The Scudetto, UEFA Champions League hopes, and the jobs of both the managers stand at stake, as the two Milan giants line-up for the final San Siro showdown of the season.
Inter Milan (6) will host AC Milan (2) in matchday 37 encounter of the 2011/12 Serie A on Sunday, May 6th at 18:45 GMT.
The Nerazzurri suffered a heart breaking 3-1 defeat at the hands of Parma, while the Rossoneri come into the game soaring on the back of three consecutive victories.
The last meeting of the two teams in Serie A, ended in a 1-0 victory for Inter Milan, earlier this season.
Inter Milan
Andrea Stramaccioni’s spectacular run came to an end with the defeat at the hands of Parma, and the Nerazzurri have been shaken back to reality by the 3-1 shocker. The loss has also compromised the Beneamata’s contention for the UEFA Champions league qualification
spot, and the club has but bleak hopes of reaching the spot. The Parma bashing has also put the position of the young caretaker manager under shadow of doubt, and the tactician will rightly look at the derby win, as his last hopes of securing a permanent http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Job-c18684
at Inter’s senior side.
The history favours the Nerazzurri but only just, as the team has won 57 matches against the Rossoneri as opposed to 49 defeats. Moreover, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Diego-Milito-c11166 has also scored three times in the last five matches against the Diavolo. However, it is fairly evident
that in a derby game with the added intensity of so much at stake for both teams, the stats stand for nothing. The Nerazzurri may have dominated the Milan derbies under Jose Mourinho and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Mancini-c23323, but the club will have to give its very best to meet
the challenge from AC Milan.
However, a win against the Rossoneri will renew their hopes of a place in the European place, and can give them enough momentum to go through http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Lazio-c39775 in their next game as well.
AC Milan
The Diavolo are just one point behind Juventus in the race to the Scudetto, and will need three points from the game against the city rivals to realistically stay in contention of the Serie A title. While hopelessness means death hope is a strong motivator,
and that is exactly what the Juve-Lecce stalemate has provided the Champions.
The Rossoneri are more pumped up than ever after reclaiming their hopes of the Scudetto, thanks to a Bianconeri slip. They will pounce on the Nerazzurri with all they are worth, and will look to send jitters to the Old Lady’s nerves with a resolute performance
against their rivals.
Massimiliano Allegri is currently on a three match winning streak, and will have the winning momentum to his side when they enter San Siro. The Diavolo will pin their hopes on their most prolific attack, which has scored a massive 70 goals in the 36 league
matches.
Team News
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Inter-c39567 Milan
Andrea Stramaccioni will welcome the return of Captain http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Cristian-Chivu-c9519 and
striker http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Luc-Castaignos-c22500 will remain out due to injuries.
Expected Starting Line-up: http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Julio-Cesar-c19961, Maicon, Lucio, Samuel, Zanetti, Guarin, Cambiasso, Poli, Sneijder, Alvarez, and Milito.
AC Milan
Massimiliano Allegri will be relieved to see the indignant players coming back to the squad ahead of the derby match. Right-back http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Mark-van-Bommel-c24148 will play the game, having missed the Atalanta game for rest, while Urby Emanuelson
is also expected to make his return on the bench. Unfortunately, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Thiago-c34888 Silva’s hopes of making it into the match have been shelved.
Moreover, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Filippo-Inzaghi-c13777.
Expected starting Line-up: Abbiati, Abate, Nesta, Bonera, Antonini, Nocerino, Van Bommel, Muntari, Boateng, Cassano, and Ibrahimovic.
Players to Watch:
Diego Milito (Inter Milan)
The player has shaken off the bad form that was beginning to soil his career, and is back to the centre stage of attack for the Beneamata. The striker is an especially formidable asset for the team in the particular clash as he has scored thrice in the last
five matches against the Rossoneri, and is also the team’s top goalscorer.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Zlatan-Ibrahimovic-c38029 (AC Milan)
The Swede has led the attack of the Diavolo the whole season, and is currently one of the most feared strikers in all of Europe. The aggressor is not just the star of the moment, but also the frontrunner for Italian Golden Boot. However, the striker has
received much criticism for his lack of scoring in big matches, and towards the end of the season. This will be the perfect opportunity for the striker to silence his critics, and wash away the stain from his otherwise impeccable career.
Predictions
The match will be the last big bang of the season before it comes to a close, and promises to be an absolute thriller. The last 14 clashes between the two titans have not ended in a draw, and eight players have been sent off in the last seven Milan derbies.
This evidences the extreme intensity that is a permanent feature of a match between the two giants. The contest promises to be a nerve wrecking and adrenaline pumping spectacle of Italian football, and while the Rossoneri will start as favourites, the three
points will belong to the most sweat-ready and die hard team in the field.
Prediction: 1-3.
Tags: