One of the most interesting fixtures in the Serie A calendar takes place at San Siro this weekend as Milan take on their fiercest rivals, Inter. The latest edition of the famous Derby della Madonnina could already determine the fate of Milan’s faint title hopes.
Despite going unbeaten in his first eight league games in charge of Milan (W5, D3), Ruben Amorim is responsible for the club’s second-weakest start to the season since 2019/20. Only 18 points from the opening nine rounds left the Rossoneri seven points adrift of joint leaders Inter and Lazio ahead of the weekend.
With that in mind, anything other than a win in this mouth-watering showdown would likely spell the end of Milan’s pursuit of their landmark 20th Scudetto. However, it’s easier said than done, especially given Inter’s form heading into this meeting. Cristian Chivu’s men have enjoyed a near-flawless start to their title defense.
Inter left it late to beat out-of-sorts Venezia in midweek Serie A action, as two own goals from the Winged Lions beyond the 75th minute propelled them to a 2-0 victory. The Nerazzurri have dropped points once so far this season (W8, D1) and are currently level on points with Lazio and four clear of third-placed Roma.
Match Preview
Milan
Amorim’s unbeaten Serie A record ended abruptly on Wednesday as Bologna thrashed Milan 4-2 at San Siro despite trailing by a goal at halftime. Raffaele Palladino’s side brutally exposed Milan’s defensive frailties, which have seen the Rossoneri concede at least two goals in three of their last four games across all competitions.
San Siro has been anything but a fortress this term, with two of Amorim’s three defeats at the helm coming at this stadium (W3). If it’s any consolation, Milan have scored two or more goals in four of their five competitive home outings in 2026/27, except for a dismal 2-0 loss to Benfica in the Europa League.
Further confidence could come from the fact that Milan have only lost one of their last 13 home league matches in this kick-off slot (W7, D5). Upholding that promising trend is not beyond the realm of possibility despite their recent struggles, given that the Rossoneri are enjoying their longest unbeaten run in this fixture in more than 20 years.
Inter
Though it sounds somewhat paradoxical, Inter have failed to beat Milan in their last seven meetings in all competitions (D2, L5), losing both Serie A encounters last season by a goal to nil. Keen to buck that frustrating trend, the reigning Scudetto holders head into proceedings on the back of their best league start since 1988/89.
Chivu’s charges have developed a ‘never give up’ mentality that puts them in the driver’s seat here. For context, they’ve won a league-high 13 points from losing positions this season (W4, D1), suggesting that no one should dare to write them off even if they concede first in this derby.
Inter have also been too hot to handle in the final third, netting 25 Serie A goals in nine matches, more than any other team. Furthermore, they’ve been ruthless at San Siro this season, winning all five competitive home matches, which also bodes well, even though they’re the designated away side.
Team News
Samuel Chukwueze, Mattia Gabbia, Alexis Saelemaekers, and Ruben Loftus-Cheek will not be at Amorim’s disposal on Saturday. However, Diego Moreira, Adrien Rabiot, and Mario Gila could return to the squad after missing the match against Bologna, with the former likely to take Davide Bartesaghi’s place on the left wing.
As for Inter, long-term absentees John Stones, Curtis Jones, Luis Henrique, and Benjamin Pavard remain on the sidelines. Yet, the absence of captain Lautaro Martinez is the heaviest blow, with Ange-Yoan Bonny expected to replace him in attack at the expense of Francesco Pio Esposito.
Milan vs Inter Potential Starting Lineups
Milan (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Tomori, De Winter, Pavlovic, Estupinan; Musah, Jashari; Hutchinson, Cisse, Moreira; Ramos.
Inter (3-5-2): Provedel, Augusto, Bisseck, Bastoni; Diouf, Zielenski, Stankovic, Sucic, Dimarco; Bonny, Thuram.
Milan vs Inter Prediction
Despite Inter’s superior form and attacking firepower, Milan’s impressive record in this fixture makes the Derby della Madonnina difficult to call. Amorim’s side have struggled defensively in recent weeks, but the potential returns of Rabiot, Moreira, and Gila could provide a timely boost.
A share of the spoils could be on the cards.
Prediction: Draw
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The post Serie A Preview: Milan vs Inter – Team News, Lineups & Prediction appeared first on The Cult of Calcio.
