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The Derby della Madonnina could well be won off the bench, and if that were the case then it is far more likely to be in Inter’s favour.
As Corriere dello Sport (via PressReader) write this morning, when Cristian Chivu stands in the dugout on Sunday evening, he’ll have a treasure chest to guard. The haul is already impressive, considering we’re not even at the halfway point of the season: six league goals from his substitutes so far.
Bonny was the latest, with the game-winning goal against Lazio, but he’s also the one who’s provided the most: four in total. He’s joined by Pio Esposito, who broke new ground against Cagliari, and Piotr Zielinski whose gem landed in the top corner at Hellas Verona.
The secret and the comparison
To find the ‘treasure’, the Romanian coach didn’t need a map, he simply followed his instincts and pressed the right buttons. Despite his limited experience as a first-team coach, he naturally navigated the pitfalls of a summer that brought with it many challenges and few certainties.
📰 Today’s edition of @CorSport…
️⚽️ "Chivu, golden bench. Inter, the reserves scored six goals: double those if #ACMilan." pic.twitter.com/ezjqYva5c5
— SempreMilan (@SempreMilanCom) November 19, 2025
Chivu worked hard, especially on the minds of the players, to build a solid foundation from which to build. He also extended it to the entire group, not just the core of the squad, and that is why the substitutes believe they can be decisive.
The importance of these resources is also evident when compared to their cousins: compared to the Nerazzurri’s substitutes, the Rossoneri’s have so far provided Max Allegri with half as many goals in Serie A, just three.
Zachary Athekame, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Samuele Ricci are the players who have netted off the bench for Milan. The comparison among the reserve forwards is particularly merciless: five goals for Bonny and Esposito, zero for Nkunku and Gimenez.
Allegri obviously has fewer resources at his disposal, because of a squad streamlined due to a lack of European competitions. However, looking ahead to the next 90 minutes, the bench options are certainly a candidate for being a key factor in the final victory.
This is also because there will still be energy management to be had on the pitch: both coaches will have to take into account the fatigue of the past few days that various internationals have accrued.
Furthermore, Chivu will have to fly with his players to Madrid three days later to face Atletico, where precious points are up for grabs in order to secure a direct qualification to the Champions League round of 16.
Much, therefore, will also depend on the contribution of those thrown into the fray during the match. In that treasure trove just a stone’s throw away, the Inter coach will be able to find everything he needs to win the derby and consolidate his position at the top of the league.
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