Former AC Milan forward Mark Hateley believes that the Rossoneri will come out on top in this afternoon’s derby clash against Inter.
Speaking with The Italian Football Podcast, the 59-year-old Englishman discussed the Milanese derby this afternoon and the title race this season.
“There’s going to be goals in the Milan derby. I’m going to put my neck on the line and say a 2-1 or 3-2 win for Milan.
“I think Milan can win the Scudetto. They started great, go the momentum going. They have had their little blip and recovered. Now they have their biggest rivals, Inter and Juventus, chasing them on.
“They are top of the table, it’s up to the rest to catch them. I think Juventus with their experience will push them but I think Milan can do it. It’s a really exciting title race.”
Hateley also spoke about who he thinks would win in a fight between Inter talisman Romelu Lukaku and Rossoneri veteran Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
“I think it would be a really good fight. People would pay to watch that. We could open a stadium for it. Both very powerful personalities.
“Romelu is a very powerful man. Ibra is the technician. I wouldn’t like to call it. It would be a very tough fight!”
Antonio Conte’s side go in to today’s derby sitting top of the Serie A table after 22 games, sitting on 50 points, one ahead of Stefano Pioli’s squad.
The Nerazzurri are coming from a period of strong form, having picked up 13 out of a possible 15 points in the last five games.
The Rossoneri, on the other hand, are looking to shake off a bitter 2-0 loss to 16th place Spezia.
The first time these two teams met this season, the Rossoneri ran off 2-1 winners back in October, although the Nerazzurri got their revenge in last month’s Coppa Italia quarter-finals.
