AC Milan vs Inter Milan: 5 key battles to watch out for | Serie A 2020-21

#3 Romelu Lukaku vs Alessio Romagnoli

Alessio Romagnoli will be up against Lukaku

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.

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#2 Achraf Hakimi vs Theo Hernandez

AC Milan and Inter Milan have excellent full-backs

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.

A Milanese renaissance has seen Inter and AC Milan reclaim their status as the powerhouses of Italian soccer this season after a decade of underachievement. https://t.co/ZjUXwXRIzP

— Reuters Sports (@ReutersSports) February 19, 2021

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.

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#1 Zlatan Ibrahimovic vs Stefan de Vrij

Ibrahimovic has been excellent this season

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.

🚨 ⚽️ 🗳️@Ibra_official | @acmilan | @RomeluLukaku9 | @Inter | #MilanInter Who would you prefer up front?

— FIFA.com (@FIFAcom) February 20, 2021

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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