First of all, a dutiful premise: as Massimo Moratti recalled, favorites almost never win. Milan fans can also beg you, this is the law of the derby. However, there is that "almost" to revive the Rossoneri people, who remember the first leg well. Inter arrived as favorites after beating Fiorentina and won as predicted. In short, it is useless to cling to the cabal, in races like these anything and the opposite of everything can happen. Then on Sunday evening there is something big up for grabs, which goes far beyond the city's supremacy. In fact, third place represents the boundary between a positive and a negative season, as well as an important encouragement for the next one. It's one thing to collect the millions from the Champions League, to the delight of presidents and managing directors, it's another to find yourself in the quicksand of the Europa League, or worse, without cups. An enormous difference, which even becomes abysmal in the market phase, both in terms of appeal and purchasing power. Already aware of Fiorentina's result (engaged at 15 pm at the Dall'Ara in Bologna) and waiting to verify Lazio's response (who will play against Pescara on Monday evening), Milan and Inter will take the field in third and fifth respectively place, but separated by a single point. Balance also in numbers: 44 goals scored and 31 conceded for the Rossoneri, 40 and 33 for the Nerazzurri. However, the figures do not take into account the moment of form, clearly smiling in Via Turati. Looking at 2013 alone (but we could go even further back), Milan played 7 league games, totaling 5 wins and 2 draws, while Inter won only 2 times, against 3 defeats and 2 draws . “I don't like forecasts, we have to go on day by day – declared the superstitious Galliani. – It's just a pity that the challenge arrives so soon, immediately after the match against Barcelona. In any case, it will be a very important match, we are separated by just one point and we are both playing for the Champions League."
“The derby already causes tension – replied Moratti. We are all waiting for this moment. Milan are favourites, indeed they are super favourites. I'm not saying this ironically, they just beat Barcelona. Even if, usually, the one who is not the favorite wins…”.
To "pepper" the derby number 279 (the 158th in Serie A) further there is the crazed splinter Balotelli. It goes without saying that Super Mario is the quintessential character of this derby: all eyes will be on him, for better or for worse. "It has the same effect on me seeing him in a Manchester City shirt" declared Moratti venomous, but no one believed him. The climate for him will be incandescent, along the lines of what occurred in the first leg with Cassano, plus the specter of racism. "I'm sure nothing will happen" Galliani glossed over, but his speech seemed more like a wish than a hope. Tough match also for Stramaccioni, called to redeem himself after Inter's aberrant performance in Florence. The victory in Cluj was only a straw, the games will take place on Sunday. When Milan puts on its best suit and decorates the San Siro in red and blue.
