Derby della Madonnina: Inter Milan vs AC Milan - 4 things to watch out for

One of Italy's historic derbies, the Derby della Madonnina a.k.a the Milan derby, which was once considered as a prime-time extravaganza for its viewers, has sadly been reduced to a pale imitation of it's illustrous past. The great names have long gone, and so has the sheen of this rivalry.Once a promising goal bonanza, the Milan derby of recent times has been nothing but a slugfest. Reckless challenges coupled with some lack of creativity in the final third has only served to dull the viewership of the fixture. With both sides teetering in the mid table, the derby was downgraded to just another low key, inconsequential clash.However, for the first time arguably since 2011, both the Milanese clubs appear to have a say in the outcome of the Scudetto. After some vital acquisitions in the market, the Rossoneri as well as the Nerrazurri look reinvigorated and may put themselves back on the map of Europe.As the first Milan derby of the season approaches near, we look at the four exciting things that this edition has in store for us.

#1 A friendship bordering on rivalry

Come this Sunday, and the fixture will not only pit two historically rival clubs, but also two old friends, on the opposing dugouts. Roberto Mancini and Sinisa Mihajlovic, the Inter and AC managers respectively, will see their long-term friendship transcend into the boundaries of rivalry, albeit for a course of 90 minutes.

Having shared five years of their playing career together, stretched across stints at Sampdoria and Lazio, Mancini and Mihajlovic reunited again at La Baneamata in 2006, when the latter started his managerial career as an assistant to the Italian, for the next two years.

In 2008, both stepped out of the exit doors of Inter and after venturing off to a contrastingly different paths, they meet again, here at Guiseppe Maezza, from where it all began.

For the next 90 minutes from the kick-off, all the camaraderie aside, the two distinguished managers will be seen using every subterfuge to steal a march over the other, on the grounds of professionalism.

An enticing clash on the touchline to look out for.

#2 A host of debutants

There hasn’t been a Milan derby in the recent years that will see as many number of debutants from both the camps, as it will in this one. Both the Lombardy based clubs endured a busy summer, bolstering their squad by making vital additions, and also expunging the weeds from it.

Both the Milan contingents made an expenditure close to €85 million, but their investments have yielded conflicting dividends. While Inter have maintained a 100% win record in their opening two league games, the red half of Milan have registered a 50-50 win-loss record in as many games.

From the proposed home side, The Black and Blues, midfield maestro Geoffrey Kondogbia, Inter’s most high-profile signing, will be in midfield for the first time in a Milan derby, whereas Colombia’s irresistible young gun Jeison Murillo, will add steel to the defence. Montenegro star Stevan Jovetic will lead the line alongside Mauro Icardi, looking to add to his tally of three league goals so far.

On the opposite half of the pitch, Andrea Bertolacci, one of Serie A’s brightest young talents, will be participating in his first Milan derby, pulling the strings from the centre of the park and will be partnered by the Slovakian recruit Juraj Kucka, who comes in for the injured Jeremy Menez. However, the main debuts will be made higher up the pitch as targetmen Carlos Bacca and Luiz Adriano will make their first appearance in the derby.

#3 The return of the pantomime villain

Italy’s controversial star Mario Balotelli is likely to kick-start his second spell at AC Milan, after being benched for the whole game last time out, against his former side Inter Milan as he is set to make yet another appearance in a Milan derby.

Following a miserable season at Liverpool, the maverick centre-forward moved back to Il Diavolo on a season-long loan, as he looks to get his depleted career back on track ahead of the Euros next year.

Despite having played for both halves of Milan, and appearing in several of it’s derbies, Balotelli is yet to open his account in this fixture and will be hoping to break the duck when he makes an appearance later on in the game.

In his first spell with the Casciavit, the former Manchester City striker amassed an incredible 30 strikes in 54 appearances, and will surely be adding more to it if he finds some time to grace the field.

#4 Battle of attacking duos

One of the startling similarities between the two clubs this season is that they both have reverted to a two-pronged attack, deploying two men at the top of their formations. Perhaps, the arrival of new forwards at both camps has fostered the tactical tweak. But the question that now arises is which side of the attacking duopoly will come out superior in the derby.

On the blue side, there is the most prolific forward of last season Mauro Icardi, who surprisingly, is yet to find the net this season. Although the season start hasn’t been straightforward for him, it is only a matter of time when he gets his shooting boots on again.

The Argentine has been the Messiah for Inter in the recent years, bailing them out with his impressive prowess in front of the goal but this time, the scoring burden will be shared by Jovetic, the Montenegro national who has scored all the three goals that Inter have accumulated in this campaign.

Both strikers have immense potential to take the league by storm, and together, can work wonders for their side.

As for the red half, Carlos Bacca and Luiz Adriano, two goal machines of last season, will be the focal point of their attack. The former starred in Sevilla’s Europa League triumph earlier this year and struck a staggering 28 times all season. His partner-in-crime, Adriano, shot to fame for his quintet of goals in the Champions League last season and accrued 21 in 33 appearances in all competitions.

The duo have garnered a strike each so far and will be pivotal in Milan’s hopes of clinching the derby.

The recent derbies have produced a smidgen of goals, but looking at the riches of attacking talents on display this time around, that is surely going to change. But which of the two will emerge as the dominant? We shall wait and see.