Inter Milan coach Cristian Chivu has decided to start Manuel Akanji in defence against Juventus. This evening’s Serie A match-day 3 clash kicks off at 18:00 CEST at the Allianz Stadium.
Inter travel to Turin for this season’s first Derby d’Italia clash.
It is an important match at an early stage of the campaign, with both sides eager for victory.
It is no surprise then that both Cristian Chivu and Igor Tudor have opted to field their strongest available teams.
Ecco i nostri Nerazzurri per #JuventusInter 😎
Forza ragazzi ⚫🔵Powered by @play_eFootball #ForzaInter pic.twitter.com/0Pl1LLj93A
— Inter ⭐⭐ (@Inter) September 13, 2025
However, Chivu has more options, with currently no players set to miss the match through suspension or injury.
Juventus, meanwhile, are without the likes of Andrea Cambiaso, Francisco Conceicao and summer signing Edon Zhegrova.
Juventus vs Inter Milan – Manuel Akanji Set For Inter Debut
Firstly, the big team news ahead of the match is that Manuel Akanji will make his debut for Inter.
The Swiss international joined from Manchester City on deadline day in a season-long loan deal.
The loan also includes a €15 million buy option that is triggered automatically upon certain conditions.
Akanji has been on international duty with Switzerland since signing for Inter and has only had a few days to train with his new coach and teammates.
✍🏻 Gli 1️⃣1️⃣ titolari scelti da mister Igor Tudor per il Derby d’Italia 📜
Powered by @EASPORTSFC @easportsfcit#JuveInter pic.twitter.com/v0xe0d5CVp
— JuventusFC (@juventusfc) September 13, 2025
However, Chivu has decided to put his faith in the former Dortmund defender.
Akanji will start alongside Francesco Acerbi and Alessandro Bastoni in Chivu’s 3-man back line.
Chivu Puts Faith In Henrikh Mkhitaryan & Carlos Augusto
Another couple of pre-match question marks surrounded the midfield and the left-hand side.
Henrik Mkhitaryan was rumoured to be handed the edge over summer signing Petar Sucic.
Therefore, Chivu has decided to rely on the former Arsenal and Manchester United man, as the coach hopes his experience can help guide Inter through this tricky test.
Meanwhile, on the left hand side there was some suggestion that Carlos Augusto could be in the starting eleven.
However, Federico Dimarco has been benched and Carlos Augusto will start.
Finally, Lautaro Martinez will start alongside Marcus Thuram in attack.
This comes despite the Argentine only returning from international duty across the Atlantic on Wednesday night.
Official Starting Lineups – Juventus vs Inter Milan
Juventus (3-4-2-1): Di Gregorio; Gatti, Bremer, Kelly; Kalulu, Locatelli, K. Thuram, McKennie; Koopmeiners, Yildiz; Vlahovic.
Substitutes: Perin, Pinsoglio, Adzic, Kostic, Openda, Rugani, Joao Mario, David, Cabal.
Coach: Igor Tudor
Suspended: Cambiaso
Unavailable: Cabal, Conceicao, Miretti, Zhegrova, Milik
Inter Milan (3-5-2): Yann Sommer; Manuel Akanji, Francesco Acerbi, Alessandro Bastoni; Denzel Dumfries, Nicolo Barella, Hakan Calhanoglu, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Carlos Augusto; Marcus Thuram, Lautaro Martinez
Substitutes: Martinez, Di Gennaro, De Vrij, Bisseck, Palacios, Darmian, Carlos Augusto, Luis Henrique, Sucic, Zielinski, Diouf, Frattesi, Bonny, Esposito
Coach: Cristian Chivu
Suspended: None
Unavailable: None
Referee: Colombo
Assistants: Peretti and Perrotti
Fourth Official: Bonacina
VAR: Mazzoleni and Abisso
this is tactical failures, inter is not suited with high defence line, Inzaghi tried that and failed.
