Analysis:

Match of the week as well as the Derby di Milano is here and you can expect to see fireworks at the San Siro when these two sides clash. These two sides are separated by six points but Milan have a game in hand, which is a tough trip to Fiorentina rescheduled for February.

There are injury problems on both sides with some top stars missing out. Samuel Eto’o is on Africa Cup of Nations duty, while Cristian Chivu and Thiago Motta are sidelined. Dejan Stankovic and Sulley Muntari are unlikely to recover in time, leaving very few options for Jose Mourinho in midfield. Davide Santon could step in as left-back to push Javier Zanetti further up the pitch with Mario Balotelli coming in as a makeshift winger.

Milan on the other hand will be missing the likes of Alexandre Pato, who has flown back to Brazil for treatment on a thigh strain, Massimo Oddo, Gianluca Zambrotta and Oguchi Onyewu. The biggest concern is is Alessandro Nesta, whose x-rays on Thursday showed a thigh injury is still causing him concern.

Nesta will therefore undergo a late fitness test to determine if he can take part in the derby, otherwise Giuseppe Favalli or Kakha Kaladze will partner Thiago Silva. Clarence Seedorf has recovered, but will start from the bench.

Leonardo, the coach of Milan will not be too worried as injuries have helped him as they allow him to maintain the same front line that proved so successful in recent weeks. With Pato sidelined, the trio of David Beckham, Ronaldinho and Marco Borriello have come together for three consecutive victories over Genoa, Juventus and Siena. In that run they have scored 12 goals and conceded only two which included Ronaldinho’s hat-trick and an incredible Borriello volley.

Unlike Milan, Inter have relied heavily on their never-say-die spirit to avoid embarrassing setbacks against Siena and Bari. The first time they came from 3-2 down at the 87th minute to win 4-3, then from 2-0 at the San Nicola last week to scrape a point.

Thus this could put them as the underdog for this derby if going by recent form but that usually brings out the best in them. Goran Pandev has been a valuable January addition and gelled with Diego Milito, while Wesley Sneijder continues to get the team going.

When these sides met back in week two, it ended in a 4-0 win for Inter Milan. That was helped by Gennaro Gattuso's first half sacking. Milan will want to avenge that defeat and get closer to Inter at the top of the table.

Take note that a draw is unlikely, as these teams haven’t shared the spoils since a 0-0 in October 2004, followed by six wins each. Milan last won the ‘away’ derby in February 2005 and have lost four on the bounce. The last stalemate was 2-2 on March 13 1999, when Leonardo bagged a brace for the ‘visitors'.

Take Inter Milan to win this match.

Cheers and good luck,
Cruiser

The Statistics :

The Pick :

Inter Milan 2-1 or 3-2

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

Take Inter Milan to win this match.

HANDICAP BETTING :

Take Inter Milan on level ball here.