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The city of Milan will be at the daggers drawn this weekend, as two of its biggest sides, Inter and AC, lock horns at the San Siro stadium in the 226th Derby Della Madonnina on Saturday.
The Nerazzurri boast a superior head-to-head record historically and have also dominated the recent meetings between the two sides, winning each of the last four games in the league. However, the form guide suggests the Rossoneri are the better side heading into this fixture.
They've won each of their opening three games in Serie A so far without conceding a single goal, whereas Conte's side have started the season wobbly in defense, leaking six goals despite picking seven points from a possible nine.
Ahead of the mouthwatering clash, we look at how Inter Milan and AC Milan would line up in a combined XI.
Goalkeeper: Gianluigi Donnarumma (AC Milan)
Samir Handanovic has been one of Serie A's finest goalkeepers over the last decade, but a rusty start to the new season in goal means his opposite number gets the nod here, who hasn't conceded even once in three games so far.
He's been around the block for so long that it's easy to forget Donnarumma is still only 21, but his top-notch performances on the field thoroughly belie his age, while his influence on AC Milan continues to grow year on year.
With 12 clean sheets last season, the Italian international ranked third in the Serie A but led Europe's top five leagues in terms of penalties saves with five! Now in the 2020/21 season, he's already recorded three more clean sheets to his name.
Right-back: Achraf Hakimi (Inter Milan)
Hakimi, signed from Real Madrid in the summer for €40 million, has already bagged a goal and two assists, the first of which came just 20 minutes into his Inter Milan debut. He's taking to the Serie A like a fish to water, perhaps.
After two glorious years at Borussia Dortmund, the marauding Moroccan has emerged as one of the most creative full-backs, while playing as a wing-back under Antonio Conte seems to have unlocked an extra level or two in his game.
Centre-back: Simon Kjaer (AC Milan)
Perhaps an unpopular pick, but Milan Skriniar's struggles in a back-three pave the way for Simon Kjaer into this line-up, with the Danish international proving to be a crucial addition to the Rossoneri since joining from Sevilla in January.
A composed center-back with a knack for positional awareness, Kjaer rarely concedes possession in the final third. His immaculate passing accuracy makes him vital to building up play from the back, while an average of over three aerial duels per game is a testament to his aerial prowess.
Centre-back: Stefan de Vrij (Inter Milan)
Whilst not the most transformative of signings, the arrival of de Vrij has at least alleviated Inter's defensive woes. Last season, he played a starring role in both domestic and European campaigns, even showing his attacking game by contributing nine goals in all competitions.
The Dutchman's interceptions are crucial in breaking opposition play and remains dangerous from set-pieces too. Accurate passing, however, is De Vrij's best characteristic, averaging a 92% success rate last season. In the 2020-21 season, De Vrij boasts a 94% pass accuracy, making him one of the best in the business in that attribute.
Left-back: Theo Hernandez (AC Milan)
Another creative full-back ignored by Real Madrid, Theo Hernandez was among the best signings of last season, scoring six goals and assisting five in Serie A to bring a new dimension to Milan's attacking vanguard.
He's already off the mark in the 2020/21 season too, with direct involvement in two goals from the opening three games. The Spaniard brings so much guile and pace down the left side, whilst also constantly linking up with the frontline.
Defensive midfielder: Ismael Bennacer (AC Milan)
AC Milan pulled off a major coup with the €16 million acquisition of Ismael Bennacer from Empoli last season. The Algerian proved to be the key in bringing about balance to the midfield, even getting the best out of Frank Kessie in a double-pivot.
The 22-year old sits deep to recycle possession, which greatly benefits the defense but also has the ability to carry the ball forward by dribbling it into dangerous areas. He was one of the driving factors in Milan's strong run post-lockdown last season.
Defensive midfielder: Franck Kessie (AC Milan)
The staggering number of quality defensive midfielders made this one a tough pick, but Franck Kessie deservedly beats out all the competition owing to his tremendous form in this calendar year. He continues to be a vital cog of this revamped Milan squad.
His defensive prowess offers a real presence in the midfield, whilst he's also responsible for controlling the tempo with excellent distribution skills.
Central attacking midfielder: Nicolo Barella (Inter Milan)
Nicolo Barella's rise to prominence over the last year has been incredible. The young Italian has garnered attention for his box-to-box qualities and ability to instigate counter-attacks, prompting the club to sign him permanently this summer.
His all-round performances have been lauded by legends such as Andrea Pirlo and Alessandro Del Piero, while at only 23, there's still scope for improvement.
Central attacking midfielder: Hakan Calhanoglu (AC Milan)
His free-kick prowess may have declined but Calhanoglu remains instrumental to Milan. He scored and assisted nine goals apiece last season, most of which came after the lockdown as the Turkish international was the driving force behind the team's strong finish.
Calhanoglu is incredibly versatile and is capable of playing anywhere in the midfield, while his striking ability from distance is one of his key strengths. A formidable creative force, the former Bayer Leverkusen star's set-piece delivery is one of his standout characteristics as well.
Striker: Romelu Lukaku (Inter Milan)
One of the best signings of last season, Romelu Lukaku recaptured his best form with the Nerazzurri, scoring 34 times in all competitions, including 23 in Serie A, as the Belgian came up clutch for his side domestically as well as in Europe.
He equaled Ronaldo Nazario's club record for most goals by a debutant and has already opened his account for the new season with three goals so far. Safe to say Lukaku is back to being the striker that everyone feared in Premier League.
Striker: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (AC Milan)
Dropping the in-form Lautaro Martinez might not seem fair, but the impact which Ibrahimovic has had upon returning to AC Milan is telling. The ageless Swede proved to be a transformative signing for them, scoring 10 times in just 18 top-flight appearances last season.
Besides just goals, the 39-year old has brought a winning mentality to the club, as evidenced from their blistering form post-lockdown, whilst also being the guiding light to several youngsters in the squad.
He struck twice against Bologna before the international break to open his account for the new season.
