AC Milan v Inter Milan – Preview, Predictions and Best Bets

AC Milan host Inter Milan in Serie A on Sunday night. The side sits 2nd and 3rd respectively in the league table but is already separated by seven points after just 11 matches. This match is between the two top-scoring sides in Serie A and should be an entertaining affair.

AC Milan Form

Milan has had a brilliant season in Serie A so far with ten wins and a draw in 11 matches. A 1-1 draw at Juventus is the only match in which they have dropped points this season. Their form in Europe is much less convincing with just one point and three defeats in four matches.

Pioli has Milan scoring freely and they have won seven consecutive league matches. A fine 3-2 win at Atalanta saw the side 3-0 up at one stage. The last six wins have seen five of those by a single goal margin including a 2-1 win at Roma in their last Serie A match despite playing the final 24 minutes with ten men. Milan drew 1-1 with Porto in midweek after trailing 1-0.

AC Milan Team News

Milan faces something of a left-back crisis for this match. Theo Hernandez is suspended while the backup Fode Ballo-Toure is out injured. Pierre Kalulu may need to cover out of position or Pioli could even move Fikayo Tomori into that role and recall Simon Kjaer in defence.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic should start as he played last weekend and only as a substitute in midweek due to his age and recent injury troubles. Ante Rebic remains a doubt but Brahim Diaz and Alessandro Florenzi could return to contention to bolster options.

AC Milan Motivation

Milan will play to win this match and will be fully motivated to beat their cross-city rivals and to open up a ten-point lead over them whilst keeping pace with Napoli.

Pioli’s side is often better on the road and could play reactively in this match with plenty of counter-attacking. Expect Zlatan to drop off the front to link things together with runners going beyond him.

Inter Milan Form

Inter have lost just once under new coach Simone Inzaghi this season, a defeat at his former club Lazio. With 28 goals scored in 11 Serie A matches, they are the top-scoring side in the division.

Since that loss to Lazio, Internazionale has bounced back well. They beat Sheriff 3-1 at home in the Champions League before a 1-1 home draw with Juventus (conceding late to drop two points) and a 2-0 win at Empoli. A 2-0 home win against Udinese followed with Joaquin Correa netting a brace. Three second-half goals brought a 3-1 away win at Sheriff in midweek in a crucial European victory.

Inter Milan Team News

Simone Inzaghi made five changes in midweek from the weekend win in Serie A. Arturo Vidal started in midfield over Hakan Calhanoglu but the latter will surely be recalled after the club he left in June. Joaquin Correa will hope to be in the XI after his brace against Udinese but Lautaro Martinez and Edin Dzeko could be preferred.

Federico Dimarco and Matteo Darmian were the wingbacks in midweek but both Denzel Dumfries and Ivan Perisic will hope to be recalled on the flanks.

Inter Milan Motivation

nter needs to win in reality. They already trail Milan and Napoli by seven points at this stage. A defeat would mean they are a long way back in the quest to retain their league title.

Inzaghi will play his usual 3-5-2 and take the game to Milan but this feels like a certain must-not-lose so they won’t be too open.

Key Stats

AC Milan have won 14 of their last 16 Serie A matches (D2)

Milan have scored in their last 12 Serie A matches

AC Milan have conceded in 5 of their last 6 matches (5 wins by 1 goal margin)

Inter Milan have scored 28 Serie A goals this season (most in division)

Inter have lost 1 of their last 12 Serie A matches

Inter have scored in their last 31 league matches

5 of the last 6 meetings between these sides have seen over 2.5 goals

Verdict

This match should be a good one to watch with goals expected. Inter Milan always score and AC Milan are in brilliant form despite leaking goals regularly. The best bet could be for a home victory with plenty of goals in the match.