Inter Milan and Juventus will face off in the Derby d’Italia on Sunday after a turbulent few months since their last meeting in November.
Squad Report
Inter Milan
Although they suffered a defeat in the reverse fixture last Autumn, Inter Milan has proven themselves victorious against their bitter rivals Juventus in recent matches that mattered. Winning the title in 2021, they also secured the Supercoppa and last year’s Coppa Italia final against the Turin-based club.
Their inconsistency following the winter break has severely affected their standings, earning a victory in the upcoming Derby d’Italia crucial for an immediate morale boost and putting them back on track for Champions League qualification.
However, their Scudetto hopes have been dashed as they trail the Serie A leaders Napoli by 18 points after experiencing their eighth league defeat against Spezia. To make matters worse, even the fifth-placed Roma is within three points of them.
Inter Milan Serie A Form: D W L W L
Juventus
Juventus had a disappointing run in the Champions League, as they failed to progress beyond the group stage after losing to Benfica twice. As a result, they had to settle for a place in the Europa League, which has provided them with some much-needed positivity amidst a tumultuous time both on and off the field.
In the midweek fixture against Freiburg, Juventus secured a quarter-final spot with a 2-0 win in Germany, thanks to a penalty by Dusan Vlahovic. Their success in the Europa League has been one of the year’s highlights for the team.
Moreover, with the help of Angel Di Maria, Juventus has found its scoring form in the domestic league this year. Previously, they had been relying on 1-0 wins to see them through, but since the winter break, they have scored more goals than any other team except Napoli.
Their victory count during this time is only surpassed by the Serie A leaders, further cementing their progress in the league.
Juventus Serie A Form: W W W L W
Squad Report
Inter Milan
Simone Inzaghi, the Inter Milan coach, may be forced to change his defensive line for the upcoming match due to injuries.
Milan Skriniar experienced a recurrence of his persistent back issue during the week, while Alessandro Bastoni is now grappling with a muscular injury.
As a result, the coach may have to rely on Stefan de Vrij or Danilo D’Ambrosio to fill in as a replacement.
Juventus
Arkadiusz Milik’s recent return from injury has placed him in contention for a starting spot.
Federico Chiesa is expected to appear from the bench, having recently made a comeback.
However, thigh injuries have ruled out the likes of Paul Pogba and Alex Sandro for the upcoming match.
Inter Milan’s predicted starting lineup:
Onana; Darmian, De Vrij, Acerbi; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Martinez, Lukaku
Juventus’ predicted starting lineup:
Szczesny; Danilo, Bremer, Rugani; De Sciglio, Fagioli, Locatelli, Rabiot, Kostic; Di Maria; Vlahovic
Head to Head
The upcoming Derby d’Italia will mark the 247th meeting between Juventus and Inter Milan in competitive games.
So far, Juventus have the upper hand in the head-to-head record, having claimed victory in 111 matches.
Inter Milan has secured 75 wins, while 60 games have ended in a draw.
Time, Date & Venue
Date: Sunday, March 19
Time: 07:45 pm, UTC
Venue: San Siro/Giuseppe Meazza stadium, Milan
Prediction
As both teams gear up for their final match before the international break, they will be determined to give their all in pursuit of victory in the Derby d’Italia.
Despite the fierce competition, the match could end in a draw, with neither team willing to give an inch in what is expected to be a captivating spectacle at San Siro.
