San Siro will explode this Sunday, with Milan and Inter facing off in the Derby della Madonnina, one of the most breathtaking matches in Italian soccer. In this Serie A Matchday 23, two teams that are in different moments of their season but with equal pressure to win take the pitch. A win for Milan will keep them in the running to finish in a Champions League place. For Inter, it means staying hot on the heels of league leaders Napoli and cementing their position of strength in the title race.
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Milan in need of confirmation
The Rossoneri come into the derby in seventh position with 34 points, five behind fourth-placed Lazio. The team is in a phase of rebuilding, and coach Sérgio Conceição is still looking for an ideal balance. He made it clear that the focus is on tactical and mental development.
"We know Inter well; they are together for a long time, which is an advantage. We will try to face them by making them find space where it counts for less. We're focused on delivering a great performance to win."
Despite their ups and downs, Milan has a strong recent record against their city rivals. They've won the last two derbies, something that hadn't happened since 2011, and now they aim for a third consecutive victory. If they pull it off, they'll match a historic streak under Massimiliano Allegri.
Inter looking to prove their dominance
On the other side, Inter sits in second place in Serie A with 50 points, three behind Napoli. Simone Inzaghi’s team has been consistent this season, but their recent struggles against Milan still linger. The coach emphasized the need for a flawless performance.
"We know what this game means; it’s highly anticipated and full of risks. Milan has quality, and we’ll need a top-level performance with aggression and determination because this match is crucial for us."
Historically, Inter has dominated this rivalry with 70 wins in Serie A and a record 259 goals against Milan. But the recent head-to-head is tight: in the last seven league derbies, both teams have won three times, with one draw. The key factor? Milan has conceded goals in the first half of every one of those matches. The last time they kept Inter from scoring before halftime was way back in February 2020.