Italian Serie A Preview: AC Milan – Inter Milan (Part 2)
Team News
Inter Milan
Inter will be without the services of Maicon, Sulley Muntari, McDonald Mariga, Thiago Motta, Suazo and Walter Samuel. Rafa Benitez would have been delighted with the news that Esteban Cambiasso, Julio Cesare and Wesley Sneijder are back
in the training with the rest of the squad. Where Cambiasso and Cesare will definitely play, Sneijder is facing a race against the time to be fit for the tie. Nonetheless, the Dutch maestro will definitely be on the bench at the least.
Expected Formation
Rafa Benitez is likely to use a 4-3-3 formation with Diego Milito leading the line. Samuel Eto’o and Philippe Coutinho will flank the Argentine. In the midfield, Cambiasso, Sneijder and Stankovic will look to outplay the Rossoneri central
players. In Samuel’s absence, Ivan Cordoba will partner Lucio in the heart of defence while Chivu and Santon will take the full back positions.
Probable Line up
Julio Cesar, Davide Santon, Ivan Cordoba, Lucio, Cristian Chivu, Dejan Stankovic, Esteban Cambiasso, Wesley Sneijder, philippe Coutinho, Samuel Eto’o, Diego Milito.
AC Milan
Allegri has his own share of injuries to worry about although they are not even close to Nerazzuri woes. Massimo Oddo, Gianluca Zambrotta, Alexandre Pato and Pippo Inzaghi are out injured. Inzaghi has suffered a season ending injury and
many are already speculating the end of a truly legendary career.
Expected Formation
In Pato’s absence, Allegri is likely to field a 4-3-1-2 formation. Robinho and Zlatan Ibrahimovic will lead the line for Rossoneri while Ronaldinho will return to the first team in a trequartista position. Andrea Pirlo will return to the
team after a two match rest and will ably be supported by Clarence Seedorf and Massimo Ambrosini. Alessandro Nesta and Thiago Silva will line up in front of Christian Abbiati in the Milan goal while Ignazio Abate and Luca Antonini will start in the full back
positions.
Probable Line up
Christian Abbiati, Ignazio Abate, Alessandro Nesta, Thiago Silva, Luca Antonini, Massimo Ambrosini, Clarence Seedorf, Andrea Pirlo, Ronaldinho, Robinho, Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Key Players
Ronaldinho
After a wonderful campaign last year, Ronaldinho has gone quite once again. The vintage Ronaldinho one might never be seen again but the Ronnie of 2010 is still a genius when it comes to passing a ball. The Brazilian has lost the first
team place along with his form and only finds himself playing because of Pato’s injury. The Brazilian can be untouchable on his day and Allegri will certainly be hoping for a Ronaldinho show at this day.
Samuel Eto’o
The author has run out of superlatives praising this beauty of a player. Eto’o is the Nerazzuri top scorer with 15 goals in all competitions while Diego Milito ranks second with just three – The statistics speak for themselves.
Prediction
The game would be a spectacle with both sides creating chances a plenty. The Milanese giants oozing class all across the pitch, the game is inexplicably hard to call. Inter might be misfiring at the moment but in Derbies, form usually
goes out the window. The two evenly matched sides will play out an entertaining 2 – 2 draw.
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