[Serie A] Milan AC Inter Milan (6 Viewers)
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Serie A Preview: Milan-Inter
One of world football’s classic derby clashes takes place on Friday evening, a match that will give an indication of who will end up in second place in Serie A.
BACKGROUND
With the World Cup taking place this summer it becomes more important than ever to avoid having to play Champions League preliminary matches in August. Most Milan and Inter players will in fact be involved in the tournament and they will undoubtedly appreciate a long summer of rest, depending also on how far their respective teams go. The two Milan clubs have had very similar seasons in the league, both having gone through bad periods of form and also good ones, and they have “swapped” second place and third place with each other frequently. Milan’s points haul is the same as last season at this time, while Inter have twelve more, but still have two less than their neighbours. But while that would have been enough for both teams to compete for the league title last season, Juve have proved unstoppable this term, and have started slowing down only recently. The Bianconeri still hold a 7-point lead over Milan with five matches to go, but the Rossoneri might regret not having won their recent game against second-from-last Lecce, which they lost 1-0. Had they won the gap would have shrinked to a mere 4 points.
All in all Milan seem to have given up on the league for a while now and to put their minds on the Champions League. In a mouth-watering semi-final they will meet Barcelona in what will be a clash between the two most in-form sides in Europe, even though Barça have been stumbling a little lately themselves. That match is the reason this match and Barcelona-Villarreal have been pulled back a day, so both the teams can prepare this semi-final better. The moods in the two Milan camps ahead of this derby are quite opposite, as Milan are going through an excellent period of form where they are scoring truckloads of goals and are preparing for an epic battle against what’s probably the best team in Europe. Inter meanwhile are still shell-shocked at their Champions League elimination against Villarreal, even though they qualified for the Coppa Italia final, where like last season they will face Roma. Club owner Moratti has expressed real bitterness at yet another forgettable season and has hinted he will sell the club if someone willing to invest some serious cash and who has his same passion would be available (the difficulty of finding such a person makes that unlikely to happen). It’s easy to see why he’s upset; Inter had a real chance to reach the Champions League final this season and as always they failed at the most important moment.
In many ways this match could have repercussions on Inter’s future club structure, even though no one will admit it. But if the players once again slump their way through the pitch in this difficult match like they did against Villarreal, it will be a further indication that coach Mancini doesn’t have a real grip on the squad, like some people have suggested. It’s obvious that there are ways and ways of losing. If Inter once again go down without a fight against a tough opponent, and there’s no doubt that Milan are better than Villarreal, some people within the club might decide that enough is enough and that that was the last drop. However a victory would be a huge morale booster and would, along with a second place finish, strengthen the coach’s bid to stay at the helm next season, even though Moratti has confirmed his trust in him no matter what. He’s even suggested that the players turned their back on Mancini during the Villarreal game. This crucial match will probably give further hints as to Inter’s internal strength and togetherness, not so much in terms of the result but most of all in terms of the way it comes about.
TEAM NEWS
Milan
Milan have everyone available at the moment.
Inter
Wome and Cesar haven’t been called up after their woeful displays against Udinese in the Coppa Italia, while Cruz is suspended.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Andriy Shevchenko (Milan)
It’s hard to pick out a single most in-form Milan player at the moment, but the Ukrainian Golden Ball winner is usually a dead cert to score against Inter. With him on the pitch Inter practically start with a 1-0 disadvantage. However with an eye on the Barcelona match Ancelotti might decide to rest him. Still, a derby is a derby and it holds a particular significance because of the importance of the objective the two teams are chasing. While he may not start the match this brilliant and fearless striker might play some sort of role coming on as a substitute. The Champions League top-scorer may well be the most complete target man playing in Europe right now.
Adriano (Inter)
The only time the Brazilian came up big in an important game for Inter this season was the December match against the Rossoneri, when he opened the scoring from the penalty spot and scored the winner in injury time. One of the very few bright spots in his season. Most of the time he has been hugely disappointing, revealing himself to be a mentally fragile and inconsistent player. However anyone who has seen his goals at the last Confederation Cup and the beginning of last season with Inter, knows he can do fantastic things. His potential is unlimited, so Inter should hold onto him like Milan did with Shevchenko, who is a few years older than him and wasn’t exactly a world-beater in his first few seasons at Milan.
POSSIBLE STARTING XI’s
Milan (4-3-1-2):
Dida; Cafu, Nesta, Maldini, Serginho; Ambrosini, Pirlo, Seedorf; Kaká; Shevchenko, Gilardino.
Inter (4-4-2):
Toldo; J. Zanetti, Cordoba, Samuel, Burdisso; Figo, Cambiasso, Pizarro, Stankovic; Adriano, Martins.
PREDICTION
Milan are favourites to win this match, but much will depend on who Ancelotti will play. Rumour has it he may start with Gilardino as a lone striker in consideration of the Barcelona match, and in that case Inter have a better chance. Otherwise it will be very tough for the Nerazzurri. In the end neither side will probably be too depressed with a draw.
