Italian journalist Mario Sconcerti believes that Inter must beat AC Milan in the derby on Sunday if they are to give themselves hope of getting back in the title race.

Writing in his column in today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Corriere della Sera, Sconcerti gave the view that the chase for the Scudetto is between AC Milan and Napoli unless the Nerazzurri can get three points from the derby.

Inter have enjoyed a fairly strong start to the season, but they nevertheless sit seven points behind league leaders the Rossoneri and the Partenopei, each of whom have only dropped two points so far after eleven matches.

The Nerazzurri will know that the pair are catchable with so much of the season still to play, but their hopes of defending last season’s crown are in serious jeopardy if they fall much further behind.

The weekend’s clash with Milan gives Inter a chance to close the gap on at least one major rival to four points in a direct head-to-head encounter, while their first match back from the international break is against the Partenopei and presents another such opportunity.

However, the derby also presents the possibility of the Nerazzurri seeing this opportunity pass by with the gap remaining or even widening between them and their city rivals, and then the deficit could start to look more imposing.

“The title race is certainly there for one of the two teams at the top,” Sconcerti writes. “Only Inter can reopen it by winning the derby in the next round – simple.”

“Milan is a cross between a European team and the best Latin qualities,” he goes on. “In Italy they have a different pace. Inter are now the last of those who can overtake them. The gap is getting wide. The derby comes at the right time, it will bring entertainment and the sense of definitive playoff.”