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First meets third as Inter and AC Milan prepare for first derby of the season

First meets third as Inter and AC Milan prepare for first derby of the season

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The first Derby della Madonnina of the season will clarify whether AC Milan or Inter are ready to challenge for the Scudetto.

By Graham Ruthven

San Siro stands as a monument to everything Italian football was and still is. Once an engineering marvel, the historic stadium, set to be demolished and replaced by 2031, is now living on borrowed time. Some have drawn parallels between its crumbling condition and the state of Italian football as a whole, with the national team still struggling.

AC Milan and Inter are seeking to recapture past glories this season. The former haven’t been Italian champions since 2022 and have suffered something of an identity crisis in recent years, while the latter are trying to move on from the Simone Inzaghi era, which ended in the summer.

Just two points separates the pair ahead of Sunday’s Derby della Madonnina. Inter are sitting top of the Serie A table and have won seven of their last eight league games, but uncertainty remains over their direction under new manager Cristian Chivu. AC Milan are unbeaten in their last 10 league outings, but have drawn a few too many.

Last season was a dismal one for the Rossoneri. Milan could only muster an eighth place finish as they went through three different managers in the space of only a few months. Protests were staged against the club’s board as supporters raised concerns over a lack of leadership at executive level.

Paulo Fonseca was hired to introduce a more modern, dynamic style of play. However, the Portuguese coach never had a group of players capable of playing in this manner, leading to Fonseca’s departure before the end of 2024. His record of 12 wins from 24 games was less than impressive.

Sérgio Conceição’s appointment was meant to represent a return to the default. The former Porto manager set up AC Milan to play on the break, as they had done over a number of seasons under Stefano Pioli. Conceição, however, only lasted until the end of the season as AC Milan failed to improve.

So far, though, the signs with Max Allegri at the helm have been more positive. The 58-year-old has implemented a new 3-5-2 shape that seems to be a good fit for the group of players he inherited. Milan are now tougher to play through and are quicker to get into the attack. The balance is much better.

AC Milan’s typical formation this season

Individuals like Rafael Leão are responding well to Allegri’s methods. Last season, the Portuguese winger’s career at San Siro looked all but over as speculation swirled around his future. This season, though, it’s been a different story with Leão utilised as one of Allegri’s split strikers at the top of the pitch. Nobody has scored more league goals for Milan this season than Leao.

Inter have attacking threats of their own. Lautaro Martínez remains the most accomplished striker in Serie A with Ange-Yoan Bonny delivering as the Argentine’s strike partner following his summer switch from Parma. Bonny has been so impressive he has taken Marcus Thuram’s place in the team.

Inter’s typical formation this season

At their best, Inter are still the most complete team in Serie A. They boast the league’s best midfield unit capable of protecting the backline, controlling games and acting as a valve into the attack. The Nerazzurri are also a solid defensive outfit with Alessandro Bastoni proven as one of the best players in his position anywhere in Europe.

The only thing that could stop Inter this season is their only mortality. They’re old. They were old last season when the demands of competing on three fronts in the Champions League, Serie A, and Coppa Italia eventually caught up with them and they’re still old even after a change of manager.

Chivu has done very little to implement his own ideas since taking over from Inzaghi in the summer. He is using the same 3-5-2 formation that worked so well for his predecessor. He is recycling the same overall approach that came to characterise Inzaghi-ball with Inter still a team that lives for transition moments and looks for verticality from their wing backs.

There are similarities to what Chivu is doing in his first season as Inter boss and what Arne Slot did as Jurgen Klopp’s successor at Liverpool. There is also a warning for Inter in that comparison, though. What happens when the muscle memory of the past regime wears off and the new guy has to bring something different to the table?

Every Derby della Madonnina matters, but Sunday’s clash will be played with even more on the line than usual. It could be a catalyst for either team to mount a serious Scudetto challenge. It could offer the first real indication of which Milan team is on course for a successful season. 

