Inter Milan and AC Milan will face off in the Serie A season’s first Derby della Madonnina on Sunday.

The Derby della Madonnina returns to San Siro this Sunday, and for the first time this season the city’s eternal rivals collide with far more than bragging rights at stake. Inter enter the weekend narrowly ahead of AC Milan, separated by just two points in a congested title race that has quickly taken shape across the opening months of the Serie A campaign.

With AS Roma and Napoli both in the mix, the battle for the Scudetto already feels tense, and this fixture, as always, threatens to swing the momentum in unexpected ways. Inter arrive at the derby looking like a side rediscovering the ruthless consistency expected from a title-chasing group.

Cristian Chivu’s men carried their flawless European form into domestic duties, backing up a 2-1 victory over Kairat with a composed win against Lazio just before the international break. Lautaro Martinez and Ange-Yoan Bonny delivered the decisive moments in that triumph, a result that nudged Inter back to the summit of the Serie A standings alongside a revitalised Roma.

Chivu, who lifted the treble as a player, knows better than most that seasons are won over months, not weeks, but the indicators so far are undeniably positive. Since a rocky spell in September that saw them drop back-to-back league games, the Nerazzurri have surged to seven wins in their last eight league outings while scoring at a pace unmatched by anyone in Italy.

Their tally of 26 goals is comfortably the highest in the division, and they have been similarly impressive on the continental stage, sitting third in the UEFA Champions League’s expanded league table after taking maximum points from four games.

Before confronting Atletico Madrid next week, Chivu faces his first derby as a head coach, and he inherits a rivalry that has tilted unpredictably in recent seasons. Inter’s dominance over Milan evaporated last year, with the Rossoneri winning three of the five derby clashes and denying Inter control of a fixture they once dictated.

Even the most recent league meeting needed a late Stefan de Vrij header to rescue a point. For a side with Scudetto ambitions, reasserting authority over their neighbours is no small subplot. On the other touchline, Massimiliano Allegri has brought order back to a club that spent much of last year mired in turbulence.

His return has given Milan the defensive structure and emotional calm they lacked, and it has shown in their results. Even without the burden of European fixtures, Allegri has rotated efficiently and coaxed consistent performances from a squad still rediscovering its identity.

A stumble before the break, however, cost Milan the chance to temporarily lead the league. After surging to a 2-0 advantage in Parma through Alexis Saelemaekers and Rafael Leao, the Rossoneri lost control and allowed the hosts back into the match, ultimately settling for a draw. It was a frustrating end to an otherwise steady run, one that still sees them unbeaten in ten matches across Serie A and the Coppa Italia.

Their recent history in this derby will offer hope: AC Milan ended their lengthy losing streak against Inter last September and then stunned their rivals again in both the Supercoppa Italiana and a gripping two-legged Coppa Italia semi-final. Those wins were isolated beams of light during a difficult year, yet they remain proof that Milan, when organised and opportunistic, can exploit Inter’s vulnerabilities.

Now Allegri prepares for perhaps his sternest examination since returning, not just a derby, but a direct duel with Chivu, the newcomer tasked with maintaining Inter’s standards in the post-Inzaghi era. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how the clubs could line up on the night and what tactics they might employ.

Team News & Tactics

Inter Milan

Inter Milan approach the derby with a few important absences that could influence Cristian Chivu’s selection. Denzel Dumfries continues to struggle with an ankle injury and remains a major doubt for Sunday’s clash, leaving the right flank without its usual athletic presence.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan is still sidelined with a muscular problem, and Matteo Darmian is also expected to miss out as he works his way back from a minor but persistent injury setback. Inter have no suspensions for this fixture, but the trio’s unavailability limits Chivu’s flexibility in two key areas of the pitch.

The biggest dilemma comes in central midfield, where Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s absence opens a direct battle between Petar Sucic and Piotr Zielinski for the final spot alongside Nicolo Barella and Hakan Calhanoglu. Both Sucic and Zielinski bring different profiles: Sucic offers energy and vertical running, while Zielinski provides control, vision and progressive passing.