We don’t ve proper number 6 anyone can score outside of our box with little to nothing pressure from our midfielders
I really dont know what to think and say anymore. On one side i like Chivu cuz he has balls to sub Lautaro, on the other side his inexperience is showing it off. I really want for him to succeed, but i donr think he will make it. Situation looks like Stramaccioni time at Inter. Unexperienced coach who has courage, but donr know to combine defending with attacking phases of the game. Chivu knows Inter in and out, was a leader and treble hero. And i think he learns faster on his mistakes then Inzaghi. Next match Sommer must be benched, non negoitable, Martinez can step up and be even better then Sommer, Defensive line must be lower in the away games, Mkhytaryan needs to come on in the second half to hold the pace, Sucic must be starter or Fratessi in front of the pivot. And bting in Pio, he showed that he can be a great striker when you need him the most. I dont expext that we win anything this season, but ffs we must fight till our dying breath for every possible point, with the squad and budget we have, Marotta or Oaktree, doesnt matter, this squad is aged but still was a winner.
I think you’ll be dissapointed in Chivu he will continue with the same strategy and Sommer will continue to be the main keeper unfortunately. Inter have ZERO defending midfield player to close out matches and he had so many matches to figure that out yet he did NOTHING. I’d say he has balls if he converts Bisseck into a defensive midfield player and give the young guy courage to play in that position but then again the bar is already too low for Chivu. Now it’s just 2-3 matches before Inter are deep in relegation zone while playing beautiful football and losing points
chivu is not ready for a big team like Inter. this guy is a jike
How does Frattesi get no mins?? This is nonsense. Our best player is rotting on the bench. They can’t seem to let go of that damn Mhikitarayn ffs
Marotta and the management you haven’t seen anything yet
Already dreading next summer transfer window when we need to replace half of team. This season definitely less money from CL, 0 confidence in our outgoing transfers, so it will be maybe 50 million budget (considering how cheap is Oaktree, even that number is big) + whatever we get from Thuram, Dumfries, Hakan, Zielinski, Bisseck and probably Frattesi.
We’ll need a new gk, 3 new cbs, 2 rb, 2 cm, am/wingers (depending on formation) and 1 or 2 strikers (Pio and Lautaro will stay definitely, as for Bonny depends how this season ends).
This was such a gut wrenching game. The way the season have started and seeing the game rhythm in games, it reminds me of Andrea Stramaccioni. Super attacking mentality and no fear to push men forward, which is all good and great but you got to manage the game.
I hope he adopts soon and balance attack with defence. It is easy to criticize but there were lots of positives in this game. As the team was not clueless but knew what to do for most part in attacking phase. I expect balance display in upcoming games as this super attacking press game is tiring the old players and leave too much space behind.
Sleep well all. Forza Inter!
In all honesty it doesn’t look good for Chivu because next is Sassuolo and they know how to win against Inter. He needs to make tough decisions or as most people are saying he won’t last till December. In the CL he must use a different keeper and it’d be a good excuse to use him in more matches going forward because I don’t think there’s any hope for Sommer at this point.
Where is the winner-mentality? This is professional football ffs. 4 chances, 4 goals against is just ridiculous as well. We are too kind, afraid of cards and hard tackles.
Next time be better.
And one more, then I’m off, look what Tudor did, brining in a kid of 19 years in the crucial minutes of the game, and the kid brings him the ein, some courage like against Udinese, and I would be happy. We need to get the new guys in, and have the old bones as subs. At least Chivu can try to put a stamp with them, and not using same Inzaghi play and first 11… That beeing said, hopefully we will be on track again soon, good night Interistas
A bitter lost, but to be honest, the match was really enjoyable. And it was not like 5-0. This is just the 3rd game of the season.
The fighting was there. The passion was clearly seen. The gameplan was good (I meant, Carlos instead of Di Marco as starter). Also Mikhi played good. And Hakan back to his form again. This is just not a good day for Sommer. Sorry. I saw some good things for this match. Now it’s chivu’s job to avoid morale destruction in the dressroom.
a good game that can lead to a morale destruction..really a good game..more of such good games and we will be in the relegation zone
Decision that backfires is when you let Mikhi stay for 90+ minutes then Thuram who was barely walking. Inter in final minutes they were playing with 10 men simply because the coach really messed up his subs. Yeah Sommer is terrible but the coach experience was evident for everyone to see in this one. I think tho against weaker opponents Inter can get points but losing 2 matches in a row is not a good outlook. Inter need a keeper and some defensive players