AC Milan will host Inter on Sunday night in the Derby della Madonnina as these two giants of Italian football struggle for form.
The Rossoneri come into this game on the back of a 2-2 draw against Empoli last week. Sinisa Mihajlovic’s team are currently in sixth place on the Serie A table with 33 points after 21 matches.
The Nerazzurri haven’t been in great form either as they now sit joint third with Fiorentina in the league on 41 points. Inter drew 1-1 against Carpi last Sunday in the league and they were demolished 3-0 by Juventus in the Coppa Italia on Wednesday night.
Inter won the previous Milan derby 1-0 in gameweek three, thanks to a solitary Fredy Guarin goal. The Colombian midfielder had struggled to maintain a spot in the Nerazzurri’s starting line-up though and he has since transferred to Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua.
Mihajlovic will be missing Rodrigo Ely, Diego Lopez and Jeremy Menez with long-term injuries while Rossoneri right-back Ignazio Abate is one yellow card away from suspension. Mario Balotelli scored AC Milan’s only goal in their 1-0 win to Alessandria in the Coppa Italia but he is unlikely to start against the Biscione on Sunday.
Mancini will have a full strength team to choose from but he is expected to make a few changes to his team. Mauro Icardi is expected to keep his place in the team despite not scoring in Serie A for three matches but Rodrigo Palacio is likely to be on the bench despite opening the scoring against Carpi.
Miranda should be back in Inter’s first 11 while Juan Jesus will be back on the bench. Sampdoria striker Eder looks set to join the Nerazzurri and Mancini is reportedly keen to play him immediately. Geoffrey Kondogbia, Gary Medel and Miranda are also a yellow card away from being suspended.
Form Guide: AC Milan (D-W-L-D-W-D) Inter (W-L-W-L-D-D)
AC Milan: Donnarumma; Abate, Zapata, Romagnoli, Antonelli; Honda, Montolivo, Bertolacci, Bonaventura; Niang, Bacca
Inter: Handanovic; D’Ambrosio, Miranda, Murillo, Telles; Brozovic, Medel, Kondogbia; Perisic, Icardi, Ljajic
Source: forzaitalianfootball.com