Milan-Inter 1-1
One of world football’s classic derby clashes takes place on Friday evening, a match that will give an indication of who will end up in second place in Serie A.
BACKGROUND
With the World Cup taking place this summer it becomes more important than ever to avoid having to play Champions League preliminary matches in August. Most Milan and Inter players will in fact be involved in the tournament and they will undoubtedly appreciate a long summer of rest, depending also on how far their respective teams go. The two Milan clubs have had very similar seasons in the league, both having gone through bad periods of form and also good ones, and they have “swapped” second place and third place with each other frequently. Milan’s points haul is the same as last season at this time, while Inter have twelve more, but still have two less than their neighbours. But while that would have been enough for both teams to compete for the league title last season, Juve have proved unstoppable this term, and have started slowing down only recently. The Bianconeri still hold a 7-point lead over Milan with five matches to go, but the Rossoneri might regret not having won their recent game against second-from-last Lecce, which they lost 1-0. Had they won the gap would have shrinked to a mere 4 points.
All in all Milan seem to have given up on the league for a while now and to put their minds on the Champions League. In a mouth-watering semi-final they will meet Barcelona in what will be a clash between the two most in-form sides in Europe, even though Barça have been stumbling a little lately themselves. That match is the reason this match and Barcelona-Villarreal have been pulled back a day, so both the teams can prepare this semi-final better. The moods in the two Milan camps ahead of this derby are quite opposite, as Milan are going through an excellent period of form where they are scoring truckloads of goals and are preparing for an epic battle against what’s probably the best team in Europe. Inter meanwhile are still shell-shocked at their Champions League elimination against Villarreal, even though they qualified for the Coppa Italia final, where like last season they will face Roma. Club owner Moratti has expressed real bitterness at yet another forgettable season and has hinted he will sell the club if someone willing to invest some serious cash and who has his same passion would be available (the difficulty of finding such a person makes that unlikely to happen). It’s easy to see why he’s upset; Inter had a real chance to reach the Champions League final this season and as always they failed at the most important moment.
In many ways this match could have repercussions on Inter’s future club structure, even though no one will admit it. But if the players once again slump their way through the pitch in this difficult match like they did against Villarreal, it will be a further indication that coach Mancini doesn’t have a real grip on the squad, like some people have suggested. It’s obvious that there are ways and ways of losing. If Inter once again go down without a fight against a tough opponent, and there’s no doubt that Milan are better than Villarreal, some people within the club might decide that enough is enough and that that was the last drop. However a victory would be a huge morale booster and would, along with a second place finish, strengthen the coach’s bid to stay at the helm next season, even though Moratti has confirmed his trust in him no matter what. He’s even suggested that the players turned their back on Mancini during the Villarreal game. This crucial match will probably give further hints as to Inter’s internal strength and togetherness, not so much in terms of the result but most of all in terms of the way it comes about.
TEAM NEWS
Milan
Milan have everyone available at the moment.
Inter
Wome and Cesar haven’t been called up after their woeful displays against Udinese in the Coppa Italia, while Cruz is suspended.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Andriy Shevchenko (Milan)
It’s hard to pick out a single most in-form Milan player at the moment, but the Ukrainian Golden Ball winner is usually a dead cert to score against Inter. With him on the pitch Inter practically start with a 1-0 disadvantage. However with an eye on the Barcelona match Ancelotti might decide to rest him. Still, a derby is a derby and it holds a particular significance because of the importance of the objective the two teams are chasing. While he may not start the match this brilliant and fearless striker might play some sort of role coming on as a substitute. The Champions League top-scorer may well be the most complete target man playing in Europe right now.
Adriano (Inter)
The only time the Brazilian came up big in an important game for Inter this season was the December match against the Rossoneri, when he opened the scoring from the penalty spot and scored the winner in injury time. One of the very few bright spots in his season. Most of the time he has been hugely disappointing, revealing himself to be a mentally fragile and inconsistent player. However anyone who has seen his goals at the last Confederation Cup and the beginning of last season with Inter, knows he can do fantastic things. His potential is unlimited, so Inter should hold onto him like Milan did with Shevchenko, who is a few years older than him and wasn’t exactly a world-beater in his first few seasons at Milan.
POSSIBLE STARTING XI’s
Milan (4-3-1-2):
Dida; Cafu, Nesta, Maldini, Serginho; Ambrosini, Pirlo, Seedorf; Kaká; Shevchenko, Gilardino.
Inter (4-4-2):
Toldo; J. Zanetti, Cordoba, Samuel, Burdisso; Figo, Cambiasso, Pizarro, Stankovic; Adriano, Martins.
PREDICTION
Milan are favourites to win this match, but much will depend on who Ancelotti will play. Rumour has it he may start with Gilardino as a lone striker in consideration of the Barcelona match, and in that case Inter have a better chance. Otherwise it will be very tough for the Nerazzurri. In the end neither side will probably be too depressed with a draw.
Milan-Inter 1-1
