Week 5: Milan – Inter

by ·

A relatively early in the season derby could set the stage for at least the first half of the season. Both teams have started the season more or less as expected while there is a logjam at the top of the table.

Milan’s youth policy took further shape during the summer window and the team continues to be one of the youngest in Europe’s top 5 leagues. Inter not so much, although several 30+ players, including Alexis Sanchez, Ivan Perisic, Andrea Ranocchia and Matias Vecino left the team this summer the team had incomings like Francesco Acerbi and Henrikh Mkhitaryan. Romelu Lukaku who made a loan return to Inter is injured and will be a big miss for this derby.

Not exactly surprisingly Milan has accumulated a few injured players. Florenzi was added to the said list and will miss a couple of months with a left leg muscle injury. Rebic is still out and he is joined by Krunic and Ibra of course.

Maignan will start in goal with Calabria, with Dest as new back up, Kalulu, Tomori and Theo in front of him. The pivots will remain Bennacer and Tonali. The much maligned right wing position will feature Messias. De Ketelaere deserves to start and will get a big derby test. Leao will play as long as healthy of course. Giroud will be up top. Thiaw and Vranckx will get their fist taste of the San Siro on the bench.

There is always more about this match and others on the forums.