender
23Andrea RanocchiaDefender
25Walter Adrian SamuelDefender
40JuanDefender
55Yuto NagatomoDefender
-CoutinhoMidfielder
19Esteban Matias CambiassoMidfielder
5Walter GarganoMidfielder
22Diego Alberto MilitoStriker
99Antonio CassanoStriker
12Luca CastellazziGoalkeeper
27Vid BelecGoalkeeper
6Matías SilvestreDefender
11Alvaro PereiraMidfielder
42JonathanDefender
-Matteo BianchettiDefender
14Fredy GuarínMidfielder
16Gaby MudingayiMidfielder
20ObiMidfielder
-A. DuncanMidfielder
8Rodrigo PalacioStriker
-Marko LivajaStriker
Players to Watch
Stephan El Shaarawy
Stephan El Shaarawy
Position: Midfielder
Squad Number: 92
Games Goals YC RC
37 16 3 0
The 19-year-old has been in scintillating form for the Rossoneri, showing a maturity which belies his age. While others have faltered, he has got stronger and helped his team out with some important goals. With five strikes in his last four matches, all eyes are on this young starlet to see if he can shine in one of the most intimidating atmospheres in world football.
Antonio Cassano
Antonio Cassano
Position: Striker
Squad Number: 99
Games Goals YC RC
28 8 0 0
Will have a point to prove after leaving Massimiliano Allegri's side in the summer, and has been a vitally important part of the Nerazzurri's rejuvenation in recent weeks leading the scoring charts for Inter with four goals. Milito has struggled for consistency but since Cassano has arrived, the Argentine has rediscovered his form and the pair have created a good partnership already.
Prediction
This match seems impossible to predict how it will go. There is no doubt it will be a tightly contested, cagey affair with everything to play for but the Nerazzurri seem in a slightly better position with Stramaccioni somewhat steadying his side with three straight victories in all competitions. Therefore they should sneak a third consecutive victory against Allegri's men.
Editor's Prediction
Milan 1
Inter 2
Results
ALL MATCHES >>
 
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Edinson Cavani Edinson Cavani
Striker
Napoli 		29 7
Antonio Di Natale Antonio Di Natale
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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