The hours pass and the first Derby della Madonnina draws near. This match is always one of the most intense of the year for both sides, no matter the form. This season the build-up is stronger for many reasons. The league table is first, with Inter two points ahead of Milan. Then last season’s record, when Milan never lost in five meetings. Then the clash in styles, one side with the best attack in the league and the other with a defence that found stability in big matches. The list goes on. Beyond all this, the match will take over and new stories, trends, and decisive moments will form. Here are the three main points Milan are watching on the eve of the Derby.
Adrien Rabiot
The most important news for Milan is the return of Adrien Rabiot. The French midfielder, out for a full month, will start tomorrow against Inter. Massimiliano Allegri confirmed it with a short announcement in today’s press conference: “He plays!”. Rabiot’s absence weighed heavily on both phases of Milan’s play, especially as the midfield lost energy with the same players forced to start every match. His return gives quantity, quality, and experience in one move. This is Adrien Rabiot for Allegri. This is Adrien Rabiot for Milan, as relayed via Milan News.
Focus on the defence
Tomorrow Milan will face Inter’s attack, the strongest in Serie A by the numbers. Marcus Thuram returns as well, a player who has often hurt Milan. Chivu’s team, despite three league defeats, scored 26 goals in 11 matches, a strong average. Milan’s defence, improved under Allegri, faces the toughest possible test. The back line and the whole team need a solid and hard-working performance.
The Pulisic-Leao partnership
After eleven league matches, two Coppa Italia games, and three and a half months of the season, Milan will finally start the attacking pair chosen at the start of the year. The two forwards in the 3-5-2, Rafael Leao and Christian Pulisic, form a new duo in this system but on paper the strongest option for Allegri. The goal is to avoid giving clear reference points to Inter’s defence, which struggles more against a mobile attack. This makes the connection between the Portuguese and the American, and the team’s ability to stay compact, a possible difference-maker in possession for Milan.
