Italian journalist Matteo Marani feels that while Inter are in better form than city rivals AC Milan on paper ahead of tomorrow’s Coppa Italia clash, the derby is never this simple.
Speaking to Italian broadcaster Sky Sport Italia, Marani suggested that while the Nerazzurri have been playing better in their past few matches, the Milan derby is a match with its own logic.
Inter have enjoyed a big upturn in their form by winning all three of their matches since returning from the international break, while the Rossoneri have slipped up despite a convincing 2-0 win over Genoa in their last match.
If the teams’ chances in tomorrow’s semi-final second leg were purely determined by how they’ve been playing recently then Inter could possibly feel that they have the edge and momentum.
However, the derby is a fixture in which both sets of players are always fully motivated, and throughout its history has frequently produced results which have been contrary to the form of both teams headed into it.
“Inzaghi can count on Brozovic who is the only irreplaceable player, Perisic is doing well and can make the difference on his own, Lautaro is back,” Marani said.
“Overall, the Nerazzurri seem to be doing better,” he continued, “but it means nothing because it’s the derby and it always seems to escape logic, just think back to the second derby in the league, plus there’s the away goals rule which favours the Rossoneri.”
Of the significance of the match, he reflected that “Ten years have passed and several owners with them, but Milan and Inter are playing for the league title and the final of the Coppa Italia, which has in fact not happened in many years.”
“Since last season they’ve returned to fighting for the Scudetto, and this has meant the return of the Milan teams to the forefront of Italian football,” Marani explained.
“The Nerazzurri turned a corner in Turin,”he added, “where they did not deserve the victory but it came anyway, then against Verona and Spezia they showed that they had solved their problems.”