Arsenal host Spurs this Sunday in the latest edition of the North London derby. That is less of a rivalry than a subjugation, with Arsenal comfortably eclipsing the achievements of their underachieving neighbours.
If you want something more competitive (and frankly less depressing), look no further than this weekend’s upcoming Derby della Madonnina, as table-topping Inter prepare to host an upwardly mobile Milan side. These two clubs have a storied history, with Inter edging Milan by just one Scudetto (20 to 19). This week’s clash has added significance, as it will be the first time the victors will do it in their own stadium (Inter and Milan bought the San Siro outright in November). I thought it would be a good time to look at the sides’ different approaches, signaling out potential key players.
Form could go out the window
There’s an adage that form goes out the window in derbies. I find that to be rather overstated, but it certainly held true for these sides last season. Milan endured a disastrous campaign, finishing in 8th place in the Serie A standings and missing out on Europe for the first time in several years. Yet despite all that, the Rossoneri managed to pick themselves up on derby days, winning three and drawing two of their five meetings. Milan will be hoping to expose some of that scar tissue. With two new managers- Cristian Chivu and Massimiliano Allegri- in the respective dugouts, this game should have an entirely unique feeling.
A Romanian revolution
It was always going to be tough to follow Simone Inzaghi, who took Inter so close to Champions League glory a few years back. Chivu has the massive advantage of being a cult-hero at the club (he won pretty much everything during his eight-year stint as a player). And he has enjoyed a fantastic start to life as Inter manager, guiding Inter to the top of the Serie A standings while maintaining a flawless record in their Champions League odyssey. He has brought a new philosophical outlook to the Nerazzurri, placing a Gasperini-like emphasis on psychotic pressing and attacking dynamism (which is exactly what Italian football needs).
Inter have been a free flowing attacking unit, scoring 26 goals in 11 Serie A matches (eight more than any other club). They have eleven different scorers in the league already this season. Sure, they do leave themselves a little more vulnerable to the counterattack because they press so high up the field. But I think this is a more positive direction for Italian football. Defensive rigidity will always be an integral part of the DNA of the league. But times have changed, and stoic pragmatism is only going to get you so far these days.
Key Player for Inter- Hakan Calhanoglou
Sure, captain fantastic Lautaro Martinez could prove decisive (especially with Thuram expected to return from injury). But Calhanoglou has looked imperious in Chivu’s high-octane, possession-based system, scoring five goals and assisting another in just nine Serie A appearances. Everything flows through the silky Turkish international and he could exert a mammoth influence over the match.
Strength off the bench
The Derby della Madonnina could very well be won from the bench. And if that is the case: you must fancy Inter. The Nerazzurri have already netted six league goals through substitutes, with the likes of Bonny and Zielinski rewarding Chivu’s confidence (that Zielinksi strike will be in the Puskas reckoning). There are a few injury issues, with Mkhitaryan potentially joined on the sidelines by Denzel Dumfries. Dumfries would be a major blow. The Dutch fullback is a superior athlete with the recovery speed to cover Inter’s more gung-ho impulses.
A reunion made in heaven?
Arch-pragmatist Massmiliano Allegri returned to Milan at the start of the season, having guided the Rossoneri to the Scudetto back in 2010/2011. The Allegri style is really the antithesis of everything Chivu is trying to achieve at Inter. Allegri is very much of the old school: he wouldn’t look out of place as an extra in a Godfather film. His side is more reactive, sitting deep and looking to hit on the break. They are less direct than Inter, looking to isolate defenders and beat them individually. His stoic style has helped Milan consolidate, leading to impressive wins against the likes of Napoli and Roma. But they have had problems breaking down ‘lower tier’ opposition, dropping points against the likes of Cremonese, Parma and Pisa.
Key Player for Milan- Rafael Leao
Electrifying and maddening in equal measure, Rafael Leao has had to deal with injury issues this campaign. He has still produced the goods when given the chance, scoring four goals in seven Serie A appearances. I think that his kinetic pace could unlock Chivu’s game of high-line Russian roulette (especially if Dumfries is out the picture). Leao will certainly fancy his chances against Matteo Darmian.
A new attacking duo hoping to ignite
The Leao-Pulisic duo is still relatively novel for Milan, with both players utilized as wide attackers under Pioli. But they should dovetail well in Allegri’s 3-5-2 formation, with Pulisic linking things together while Leao looks to penetrate. That partnership could give Milan impetus after the recent struggles of Gimenez and Nkunku. Still, how much of the ball are they going to get?
Final Thoughts
My heart and brain are both leaning towards Inter this week. My heart says Inter because I’m tired of hyper-conservative Allegri-ball. My brain says Inter because they are going to suffocate Milan into plenty of errors deep in their own half, cutting off easy out-balls to the likes of Leao and Pulisic. I do think that Milan have the counterattacking pace to hurt Inter’s high press. However, Inter keep the ball too well. At the very least, this clash promises to be a tonic for Italian football fans after their national side’s disastrous capitulation- in the same venue- last weekend.
