Italian Serie A
2008-05-04 - AC Milan vs Inter Milan
A Sports Betting Pick by Mario
Italy, Serie A
Sunday 4th May 2008 - KO 14:00
Derby Della Madonnina Comes at Crucial Time
The Madonnina – statue of Virgin Mary - is one of the main tourist sights in Milan, but on Sunday the city’s eyes will be on events at the San Siro, where the Derby game has rarely had such importance.
Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti got his geography wrong when he claimed this week that Sunday’s Milan Derby is bigger than the Champions League final.
But given that Inter never do well in the Champions League perhaps this is the biggest possible set of stakes for the Nerazzurri.
If Inter Milan win here then they will claim the title, and AC Milan will risk failing to make next season’s Champions League.
Inter’s six point lead at the top of Serie A, with three games remaining, puts the reigning league champions in a strong enough position that a win here isn’t essential to their title defence.
However, the Nerazzurri would land a symbolic blow to claim the Scudetto at their neighbours’ expense, particularly as it would also severely damage Milan’s Champions League pretensions.
It is probably fair to say that Inter Milan have been toiling in recent weeks, despite producing four straight league wins. Solid evidence was given in their goalless home draw at the San Siro with Lazio in the Coppa Italia semi-final first leg on April 16th.
Roberto Mancini started with teenager Mario Balotelli last weekend, but despite the absence of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, may decide not to risk the inexperienced Balotelli in such a volatile game.
Carlo Ancelotti may also go for age of youth, sticking with 34 year old Pipo Inzaghi after his hat-trick last weekend at Livorno.
BOOKMAKERS VIEW
The Nerazzurri have won the last three Milan Derbies but PinnacleSports.com price AC Milan favourites at 1.719 (AH 0) with Inter Milan 2.290 (AH 0).
PROBABLE TEAM NEWS
With an injury list that includes Ronaldo, Paolo Maldini – who may have played his last Milan derby if he goes through with his threat to quit at the end of the season – Emerson, Marcos Cafu, Nelson Dida and Serginho, boss Carletto is keen to keep an unchanged starting XI from the team who overcame Livorno 4-1 courtesy of a Pippo Inzaghi hat-trick.
AC Milan : Kalac; Bonera, Nesta, Kaladze, Favalli; Gattuso, Pirlo, Ambrosini; Kaka, Seedorf; Inzaghi
On the blue and black half of the San Siro, the papers expect a couple of changes from Mancio as he opts for experience over youthful exuberance. That means no starting place for Mario Balotelli, with Hernan Crespo expected to be recalled alongside Julio Cruz.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Luis Figo, Ivan Cordoba, Walter Samuel and Olivier Dacourt all remain injured.
Inter Milan : Julio Cesar; Maicon, Chivu, Materazzi, Maxwell; Vieira, Cambiasso, Zanetti, Stankovic; Cruz, Crespo
THE VERDICT
AC Milan desperately need to win - while Inter Milan would probably be satisfied with a draw that would edge them closer to the title and also spike their neighbours Champions League chances.
The Statistics :
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Pick :
AC Milan 1-1 Inter Milan
