A piece of the Scudetto passes through here. After 10 years, the Milan derby (at 15 pm) is once again giving away the most important stake, namely the first place in the standings. Being only in February we don't know if this will be enough to get to the title, but it is clear that the odds are quite high: winning this derby number 228 (196 in the league), in short, could prove to be decisive in a tricolor key. On paper, Inter do better, who after an entire group chasing overtook just a week ago, thanks to the success against Lazio, but also to the noisy thud of Milan against Spezia. More generally, however, it has been since the beginning of 2021 that the Nerazzurri seem to be going at a greater speed, as if they had triggered a march that the Rossoneri are currently unable to get into gear.
Furthermore Conte was able to prepare for the derby for the whole week, while Pioli had to face the away match in Belgrade, moreover making up for a draw that certainly did not contribute to boosting morale. The Devil is therefore wounded and the Biscione smells the blood, aware that a win would take him to +4 in the standings: but the derby, as we know, is a game in itself, where predictions on the eve often leave the time they find. “It is a different derby compared to those of past years, because it puts the first and second side by side – Conte thought -. It's a great satisfaction for Milan that this stake is up for grabs, this derby must be won both for parochialism and for rankings. It's an important match against a strong team that deserves the ranking it has, we'll need a performance up to par but I don't think it will be decisive, because then there will be another 16 games. After Milan we will have Genoa, Parma fighting for salvation: we go forward step by step, then it is obvious that every victory gives morale and awareness of our strength...".
“It will be a derby like we haven't seen in a while, with a beautiful standings for both teams – confirmed Pioli -. Settle for the same? That would be the easiest way to lose, we want to play a great game and take back the lead we held for 20 days, even knowing that nothing would be decided anyway, given that there will then be 45 points available. This year the derbies have always been balanced, with many opportunities on both sides. Whoever has more compactness and will be able to express higher quality will also have a better chance of winning, that's why we want to play a top-level match". Ranking and parochialism are enough and go forward to give tons of stimuli, but today's match presents numerous "challenges within the challenge", starting with the one between Ibrahimovic and Lukaku.
The bad facts of the Italian Cup they are still etched in everyone's memory, so it is reasonable to expect that the two stars will compete to see who shines the brightest, also because Milan and Inter, for obvious reasons, cannot do without them. "With all due respect to Lukaku, I'll keep Ibra all my life" Pioli's investiture, "other than Sanremo, here we need to sing on the pitch" Conte retorted, touching on a delicate issue such as Zlatan's participation in the singing festival. Derby skirmishes, just to further boost a very hot challenge, despite the absence of the public, at least in the stands: outside, in fact, there will be thousands, on both sides, cheering on the teams before the match, not to mention the million viewers in front of the TV, in Italy and elsewhere.
Pioli will have to do without Bennacer, who stopped again in Belgrade, the usual Diaz and Mandzukic, who is in turn struggling with a muscle problem: therefore the choices are almost obligatory, for a 4-2-3-1 that will see Donnarumma in goal, Calabria, Kjaer, Romagnoli and Hernandez in defense, Tonali and Kessié in midfield, Saelemaekers, Calhanoglu and Rebic behind Ibrahimovic. 3-5-2 by order instead for Conte, who will have everyone available except Sensi (and this, unfortunately for him, is nothing new): Handanovic between the posts, Skriniar, De Vrij and Bastoni in the back department, Hakimi, Barella, Brozovic, Eriksen and Perisic in the midfield, Lukaku and Lautaro Martinez in attack.
This today will be the first derby without Mauro Bellugi, who passed away yesterday at the age of 71 after a long battle that had moved the world. The amputation of his legs, the result of some serious complications deriving from Covid, had not affected his morale, but unfortunately his body: and so in recent days, after an infection, he had been forced to undergo another surgery, from which sadly never recovered. Thus the warrior leaves the battle after having fought like a lion, without ever losing that smile that has accompanied him throughout his life, on the football fields, in television studios and, of course, in private. Inter and Milan, without any distinction of colors, will have to honor him in the best possible way, because it's a bet that he, up there, will watch the game cheering, commenting, agitating, but with that pinch of irony and good taste increasingly rare in today's football.
