After 100 years of rivalry the Milan derby is back once again this season, with a huge prize riding on Monday’s match.
After the two sides drew at the weekend in their respective games, a win for Inter Milan would earn them the Serie A title once more after Napoli won in 2022/23.
Match Details Date and Kick-off Time
Monday provides the chance for Inter to claim the Serie A title once more, but they need to win to do it..
AC Milan vs Inter takes place on Monday, April 22 at the San Siro at 19:45 UK time / 20:45 CET / 14:45 ET
- Date: Monday, April 22
- Venue: San Siro, Milan, Italy
- Kick-off time: 19:45 UK time / 20:45 CET / 14:45 ET
History of the Rivalry
The Milan derby is often known as the Derby di Milano and the Derby della Madonnina. Inter are often seen as the team for the middle classes, while AC Milan were often thought of as the working class club. Inter’s ultras usually take the northern Curva Nord, with AC Milan at the southern end – the Curva Sud.
The first-ever Milan derby took place in the Chiasso Cup in 1908, with AC Milan winning 2-1, but it was only an annual fixture since the 1926/27 season of the Divisione Nazionale.
- Going back to November 6, 1949, Milan lined up with their Gre-No-Li trio of Gunnar Gren, Gunnar Nordahl and Nils Liedholm. Milan went 2-0 up quickly before Istvan Nyers pulled one back. AC Milan went 4-1 clear, before Inter rallied to go 5-4 clear. With just over half an hour left, Milan made it 5-5 before Amadeo Amadei scored his third goal to clinch victory.
- More recently, AC Milan won Inter Milan 2-1 on October 28, 1984. AC Milan were at a low point, recovering from a relegation to Serie B for match-fixing. Inter Milan scored first, as many expected, through Alessandro Altobelli, before Ray Wilkins teed up Agostino Di Bartolomei for an equaliser, with another Englishman – Mark Hately – heading past Walter Zenga for the win. Their first victory in the derby for six years.
- December 11, 2005 marks a special day for Inter as they pulled off a 3-2 win over AC Milan. The two were coming off the back of a fractious Champions League quarter-final, and things were all square at 1-1 as Inter grabbed a penalty through Adriano and AC Milan scored from the spot through Andriy Shevchenko. Obefemi Martins gave Inter the lead shortly after the restart, but Jaap Stam headed the teams level. Adriano then pulled off the winner two minutes into injury time with a headed winner.
Team Form and Recent Performances
Inter have not tasted defeat in their last four Serie A matches, but their last match was a 2-2 draw at home to Cagliari. Going back to March, they lost 2-1 to Atletico Madrid in their Champions League tie before going out 3-2 on penalties.
AC Milan have not lost since their Europa League match with Rennes, and since then they are unbeaten. Their most recent match-up was also a draw, 3-3 away to Sassuolo.
Tactical Analysis
For AC Milan, Stefano Pioli originally had AC Milan lining up in a 4-3-3 shape but he has since evolved into a 4-2-3-1 set up. The team’s full-backs press high up the pitch, with a back three taking into account the need for the full-backs to press on. Wingers also stretch the play.
For Inter Milan, Simone Inzaghi also uses two defenders and a midfielder in a back three, with full-backs pressing up on the wings. Central defenders often making offensive runs into the forward channels to overload the defence.
As ever, the contest could be won in midfield given the way the pitch is heavily staffed in the middle third of the pitch.
Key Players and Matchups
Midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek has discovered his best form in Serie A and is an outside shot to go to Euro 2024, with his height allied with great technique and confidence. Theo Hernandez offers impressive attacking contribution from out wide, while Rafael Leao’s partnership with Olivier Giroud is one of the best in Italy.
For Inter, Denzel Dumfries provides danger down the wings, with Lautaro Martinez, Marko Arnautoic, Marcus Thuram, and Alexis Sanchez providing goals up front. Playmakers Hakan Calhanoglu and Henrikh Mkhitaryan provide guile further back.
For Monday’s match, how Hernandez copes with that attacking threat could define AC Milan’s chances, while for Inter, Martinez and Thuram will have to be handled by captain David Calabria.
Recent Encounters
Early in the season, Inter crushed AC Milan 5-1 to set the tone for the season. Last year the two sides met in the semi-finals of the Champions League, and Inter won 2-0 and then 1-0 for a solid victory. Before then, in the January 2023 Supercoppa Italiana final, Inter again won, 3-0. The side have proven themselves the better of the two for much of the last few years.
Fan Culture and Atmosphere
Both sets of fans provide passionate support for their respective teams, but the atmosphere will be especially tense on Monday. For Inter, they will have the chance to parade their title victory against their bitter rivals, while for AC Milan the pressure is on to deny their opponents the chance to celebrate – for now, at least.
Both sides will have their colourful banners and posters, perhaps with tifosi to proclaim their pride and goad the opposite team.
Predictions and Expectations
Both teams are in pretty good form and are the best two sides in Italy. For AC Milan, that means that they have the ability to put it all on the line to delay Inter’s title win.
For Inter, they know they have the better of chances to get a win at what is also their home ground, and it affords them the opportunity to reward their fans against their rivals. Out of Europe, they can focus on this game and nothing else, while AC Milan are still in the Europa League.
The bookmakers agree, and put Inter Milan as the clear favourites.
The Italian Derby & Socios.com
Both Inter and AC Milan have Fan Tokens that can be exchanged for Fan Rewards on Socios.com.
Tokens can be exchanged for rewards which can offer behind-the-scenes access, unique prizes, signed shirts, the chance to meet players and some excellent merchandise and collectibles.
