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Serie A giants Inter Milan and Juventus will lock horns in the Italian derby tonight at the San Siro in an enticing match-up. The Nerazzurri, despite losing some key players of their Scudetto-winning campaign in the summer, have made a strong start to their 2021-22 campaign.
With five wins and 17 points in eight games, the reigning champions are in third place. They will look to bounce back from a defeat to Lazio in their last game, their first loss of the season.
The Bianconeri, meanwhile, have struggled following Cristiano Ronaldo's departure, but have slowly recaptured their mojo. They have won their last four league games on the bounce.
Trailing Inter by just three points, they can now close the gap on the holders further with a win tonight. However, on their last visit to the San Siro, Juventus lost 2-0. Ahead of the 242nd Italian derby, here's a look at five key battles that could determine the outcome of the game:
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#5 Marcelo Brozovic (Inter Milan) vs Manuel Locatelli (Juventus)
As is often the case in football, the key battles are often in midfield. So keep an eye on the duel between Marcelo Brozovic and Manuel Locatelli.
Brozovic has been a mainstay in Inter Milan's XI for some time now, and has been key to breaking down opposition attacks. Meanwhile, new-signing Locatelli has brought plenty of energy and dynamism to Juventus' midfield.
He can open up teams with his expansive passing range, and possesses excellent vision and ball control. Keeping Locatelli under check could be quite a task, but should Brozovic manage to do so, Inter could stand to benefit greatly.
#4 Ivan Perisic (Inter Milan) vs Juan Cuadrado (Juventus)
Both players love to roam forward and offer width to their respective sides, so watching them go head-to-head would be interesting. Ivan Perisic has had a slow start to his campaign, but is slowly getting back to form, contributing three goals in his last four games.
His Colombian counterpart, meanwhile, is also menacing going forward. Cuadrado's exquisite crossing ability a driving force for Juventus in attack, but he will also have to deal with Perisic's forward movements in the game.
Cuadrado is blessed with good pace and makes timely recoveries, something that could come in handy in his duel with Perisic.
#3 Nicolo Barella (Inter Milan) vs Alex Sandro (Juventus)
An underrated operator in Inter Milan's team, Nicolo Barella was a revelation during their successful title run last season. He garnered attention for his creative skills and lung-bursting runs.
He's adept in winning back possession and starting quick attacking plays, something Alex Sandro will have to keep in mind when he drifts forward. If Sandro leaves too much space in behind, Barella could wreak havoc.
The Brazilian has a penchant for joining his team's attacks like a modern-day full-back. But against Barella, he'll have to be vigilant and muster all his defensive nous to negate the Italian's threat.
#2 Alvaro Morata (Juventus) vs Stefan de Vrij (Inter Milan)
It hasn't been the most spectacular start to his 2021-22 campaign, as he has scored only twice in the league from seven appearances. But Massimiliano Allegri will continue to pin his faith in Alvaro Morata to find the goals for Juventus on Sunday.
The Spaniard, who extended his loan spell at the club following an impressive 2020-21 campaign, is capable of linking up play between the lines. He is also adept in hold-up play.
Morata provided an excellent foil for Cristiano Ronaldo. He now does the same for whoever partners him up front as he bamboozles defences with his intelligent runs. Stefan de Vrij must be wary of that on Sunday.
De Vrij is a physically imposing defender who combines smart positioning with game-reading acumen. He is currently averaging over two clearances in Serie A and 1.6 tackles.
De Vrij will have to muster every ounce of his defensive nous to keep Morata in check. He must look to avoid giving the Juventus striker too much time and space on the ball.
#1 Edin Dzeko (Inter Milan) vs Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus)
Many doubted Edin Dzeko's ability to lead the line for Inter Milan at 35, after the Bosnian was signed to replace the Chelsea-bound Romelu Lukaku. But with seven goals and three assists in 11 games so far, Dzeko has emphatically silenced his critics.
Not only has the former AS Roma striker slotted in seamlessly in Simone Inzaghi's set-up, but he has also proved that age is just a number.
His pace and directness make him a handful for defenders, so Leonardo Bonucci will have the enviable task of keeping Dzeko in check.
The veteran Juventus centre-back has good positional sense and is solid in tackling. He has got the better of Dzeko many times before. He will look to do so again on Sunday as Juventus seek another league win.
