Italian journalist Luigi Garlando feels that a lot will depend on what happens in AC Milan’s match against Atalanta as far as the mood of Inter’s Serie A clash away to Cagliari this evening.

Writing in his column in today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, Garlando predicted that the Nerazzurri’s performance will be influenced by the outcome of their city rivals’ match.

The Nerazzurri will be doing everything they can to win both of their remaining matches against Cagliari and Sampdoria even though they know that their fate is not in their hands.

At the very least, six points from six would guarantee that the Nerazzurri would take the title race down to the final day.

As Garlando points out, with the scheduling meaning that Inter will already know the outcome of the Rossoneri’s penultimate match, against Atalanta, when they face the Rossoblu, it will determine whether it’s a match which gives them the opportunity to make up ground or merely keep the pressure on their rivals.

“The result at the San Siro will build the atmosphere of Cagliari,” he writes. “Should Milan win, Inter will seek victory to guarantee themselves the right to hope until the last day.”

“A bit like buying a lottery ticket in the hopes of becoming a millionaire,” he adds.

“But it’s clear that, in the event of a slip-up by the Rossoneri, the efforts of two hours in the Coppa Italia would disappear, and Inter would suddenly have the energy to push to overtake them,” he writes.