Chivu’s selection may depend on whether he prioritises intensity out of possession or creativity in tight spaces. On the right flank, the absence of Denzel Dumfries could see Carlos Augusto deputise in an unfamiliar role, shifting across from his natural left-sided position to provide width and work rate down the opposite channel.

In attack, Chivu finds himself spoilt for choice. Ange-Yoan Bonny and Marcus Thuram are competing to partner club captain Lautaro Martinez, who needs just one more goal to join a short list of Inter players to have reached double figures in the derby. Francesco Pio Esposito is also pushing for minutes, though the youngster is expected to be used from the bench unless Chivu opts for a surprising tactical twist.

Inter are expected to line up in a 3-5-2 system, a structure that underpins their build-up play and defensive stability. Yann Sommer will start in goal, offering calm distribution and reliability under pressure. The back three should consist of Manuel Akanji on the right side of defence, Yann Bisseck in the central role, and Alessandro Bastoni on the left. Akanji provides ball-carrying strength, Bisseck offers aerial dominance, and Bastoni remains Inter’s key progressive defender, often stepping into midfield to support possession.

Across the midfield, Augusto is set to operate as the right wing-back in Dumfries’s absence, while Federico Dimarco will occupy his usual role on the left, providing width and dangerous delivery. In the central trio, Nicolo Barella plays as the all-action box-to-box presence, Hakan Calhanoglu anchors the midfield with his passing range and set-piece quality, and Petar Sucic is currently favourite to fill the third slot as an energetic link between midfield and attack.

Up front, Lautaro Martinez leads the line with his pressing aggression and penalty-box instinct, supported by Marcus Thuram, whose pace, physicality and ability to drift wide offer Inter Milan multiple ways to stretch AC Milan’s backline.

Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Sommer; Akanji, Bisseck, Bastoni; Augusto, Barella, Calhanoglu, Sucic, Dimarco; Martinez, Thuram

AC Milan

AC Milan enter the derby with fewer selection issues than their rivals, but Massimiliano Allegri still has one or two difficult calls to make in the final third. The most significant absence remains Santiago Gimenez, who continues his recovery from injury and will not feature.

His unavailability forces Milan into an improvised attacking structure, where Rafael Leao and Christian Pulisic are expected to operate as a mobile and unconventional strike partnership. The adjustment pushes Christopher Nkunku out of the starting eleven, with the Frenchman likely to begin on the bench and offer an option to change the tempo later in the match.

There is better news in midfield, where Adrien Rabiot has returned to full training and is now available for selection. His recovery allows Allegri to reunite him with Luka Modric in central areas, providing Milan with a blend of physicality, intelligence and experience. With both players fit, the Rossoneri have close to a complete squad, giving Allegri greater tactical flexibility in a fixture where fine margins often decide the outcome.

The remaining selection question for Milan comes at left wing-back. Davide Bartesaghi is slightly favoured to retain his place after steady recent performances, though Pervis Estupinan remains a viable alternative if Allegri seeks more attacking thrust down that flank. The coach’s final decision is expected to hinge on how aggressively he intends to press Inter’s wide centre-backs.

AC Milan are expected to line up in a 3-5-2 formation, mirroring their rivals and aiming to congest central midfield zones. Mike Maignan will start in goal, providing leadership from the back and initiating Milan’s build-up play. The defensive trio should consist of Fikayo Tomori on the right, Matteo Gabbia in the central position, and Strahinja Pavlovic on the left. Tomori’s recovery pace, Gabbia’s composure, and Pavlovic’s aggression create a balanced back line capable of handling Inter’s fluid forward movements.

