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AC Milan and Inter Milan lock horns in yet another edition of the historic Derby della Madonnina at the San Siro this weekend. The Milan derby is one of the biggest fixtures in Italian football and for good reason. The two Italian giants have always had excellent players in their ranks and this fixture has given rise to heated exchanges in the past.
AC Milan have slipped behind Inter Milan in the Serie A title race and will be desperate for a victory in this fixture. Only one point separates the Rossoneri from the Nerazzurri at the moment and with the Serie A title race heating up, neither team will want to concede ground this weekend.
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AC Milan have experienced a recent slump and have a few defensive issues to solve going into this fixture. Inter Milan, on the other hand, have been clinical under Antonio Conte and their exemplary form holds them in good stead ahead of this fixture.
The previous meeting between the two teams in the Coppa Italia last month ended in a hard-fought 2-1 victory for Inter Milan. Both teams have excellent players in their ranks and this contest is likely to be decided by a series of intriguing battles on the pitch.
#5 Hakan Calhanoglu vs Marcelo Brozovic
Hakan Calhanoglu has been one of AC Milan's most effective players so far this season. The Rossoneri maestro has already bagged eight assists in the Serie A this season and has been at his influential best over the past few months.
With Calhanoglu in the form of his life, Inter Milan's robust midfield will have to put in a few additional shifts to curb the Turkish midfielder's creative instincts. Marcelo Brozovic is the Nerazzurri's primary defensive midfielder and will have plenty of work to do in this fixture.
Brozovic has come into his own for Inter Milan after a slow start to the season and has been an understated enforcer of their resurgence under Antonio Conte. The Croatian veteran has plenty of experience in the Serie A and will have to be at his best against AC Milan's Hakan Calhanoglu this weekend.
#4 Franck Kessie vs Nicolo Barella
AC Milan and Inter Milan have both been resurgent forces in the Serie A this season and their midfield prodigies have blossomed as a result. Franck Kessie is one of AC Milan's most important players and has perfected his box-to-box role with the Rossoneri.
Inter Milan also have a trick up their sleeves in Nicolo Barella and have relied on their young Italian prodigy to pull the strings in the middle of the pitch. Antonio Conte's outfit has grown into an attacking juggernaut in recent weeks and Nicolo Barella's performances have made the Nerazzurri a force to reckon with.
The Milan derby is often characterised by understated midfield battles and Kessie's tussle with the impressive Nicolo Barella is likely to be a highlight of this match.
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#3 Romelu Lukaku vs Alessio Romagnoli
Inter Milan have found a talisman in Romelu Lukaku this season and AC Milan will have to devise specific plans to keep the Belgian superstar at bay. Lukaku has been in exceptional form in recent weeks and will look forward to the derby this weekend.
Alessio Romagnoli's startling slump in recent weeks has presented AC Milan with a few problems. The Rossoneri captain has not been at his best this season and will need to step up to the plate against one of the Serie A's best sides on Sunday.
Romelu Lukaku has been enjoying himself in the Serie A this season and has already managed 16 goals in his 18 league games so far. The Inter Milan spearhead is virtually unstoppable on his day and AC Milan and Stefano Pioli will have to create a system that nullifies Lukaku's devastating attacking movements. Alessio Romagnoli, in particular, will find himself in the spotlight if AC Milan are to keep a clean sheet against Antonio Conte's side.
#2 Achraf Hakimi vs Theo Hernandez
Achraf Hakimi's performances for Inter Milan this season have been nothing short of sensational. The former Real Madrid full-back has been a formidable creative force in Antonio Conte's 3-5-2 formation and is lethal at his best.
Hakimi has six goals and four assists in 16 Serie A appearances this season and his ability to dominate his flank has been critical to Inter Milan's dominance in the league. In Theo Hernandez, however, AC Milan have the perfect answer to Hakimi's brilliance and will rely on their own prodigious full-back to make an impact on the derby.
Theo Hernandez also has a penchant for making attacking runs and his presence will hamper Hakimi's progressions in the final third. The two prodigies are considered among the best full-backs in Europe at the moment and will want to win their individual bragging rights going into this match.
#1 Zlatan Ibrahimovic vs Stefan de Vrij
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has transformed AC Milan into a powerful juggernaut. The Swedish superstar has been a formidable part of the Rossoneri outfit and has racked up 14 goals in only 11 appearances so far this season.
Inter Milan have faced their former spearhead on several occasions in the past and will be aware of Ibrahimovic's array of skills in the penalty area. The AC Milan striker has tormented Nerazzurri in the past and will look to find the back of the net this weekend.
Stefan de Vrij will be up against one of the Serie A's most formidable challenges on Sunday and cannot afford to put a foot wrong in the Milan derby. Zlatan Ibrahimovic is usually at his best on the biggest of stages and has a point to prove against Inter Milan.
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