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from Serie A on FotMob this season – with in-depth stat coverage, including xG, shot maps, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

First meets third as Inter and AC Milan prepare for first derby of the season

The first Derby della Madonnina of the season will clarify whether AC Milan or Inter are ready to challenge for the Scudetto.

By Graham Ruthven

San Siro stands as a monument to everything Italian football was and still is. Once an engineering marvel, the historic stadium, set to be demolished and replaced by 2031, is now living on borrowed time. Some have drawn parallels between its crumbling condition and the state of Italian football as a whole, with the national team still struggling.

AC Milan and Inter are seeking to recapture past glories this season. The former haven’t been Italian champions since 2022 and have suffered something of an identity crisis in recent years, while the latter are trying to move on from the Simone Inzaghi era, which ended in the summer.

Just two points separates the pair ahead of Sunday’s Derby della Madonnina. Inter are sitting top of the Serie A table and have won seven of their last eight league games, but uncertainty remains over their direction under new manager Cristian Chivu. AC Milan are unbeaten in their last 10 league outings, but have drawn a few too many.

Last season was a dismal one for the Rossoneri. Milan could only muster an eighth place finish as they went through three different managers in the space of only a few months. Protests were staged against the club’s board as supporters raised concerns over a lack of leadership at executive level.

Paulo Fonseca was hired to introduce a more modern, dynamic style of play. However, the Portuguese coach never had a group of players capable of playing in this manner, leading to Fonseca’s departure before the end of 2024. His record of 12 wins from 24 games was less than impressive.

Sérgio Conceição’s appointment was meant to represent a return to the default. The former Porto manager set up AC Milan to play on the break, as they had done over a number of seasons under Stefano Pioli. Conceição, however, only lasted until the end of the season as AC Milan failed to improve.

So far, though, the signs with Max Allegri at the helm have been more positive. The 58-year-old has implemented a new 3-5-2 shape that seems to be a good fit for the group of players he inherited. Milan are now tougher to play through and are quicker to get into the attack. The balance is much better.

AC Milan’s typical formation this season

Individuals like Rafael Leão are responding well to Allegri’s methods. Last season, the Portuguese winger’s career at San Siro looked all but over as speculation swirled around his future. This season, though, it’s been a different story with Leão utilised as one of Allegri’s split strikers at the top of the pitch. Nobody has scored more league goals for Milan this season than Leao.

Inter have attacking threats of their own. Lautaro Martínez remains the most accomplished striker in Serie A with Ange-Yoan Bonny delivering as the Argentine’s strike partner following his summer switch from Parma. Bonny has been so impressive he has taken Marcus Thuram’s place in the team.

Inter’s typical formation this season

At their best, Inter are still the most complete team in Serie A. They boast the league’s best midfield unit capable of protecting the backline, controlling games and acting as a valve into the attack. The Nerazzurri are also a solid defensive outfit with Alessandro Bastoni proven as one of the best players in his position anywhere in Europe.

The only thing that could stop Inter this season is their only mortality. They’re old. They were old last season when the demands of competing on three fronts in the Champions League, Serie A, and Coppa Italia eventually caught up with them and they’re still old even after a change of manager.

Chivu has done very little to implement his own ideas since taking over from Inzaghi in the summer. He is using the same 3-5-2 formation that worked so well for his predecessor. He is recycling the same overall approach that came to characterise Inzaghi-ball with Inter still a team that lives for transition moments and looks for verticality from their wing backs.

There are similarities to what Chivu is doing in his first season as Inter boss and what Arne Slot did as Jurgen Klopp’s successor at Liverpool. There is also a warning for Inter in that comparison, though. What happens when the muscle memory of the past regime wears off and the new guy has to bring something different to the table?

Every Derby della Madonnina matters, but Sunday’s clash will be played with even more on the line than usual. It could be a catalyst for either team to mount a serious Scudetto challenge. It could offer the first real indication of which Milan team is on course for a successful season. 

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from Serie A on FotMob this season – with in-depth stat coverage, including xG, shot maps, and player ratings. Download the free app here.