Cristian Chivu has named his Inter Milan side for tonight’s Milan derby, with Francesco Pio Esposito and Ange-Yoan Bonny leading the line. A fixture that could go a long way toward deciding the Scudetto with the Nerazzurri looking to open up a thirteen-point lead over their city rivals.
The first derby of the season remains a painful memory for Chivu, who was beaten in a match Inter largely dominated.
Tonight, the Romanian coach intends to break a negative run stretching back beyond the second star derby and close that circle once and for all.
The official lineups for tonight’s Serie A match, which kicks off at San Siro, have now been confirmed.
AC Milan Vs Inter Milan – Esposito & Bonny Lead The Line Together For First Time
The major talking point comes up front, where Chivu is forced into an unprecedented attacking combination.
Lautaro Martinez remains unavailable through injury.
Although the captain takes his place on the bench to offer support and leadership from the dugout.
More significantly, Marcus Thuram has been struck down by fever and tonsillitis in the days leading up to the match.
Therefore, the Frenchman will miss tonight’s crunch match.
Notte di Derby 🌕
Forza Nerazzurri 🖤💙@play_eFootball pic.twitter.com/1AtHosjATz— Inter ⭐⭐ (@Inter) March 8, 2026
That opens the door for Pio Esposito and Ange-Yoan Bonny to start together for the very first time this season.
The young duo have shared only brief spells on the pitch together across the campaign.
Indeed, making this a genuine unknown, but also a potentially thrilling one.
Esposito arrives on the back of a goal against Juventus and carries the weight of his Inter-supporting background with pride.
Meanwhile Bonny has recovered from the calf issue that troubled him against Genoa.
AC Milan Vs Inter Milan – Zielinski Continues As Regista With Mkhitaryan Ahead Of Calhanoglu
In midfield, Piotr Zielinski continues in the deep-lying playmaker role he has made his own during Calhanoglu’s injury-interrupted spell.
The Polish international has thrived in the position under Chivu’s guidance, contributing five league goals alongside his creative work.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan takes one of the two advanced midfield spots, edging out Hakan Calhanoglu for a starting berth despite the Turkish international’s increasing fitness.
Calhanoglu, who played 59 minutes at Como, must make do with a place on the bench, though he remains a significant option from the dugout.
Your derby-day Rossoneri XI is in! ❤️🖤
Brought to you by 𝗞𝘂𝗺𝗵𝗼 𝗧𝗶𝗿𝗲 pic.twitter.com/lkUIVGdbIt
— AC Milan (@acmilan) March 8, 2026
Nicolo Barella completes the three and wears the captain’s armband in Lautaro’s absence.
On the right wing-back, Luis Henrique starts with Denzel Dumfries named among the substitutes.
The Dutchman is expected to play a significant role from the bench and he showed encouraging signs at Como and his return to full fitness is a timely boost.
AC Milan Vs Inter Milan – Official Starting Lineups
MILAN (3-5-2): 16 Maignan; 23 Tomori, 5 De Winter, 31 Pavlovic; 56 Saelemaekers, 19 Fofana, 14 Modric, 12 Rabiot, 2 Estupiñán; 11 Pulisic, 10 Leão.
Bench: 1 Terracciano, 96 Torriani, 4 Ricci, 9 Füllkrug, 18 Nkunku, 24 Athekame, 27 Odogu, 30 Jashari, 33 Bartesaghi.
Coach: Allegri.
Suspended: none.
Unavailable: Gabbia, Loftus-Cheek, Gimenez.
INTER (3-5-2): 1 Sommer; 31 Bisseck, 25 Akanji, 95 Bastoni; 11 Luis Henrique, 23 Barella, 7 Zielinski, 22 Mkhitaryan, 32 Dimarco; 94 Esposito, 14 Bonny.
Bench: 12 Di Gennaro, 13 J. Martinez, 2 Dumfries, 6 De Vrij, 8 Sucic, 10 Lautaro Martinez, 15 Acerbi, 16 Frattesi, 17 Diouf, 20 Calhanoglu, 30 Carlos Augusto, 36 Darmian, 53 Lavelli.
Coach: Chivu.
Suspended: none.
