The 2011/12 Milan derby promises to be one of its kinds, as the giants of San Siro hit top gear after early struggles...
A.C Milan will take on cross-city rivals, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Inter-c39567 Milan, in one of the most eagerly awaited fixtures in the Serie A calendar. The game will take place at San Siro on Sunday, January 15th, 2012 at 19:45 GMT.
The game could not have come at a better time, as the two giants of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Italy-c2926 have found their top form, and are geared up for a mouth-watering contest. The Italian Champions are currently leading the league standings alongside Juventus.
On the other hand, the Nerazzurri are in fifth place in the table.
The two teams locked horns in the Italian Super Cup earlier this season, and the Rossoneri got the better off their opponents by a 2-1 margin.
A.C Milan
Milan have put together an excellent run of results, as they remain unbeaten in their last 12 matches. Massimiliano Allegri’s men have been clinical in-front of the goal, and miserly in defence. They have scored 32 goals and have
conceded only eight.
The Rossoneri have had the better off their rivals in the history of the derby, and have claimed 108 wins so far. Milan started the New Year with a comfortable 2-0 win over Atalanta last weekend.
Inter Milan
Claudio Ranieri’s troops have witnessed a huge upturn in form recently, and have registered five straight wins. The Nerazzurri got off to an amazing start in 2012, as they thrashed Parma by 5-0 in their previous league game.
A win in this match will be extremely important, as it will ignite them to catch the leaders. They will be looking to put memories of the last season’s corresponding fixture on their backs, as they suffered a 3-0 humiliation. Inter
currently remain eight points behind leaders, Milan and Juventus.
Team News
A.C Milan
The Champions face a host of injury concerns ahead of the match. http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Gennaro-Gattuso-c14525 have also joined them on the treatment table.
Derby master, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Kevin-Prince-Boateng-c20792 in the trequartista role.
Milan (probable): Abbiati; Abate, Nesta, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Robinho-c31382
Inter Milan
Wesley Sneijder, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Diego-Milito-c11166 is expected to start upfront alongside
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Giampaolo-Pazzini-c14802.
Inter (probable): http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Lucio-c22597, Samuel, Nagatomo; Zanetti, Cambiasso, Sneijder, Alvarez; Milito, Pazzini
Players to Watch
Zlatan Ibrahimovic (A.C Milan)
The Swede remains the most decisive player in Milan’s recent success. Ibra is leading the goal-scoring charts of the season alongside German http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Antonio-Di-Natale-c6306. His partnership with Robinho will be the key in finding the
scalp of his former employers.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Wesley-Sneijder-c36799 (Inter Milan)
The Dutchman makes a timely return for the 2011 Coppa Italia winners. The Nerazzurri were missing his influence in turmoil of the early season. The former Real Madrid star will be a constant threat from set-pieces, and his ability
to provide the strikers with a killer ball will keep the Milan defenders on bay.
Prediction
The derby has rarely been a dull contest, and a winner has been witnessed in all matches played in the last seven years. Given the current form of both sides, it is extremely hard to pick a winner. However, Milan’s strong defence
and blistering strike force will see them home in a close fought contest.
Verdict: 2-1
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