Across the midfield, Alexis Saelemaekers will occupy the right wing-back role, offering tireless running and covering large distances both in transition and out of possession. In central midfield, Youssouf Fofana acts as the ball-winner and disruptor, while Luka Modric dictates tempo with his passing range and spatial awareness. Adrien Rabiot completes the trio by operating as a powerful box-to-box presence, capable of progressing play and supporting both defensive and attacking phases. On the left, Davide Bartesaghi is expected to feature as the wing-back, providing width and defensive discipline.

Up front, Christian Pulisic and Rafael Leao form a dynamic but unconventional front two. Pulisic’s movement between the lines complements Leão’s explosive pace, and while neither is a traditional centre-forward, their ability to attack space and drift wide may pose structural problems for Inter’s back three.

Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Maignan; Tomori, Gabbia, Pavlovic; Saelemaekers, Fofana, Modric, Rabiot, Bartesaghi; Pulisic, Leao

Key Stats

• Inter enter the derby with 26 league goals, the highest tally in Serie A so far. They have scored at least two goals in seven of their last eight league matches, underlining their status as the most dangerous attacking unit in Italy this season.
• Lautaro Martinez is one goal away from becoming only the third player in Inter’s history to score 10 or more goals against AC Milan. He has scored in five of his last seven league derbies.
• Since Massimiliano Allegri’s return, AC Milan have gone 10 matches unbeaten across Serie A and the Coppa Italia. However, five of those games ended in draws, reflecting a more conservative, control-based approach.
• Following back-to-back losses in September, Inter have taken 21 points out of a possible 24, conceding only six goals in that period.
• Five of the last six Derby della Madonnina clashes have seen both teams score, and those fixtures produced a combined 19 goals, averaging 3.1 goals per match. Recent history strongly suggests another open and decisive encounter at San Siro.

Player to Watch

Rafael Leao

Embed from Getty Images

Leao steps into the Derby della Madonnina as Milan’s most unpredictable weapon and the one player capable of altering the rhythm of the match in a single stride. With Santiago Gimenez unavailable, the Portuguese forward is expected to operate in a more central role alongside Christian Pulisic, placing even greater responsibility on his ability to exploit space behind Inter’s back three.

Leao’s unique combination of acceleration, balance and close control remains Milan’s primary outlet in transition. When he drifts into wide areas, he forces defenders into uncomfortable decisions, often drawing double marking and freeing passing lanes for midfield runners. His duel with Alessandro Bastoni will be one of the game’s defining battles, as Milan rely heavily on Leao’s capacity to stretch Inter’s defensive structure and generate moments of chaos in the final third.

Though his end product can fluctuate, Leao tends to shine brightest in high-pressure fixtures, and Allegri will hope his match-winning instincts emerge once again. Whether Milan absorb pressure or attempt to control long phases of possession, their attacking threat narrows dramatically without Leao’s explosiveness. If the Rossoneri are to reclaim derby momentum, the stage is set for their talisman to deliver.

Prediction

Inter Milan 2-1 AC Milan

With both sides entering the derby in strong domestic form, this edition of the Derby della Madonnina feels particularly difficult to call. Inter carry the sharper attacking rhythm, consistently producing chances and scoring at a rate unmatched in Serie A. Their forward line, led by Lautaro Martinez, has been relentless, and Cristian Chivu’s side generally look more fluid in possession and more aggressive between the lines.

Milan, however, have regained defensive stability under Massimiliano Allegri, and their long unbeaten run reflects a team that rarely collapses, even when not at their free-flowing best. The concern lies in their improvised front pairing; without Santiago Gimenez, the Rossoneri lack a natural reference point in attack and may struggle to sustain pressure over long stretches. Their hopes will lean heavily on Rafael Leao’s moments of inspiration and the midfield control Luka Modric and Adrien Rabiot can provide.

Inter’s balance, depth, and attacking clarity give them a slight edge in a match that is likely to hinge on small lapses rather than dominance. Milan should compete fiercely, but against the league’s most potent attack, a single defensive error could prove decisive.