Unavailable: Lautaro.
Referee: Doveri.
Assistant Referees: Baccini and Berti.
Fourth Official: Marchetti.
VAR: Abisso.
Assistant VAR: Di Bello.
This team SUCKS.
its penalty. wtf
Chivu is a nice bloke but this season we are only top because others have slipped up more
His inability to change things or have a plan B
There is never any urgency in attack, this must be the advice from him to just slow everything down all the time because it’s every game for 90 mins.
And all personnel – nothing changes.
As I say – he’s a club legend, and really genuine guy who loves the club but this just isn’t working
we really need player can dribble, win 1v1 situations and break down low block defend.
After Sucic and Frattesi were subbed on, our midfield melted away.
Susic will take 3-4 touches before deciding what to do next when he’s attacking. Completely useless when the opponent defends with a low block. Hakan must be injured because he was the obvious choice. In midfield it was only Zielinski who could then do anything but playing much deeper. Frattesi was in to make sure he adds to the number uptop with Bony and Pio covered but it was when the crosses from Dimarco became terrible
tf kind of football is this? trailing 0-1 and we’re passing side to side, backwards, even when strikers have a room to shoot, nobody WANTS to shoot.
Chivu is over his head. The team has no tactis
There isn’t a player tonight who hasn’t underperformed. We have every right to be angry to watch this kind of pathetic play 2nd game in a row. And to not win against Milan yet again adds to bitterness. Ref is the least concern tonight.
this team has been horrid for the last 4 months
I keep saying this… Inter CAN’T PLAY… They are top cause the whole league is bad…
Any nonsense is awaiting moderation in this comment system. I miss Disqus.
I don’t rate bisseck but wtf is that sub
we switch 4 1 3 2 i think
Bonny is so much more useful on the wings…
We see the reason Inter needed a player like Lookman
yes, zero creativity in this team
The team has zero creativity, just crosses into the box. Not to mention the players’ slowness on the field. This Milan team is bad and only knows how to defend. It’s shameful to lose to this team.
Bbilan players are such cry babies fr
Reff whistling for every tackle come on
Chivu had not prepared the game well, this is a lost game.
we play as if we are winning. this sucks.
aleggri already playing pragmatic ball. 1-0 is ok from him
who cares he is securing the scudetto and has an easier run until May,
Milan have shut up shop lol
Where’s Toro and Thuram ??
Are you serious??? Do you watch thia team or not??????
Didn’t ask you was asking chivu so shhhh
that fan got no brain you should ignore him just like the other loser Niko
Chivu is a Romanian woman reproductive system
Bonny better get destroyed in the press for this.
He’s been arna bad
he’s not fit..
Is bastoni ok?
Is calhanglou bot on the bench can we get him in
We need to sell Bastoni
He’s become a real liability and his game has deteriorated massively too
Will still garner big money atm
Stick Bisseck up top – will be far better than Bonny
look how direct dumfries , learning that luis
You mean “it’s ok to cross the ball before they all get back in defence”
It’s absolute madness but appears to be the actual tactic – slow sideways ball.
Completely against what we are told chivu wants to play too so it makes no sense
Finally, Dumfries is going in. Mikhy and L. Henrique, at the end of the season, are out on the street immediately.
What the hell was Dumfries waiting forrrr omg just shoooott
Do you see the ref games now buddy
That was straight yellow for Dumfries and made right call. Stup!d of Dumfries to pull him like this. If you were talking about that incident.
Bonny already tired take him out
Nooo just Nooo like nobody have the guts to shoot outside the box stop with your sh!tty crosses from the wings we are too fkn predictible nooooo
bring Diouf for Henrique
Anyone would do it. Also mikhi out for hakan
What is Chivu waiting for. Like what is he waiting for really. To keep players fit for what he does know he’s playing a direct rival. What the hell
Take out dimarco oooo ffs!!!! What the f%*&# do you want!!!! Most easiest chance to score f%%%$$&@!!!!!!!
No he’s Inter best player this season.
I don’t care if you don’t deliver on the pitch you are out. Bring on augusto.
idiots
Noo Dimarcooo
dimarco best player so far, but poor performance when it’s the time for him as a key player, low mentality under pressure
he needs someone in the middle to aim at, bonny and Esposito were on a different planet.
