The Stats Zone
September 21 2024, 16:31 · Alex Lawes

Inter Milan vs AC Milan Preview & Prediction | 2024-25 Italian Serie A

Inter Milan vs AC Milan Preview & Prediction | 2024-25 Italian Serie A

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We have a historic rivalry in Serie A on Sunday as the Derby della Madonnina takes place at San Siro with defending champions Internazionale taking on an AC Milan side that have endured a difficult start to life under Paulo Fonseca.

KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Sunday 22nd September, 2024 - UK – 7:45pm / US ET – 2:45pm / US PT – 11:45am

HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – TNT Sports OR Not televised / US – Select matches will be televised on CBS Sports so it is worth checking their schedule

HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – discovery+ OR Cannot be streamed / US – Paramount+

INTER MILAN PREVIEW: INTRICATE INTER

Internazionale come into this on the back of a goalless draw against Manchester City in the opening game of their 2024/25 UEFA Champions League campaign. Defending champions Inter have started the season with some average performances and results in Serie A, including a draw against Monza last week.

The Nerazzurri, under the management of former Lazio boss and player Simone Inzaghi, won their 20th Italian title last year and earned a second star upon their badge as a result. After starting their season with a frustrating 2-2 draw against Genoa, Inter then enjoyed back-to-back victories against Lecce and Atalanta.

AC MILAN PREVIEW: MALAISE OF THE MILANESE

Over the summer, 2021/22 Serie A winner Stefano Pioli departed AC Milan after a couple of underwhelming seasons and he was replaced by former Roma, Lille and Shakhtar Donetsk boss Paulo Fonseca. The Portuguese coach has started under immediate pressure and criticism with performances not being great.

The Rossoneri come into this one on the back of a 3-1 defeat at home to Liverpool at San Siro in midweek in the UEFA Champions League with Christian Pulisic opening the scoring after three minutes. They were unbeaten in their opening three matches before they thrashed Venezia by four goals to nil last weekend with all four goals inside the opening half hour.

INTER MILAN TEAM NEWS: DARMIAN OR DUMFRIES

After breaking his leg during the 2024 CONMEBOL Copa America with Canada this summer, Tajon Buchanan is nearing a return but Marko Arnautovic remains sidelined.

Simone Inzaghi has chopped and changed at right wing-back between Matteo Darmian and Denzel Dumfries with Darmian the more defensive option and often used in the biggest games.

PREDICTED XI (3-5-2): Sommer; Pavard, De Vrij, Carlos Augusto; Darmian, Mkhitaryan, Barella, Calhanoglu, Dimarco; Thuram, Lautaro Martinez

UNAVAILABLE: Arnautovic (Injured)

QUESTIONABLE: Buchanan (Injured)

AC MILAN TEAM NEWS: NO FRESH ISSUES

There are no fresh injury concerns for Paulo Fonseca to deal with. Some experienced players remain sidelined such as Alessandro Florenzi and Ismael Bennacer.

Tammy Abraham has made a good impact since arriving at San Siro with problems involving Theo Hernandez and Rafael Leao appearing to have now subsided.

PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): Maignan; Emerson Royal, Gabbia, Pavlovic, Hernandez; Reijnders, Fofana, Loftus-Cheek; Pulisic, Abraham, Leao

UNAVAILABLE: Sportiello (Injured), Thiaw (Injured), Florenzi (Injured), Bennacer (Injured)

QUESTIONABLE:

INTER MILAN VS AC MILAN PREDICTION

Last season, as they won their aforementioned 20th Italian title, Internazionale confirmed the title at San Siro against AC Milan in the Derby della Madonnina last year. They remain the favourites to make it back-to-back Scudetto triumphs this season but could do with finding some consistency. AC Milan are underperforming and now face an efficient, ruthless side so an Inter win would appear the best bet.

INTER MILAN VS AC MILAN TIP: INTER TO WIN