#derby-della-madonnina

#derby-della-madonnina

A ball was sent long and as the Portuguese forward attempted to win it, he went to the floor holding his hair. He then approached referee Simone Sozza to say that the Italian defender had pulled him down by his hair. There was then a coming together between the pair, but Sozza seemed to be more strict with Leao, despite the video replays showing that he was very much telling the truth regarding what the former Lazio man had done.

This is a fascinating match for all it represents, and we know what it means for the fans. They want to have a relaxing Monday without getting mocked by their friends, and this is what makes football so great. We know what we want to do. The world is watching us.

I actually couldn't even dare to hope for such a clear victory because less than two months earlier, we had changed coaches [Cesare Maldini replacing Zaccheroni] and because the season hadn't gone so well. That win relaunched us.

Massimiliano Allegri is expected to make quite a few changes to the starting XI for tomorrow's Derby della Madonnina, compared to the 2-2 draw against Parma. The international break has come to an end and Milan are ready to get back underway, having recovered some key players as well. Christian Pulisic is now back in full fitness, while Adrien Rabiot has been training with the squad since Tuesday.

"I don't think so. It won't affect the outcome of the season, it's too early to say it's decisive. Of course, it's always nice to win it. "Both teams are in good form. Getting a result, however, is more important for Milan who remain a little more fragile than the Nerazzurri. They must continue to grow, and a defeat would perhaps halt that process."

Shevchenko is someone who knows all about the derby: he is the all-time top goalscorer in the fixture's history with 14 goals. He has scored some big ones too, so as the one that effectively put Milan in the Champions League final back in 2003. He also netted twice in the famous 6-0 victory over Inter back in May 2001.

In Milan, you can truly be friends with someone from the other side and even show it in public, as long as you remember that on the pitch, no prisoners are taken. The law that governs Inter-Milan is ancient, written in this noble history, and Sunday will certainly be no different. Yesterday as today, there are always threads connecting the two dressing rooms, enduring relationships that transcend tensions over 90 minutes.

"I'm fine, I've worked in the gym and off it these past few weeks. I just miss the pitch! I'm feeling great both physically and mentally." "No athlete likes being injured, I'm sorry I couldn't help the team during this period. I took a little longer to recover because when it comes to calves, you have to be careful. It's better not to risk being out for another three or four weeks."

This is the derby I expect. Inter, who love to manoeuvre, will attack. Milan will be ready to counterattack and take all the space. How did Allegri prepare for important matches? He worked on his opponents' weaknesses. He was good at replicating in matches what he practised in training. And he instilled confidence, banishing excuses and fear. Where will the derby be decided? I'd choose the duel between Modric and Çalhanoglu, given that Chivu will push Çalhanoglu a lot on the opposing playmaker.

This season, Alexis Saelemaekers has been a standout player for AC Milan, and he will hope to return in fine form. The international break was kind to Milan as a whole. 12 players departed, and none returned with any concerns. In fact, most return in fine spirits, whether that be from personal contributions or team achievements. An example of that is Saelemaekers, who secured World Cup qualification after a 7-0 win against Liechtenstein.

It's limiting to say [it's] just passion, but it's Modric's quality that is dictating the team's pace today. I'm happy for Milan. Ultimately, he's playing one game a week this year and can recover. As the years go by, you can be a phenomenon, but in the end, they make themselves felt. Having him in our league and at Milan is a great pleasure to be able to see him every Sunday.

The derby between Inter and AC Milan is also a battle of coaches who both know their clubs well. With Massimiliano Allegri, there is cause for optimism too. As La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) write this morning, you never forget your first derby. If you win it while you're top of the table, even more so. On November 14, 2010, in the 12th game of the season (like on Sunday), Allegri faced Inter for the first time as Milan boss.

Santiago Gimenez is running a race against time to make it back for the Derby della Madonnina next week, according to a report. The Mexican striker has been sidelined for a few weeks now due to an ankle problem, which had been affecting him since the start of the season. The goal was to use the current international break to make a full recovery, but there are no some doubts about that.

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.

The Derby della Madonnina will be an interesting one. It arrives just a few weeks after AC Milan and Inter bought San Siro. So, it will be a historical game. A lot of the recent talk about Milan and Inter has been peaceful, about the two clubs working together. However, with the Derby round the corner, the tide could quickly turn, with both sides desperate for points.