Italian journalist Luigi Garlando believes that Inter and AC Milan can see this evening’s first derby of the season as an opportunity to lift themselves mentally ahead of the rest of the season.
Writing in a column published in today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, Garlando gave a preview of the match and explained the significance of a victory to either side.
The Nerazzurri come into the derby seven points behind their city rivals, though in truth both sides have looked to be in good form and have a number of top players who they can rely upon.
The match is likely to be hard-fought, and in addition to the significance that it always holds as a showpiece occasion in Italian football it will also have major potential Scudetto implications, with the Nerazzurri coming in with the aim of defending last season’s crown and the Rossoneri currently flying high at the top of the Serie A table.
“Let’s start by saying that the last Milan derby with the Scudetto on the pitch is 9 years old,” Garlando writes. “Inter 4-2 Milan, May 6 2012. Milan wore it. Now Inter wears it on their chest and faces the Rossoneri who are first in the standings with Napoli. In short, we are about to experience a derby of rediscovered pride.”
“Milan arrive on the wave of a record start,” he goes on, “ten victories in the first eleven days, with only the draw in Turin against Juve.”
“Inter showed up with seven points less,” he writes, “but the feeling is that the midweek round of the Champions League closes the gap. Milan further compromised their chances of qualification with the painful home draw against Porto which did not follow up on the excellent performance in Rome.”
“On the contrary, Inter, after the authoritative successes against Empoli and Udinese, with as many clean sheets, confirmed their form in Tiraspol with a dominant performance against Sheriff (3-1) which inflated the qualification percentages for the round of 16 and strengthened the feeling that they are a growing team.”
“There are no decisive matches in the first leg,” Garlando writes. “But between a gap of four points and one of ten the world changes. Whoever wins, has psychologically reached a turning point. And for this reason, it will be a great derby.”
