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The big derby between AC Milan and Inter is fast approaching, scheduled for Sunday next week, and the two managers are both hoping to have some key questions answered.
Today’s edition of Gazzetta dello Sport (see photo below) has taken a closer look at the upcoming Derby della Madonnina. In addition to highlighting the importance of the game, the newspaper also picked out ten questions that Max Allegri and Christian Chivu will want answered.
From the performance of the two attacks, with Pulisic-Leao for Milan and Thuram-Lautaro for Inter, to the battle between stars in midfield, it will certainly be an interesting game. So, what are the questions that the pink newspaper has picked out? Let’s take a look…
1) First of all, Inter will be very interested to see how the return of Marcus Thuram will affect the attack. The Frenchman returned for a cameo against Lazio last time out but hadn’t played for five games before that, and he has remained at Appiano Gentile during the break to maximise recovery.
2) Has Chivu finally found his way? After a rocky start to the season, with some ups and downs, Inter are increasingly looking like the manager’s team. The style is different from Simone Inzaghi, that much is clear, and now Chivu’s tactical efforts are starting to pay off.
3) At the back, Chivu will have to decide between the youngster Yann Aurel Bisseck and the veteran Francesco Acerbi. The latter did very well against Lazio last time out and has given the manager something to think about: will his experience overcome the lack of pace?
4) Milan and Inter have two very different approaches to the defensive phase, with the Rossoneri preferring to sit low and wait out their opponents. The Nerazzurri, meanwhile, want to press immediately and this will make for an interesting in-game battle. Which approach will work best?
5) Hakan Calhanoglu, who came close to leaving Inter in the summer, will continue to play a key role with his passes in the deep-lying role. The difference in this derby, however, is that his Milan equivalent is called Luka Modric. A battle as good as any, but who will win it?
6) Will the balancer return? Adrien Rabiot has played a key role immediately for Milan and since his recovery is going well, it looks like he will be back in time for the derby. He will add much-needed balance, hard work and experience to the team.
7) The biggest question for Milan, perhaps, is whether they are actually a Scudetto contender. There have been many doubts on this front after the collapse against Parma, but the derby is a chance to prove themselves and send a big signal to the rest.
8) Is Leao-Pulisic the best attacking duo for Milan? The numbers certainly suggest so; in fact, the eyes do too. The two have performed very well this season at different times, but the Inter clash could be their first start together since the Coppa Italia clash against Bari in August.
9) With the wins against Napoli and Roma (almost a win against Juve too), Allegri has been a manager for the big games so far. Will that trend continue against Inter? It would certainly a be a big difference compared to last season…
10) How much will Modric be able to do? Chivu is well aware of the Croatian’s importance and he will try to limit him as much as possible. As other teams have experienced, however, it’s difficult to close down the 40-year-old even when you try to.
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