[Portman]

Serie A 2006/2007 - Day 28

Inter v Milan

Sunday, 11th of March 2007

Time: 14:00 (UK), 15:00 (IT)

OK guys. The derby is back. The match after the Celtic and Valencia important matches in the CL for the Milano teams.

Maicon, Cambiasso, Vieira and Mancini are out (the last one won't be on the bench).
We're 3 points away from the CL spots so we must win this one.

Forza Milan!

This post has been edited by Portugal: Mar 5 2007, 04:28 PM

[han2503]

Serie A Preview: Internazionale-AC Milan

The Derby della Madonnina, which is always a match to be cherished, occurs once again this Sunday.


When: Sunday March 11, 15:00 (CET)

Where: Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, Milan, Italy


BACKGROUND

Theoretically, there is a home team and an away team for this match. Inter will get the former title, while Milan will be the latter. In actuality, however, with both clubs playing in their home stadium they have shared for many years, there is no real distinction between who has the advantage in terms of crowd favoritism, as the stadium will be packed with thousands of people wearing both red and blue in addition to the black each team sports on their respective kits.

When these two first met back in late October, is was one of the most thrilling matches to ever take place between these two rivals, which is really saying something. Inter stormed out to a 3-0 lead with Zlatan Ibrahimovic finishing a full-field team move just after the restart.

Clarence Seedorf responded with a deflected strike three minutes later, and Milan finally had a bit of bite behind their bark. The ever-controversial Marco Materazzi restored the three-goal cushion in the 68th minute, with Milan’s defense seemingly nowhere to be found.

Alberto Gilardino got his first goal of the season with a well placed header in the 75th, and Milan were now pouring forward with constant pressure on the Inter goal. Kakà, as he has since continued to do, scored late to make it just a one-goal lead, but Inter were able to hang on for the win.

CURRENT FORM

Inter (W D W, 1st place in Serie A)

After setting a new European record for consecutive victories at seventeen, that streak was halted two weeks ago by Udinese. They started a new streak last weekend with a win over Livorno, but then crashed out of the Champions League (which was their main aim this season) against Valencia this week. The match was marred by violence at the end, with a full scale brawl breaking out between the two sides.

Milan (W D W, 6th place in Serie A)

The Rossoneri are just three points back of fourth place, which comes with a Champions League qualification spot for next season, and that is their main aim domestically.

On the current European front, they are still alive in the Champions League after Kakà scored a wonder-goal in extra-time against Celtic on Wednesday.

TEAM NEWS

Inter will have several players missing through injury. They are Patrick Vieira, Esteban Cambiasso and Nicolas Burdisso, whose nose was fractured during the fracas after the Valencia match. Also, Douglas Maicon is suspended.

Milan must do without Alessandro Costacurta, Alessandro Nesta, Kakhaber Kaladze, Marcos Cafu and Serginho.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Inter) – He has played incredibly well after the summer transfer from Juventus. Milan almost purchased him, and he will be eager to prove why they should have.

Ronaldo (Milan) – He will be wearing red and black rather than blue and black for the first ever in a Milan derby, after having achieved iconic status in his previous spell with Inter. The emotions will be evident, but don’t expect him to let that deter his ability to score goals.

POSSIBLE STARTING XI’s

Inter (4-4-2): Julio Cesar; Zanetti, Cordoba, Materazzi, Grosso; Stankovic, Dacourt, Maxwell, Figo; Cruz, Ibrahimovic

Milan (4-3-1-2): Dida; Oddo, Bonera, Maldini, Jankulovski; Gattuso, Pirlo, Seedorf; Kakà; Gilardino, Ronaldo

PREDICTION

This match will be one for the ages, as the Milan derby usually is. Both clubs are on fire in domestic play, and Milan cannot allow their eternal rivals to win both encounters this season. With the added enticement of Ronaldo playing, this will be a very entertaining affair.

Inter 1-2 Milan

Joel Whitehead