Serie A: Will This Be Inter’s Day of Destiny?

AC Milan vs Inter Milan

Inter Milan can as much as nail down the Scudetto when they come face to face with AC Milan in the Derbi di Milano on Sunday.

In his first season in charge at Inter Cristian Chivu is very close to delivering the title, with his team ten points clear at the top of the Serie A table, while Massimilano Allegri’s AC Milan, without European football this year are the nearest challengers.  

I Nerazzurri have had a much busier schedule than Milan, but they were recently humiliated in the Champions League, losing a two leg play-off to Norwegian minnows Bodo Glimt. The Derby di Milano gives the fans a chance to push that to the back of their minds and a win for Inter will surely spark some early title celebrations on the blue and black side of the city.

Inter have pulled away from the chasing pack in impressive style. At the turn of the year Chivu’s men were just one point ahead of Milan, with 2025 champion Napoli a single point further back. But while I Nerazzurri have dropped just two points from their last 15 games, their rivals have slipped away, I Rossoneri dropping seven points from the last six games alone.    

But Milan are unbeaten in the last six Derby di Milanos and their fans will make this clash as hard for the league leaders as you can imagine.   

 

Talking Points

Pavlovic gives Milan steel

I Rossoneri have a strong creative muscle with USA star Christian Pulisic often pulling the strings, and Portuguese forward Rafael Leao is in fine form, joint second in the chase for the Capocannoniere on nine goals and two assists, though five behind Inter Milan captain Lautaro Martinez. Leao scored the injury time second in Milan’s victory away to Cremonese last week, but there was a man-of-the-match performance from centre back Strahinja Pavlovic who snuffed out any threat from the hosts while also scoring the opener for Milan, his fifth goal in 47 games for the club.

The 6ft 4in Serbian international is a powerful presence with superb composure on the ball, and his defensive domination and sound distribution can be a superb springboard for Milan’s forward line. With the evergreen Luka Modric and French international Adrien Rabiot linking defence and attack this is a team with a strong core.          

 

Do Inter have the stomach for the big game?

This SBOTOP writer means no disrespect at all to the players, coaches and fans of Inter Milan; but the supporters in particular must have a nagging doubt that their team might fall on the big occasion after they capitulated spectacularly to Bodo Glimt, not once but twice.   

Inter have been relentless in the league, seeing off Juventus when the Old Lady put them under immense pressure recently and they can expect an equally tough examination from I Rossoneri. Reports in the Italian press have revealed that Chivu gave his players a day off to help them recharge before the derby. Despite crashing out of the Champions League, Inter’s diary is still busy and on Tuesday they played out a 0-0 draw away to Como in the Coppa Italia semi-final first leg, hardly laying a glove on their hosts.  

Inter have been missing skipper and league leading scorer Martinez, who is suffering with a muscle injury on his left leg, though attacking midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu has stepped up, scoring eight league goals, and the Turkish star was on target when Inter beat Genoa last week. A return for Martinez would be a huge boost for I Nerazzurri, but the club has cast doubt over any chances this weekend.         

 

History

Inter have won 32 to AC Milan’s 25 Derby Di Milano’s this century, and there have been 15 draws; but I Rossoneri have been unbeaten in the last six; winning four and drawing two; and when the two clubs met in November a Christian Pulisic tap-in gave AC Milan a 1-0 victory.

With three wins, two draws and one defeat from the last six games AC Milan have been as sound as Inter, who have picked up three wins, one draw and two defeats in that time. In terms of Serie A 2026 results it is a different story though, I Nerazzurri have won their last six while Milan have won three.  

 

Betting Tip

Anything other than a win for I Rossoneri and the Serie A 2026 betting odds will as good as hand the Scudetto to their city rivals, and at odds of 3.35 to pick up all three points it looks difficult…though certainly not impossible. The Draw is at 3.25 and an Inter victory is priced at 2.19. 

AC Milan have enjoyed playing I Nerazzuri in recent times and that will play on the minds of the league leaders and, if they are still suffering shell shock from their Nordic nightmare at the hands of Glimt, then Allegri’s men might just take advantage.  

   

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