Now draw looks like miracle. Dimarco had best chance to secure MVP title for good.
THIS IS PATHETIC
Barella omg..
I think Chivu is waiting for Inter to concede again. What the heck
Just get Henrique off the pitch ffs he ruins every attack
TAKE LUIS HENRIQUE OUT. GROW SOME BALLS
Already there misunderstanding between the players, 0 communication, 0 chemistry.. Man better pray for a draw today if we keep playing like this.
We have no pace exoect Bonny to get in behind the defence and even then he is playing with back to goal when we have Esposito already doing that. A draw is a good result from here, Chivu must make demands for pace/creativity/dribbling players this summer, all we do is pass, no individual skill.
We are playing too slow! Toro is a big miss thus far and Thuram hold up play is sorely missed as well. We need an energy injection in this game, fast.
Bony is literally ball watching and Pio running after every ball. The only thing Bony did was the movement to allow Mikhi to have a shot on goal
Yup we’re missing our two main strikers a lot
And I’ll say more. If we had a better coach, we would have advanced in the Champions League. Inzagri also used to rest some players, and he never failed to advance in the Champions League. That’s no excuse. He made Inter play on equal terms with the best clubs in Europe and reach two finals.
Crying will get you nowhere. At least analyze the game and make a meaningful contribution. All you’ve done is talk about the past. We no longer have Inzaghi at the helm. Get over it
Nobody’s crying here, you delusional sir. The contribution is right below, just look at my comments. There’s no need to get upset about speaking ill of the intern Chivu.
Yeah…Losing 5-0 with PSG, biggest defeat ever in an UCL final.
I guess is Chivu fault that L. Henrique cannot defend and Miki cannot score. Also Chivu is to blame for Lauti injury. Come ooooon, man!
Losing is part of football. The important thing is that we were in the final and managed to play on equal terms with the best clubs in the world. The final against PSG was an atypical game. We played better against City, just to remind you. Against Chivu we didn’t even get past the knockout stage, haha. What a setback. We’re talking about Inter, not Lazio.
Just to remind you, it doesn’t mean that if you play better you win. So, better to play better and not win or better to play bad and win competitions?
A setback is that you blame a man that is trying to do his job backed by a board that doesn’t want to invest. We got out of UCL, get over it. We couldn’t qualify against Helsinbogrs either back in the days.
As Marotta admitted a few weeks ago, we have been lucky this season. Vs Verona and Atalanta we won due to luck. If the ref had made the correct call in the Kalulu-Bastoni incident, the game vs Juve could have gone differently, and we would now be only 3-4 points ahead of Milan.
As I said in my first comment below, we should not let space behind as Milan know how to strike us in counterattacks. A draw is enough for us tonight, a win is a bonus. It is so stupid to concede this kind of goal vs Milan once again; does Chivu learn from these games or nah at all?
Chivu is a Romanian coward
put Denzel and Calhanoglu
we need calha and dumfries on asap, henrique yet again is like playing with 10 men. We really need a dribbler or two this summer. We lack any 1 on 1 players.
It’s Luis Henrique but he’s so scared and in event that he beats his man he doesn’t know what to do with the ball so he looks for chip and pass backwards for someone else to make the final pass
This will be the same – we will have most of the ball, Henrique will keep passing back instead of crossing.
They will catch us on the break
3-0 final score
And the squeaky bum weeks will start
Only 3? Why don’t you say 7?
So you finally showed up fans like you will cost us the scuedetto
Pass pass pass pass is all they do in training camp. Just pass the ball back and forth, to the right and left… Just pass pass!!! We must not shoot!! Just pass the ball because we dont know what else to do with it!! Clueless team.
It will be seven games without a win against Milan, who are their biggest rivals. That’s shameful. The truth is, Chivu’s work is bad. He’s overrated because of the other weak teams in Serie A. If it weren’t for them, Inter wouldn’t be leading. He doesn’t win big games and only won against Juventus because they had a player sent off.
Correct.
Right side defense is causing problem again.
If Dumfries is already recovered, put him in to play. He’ll only gain rhythm by playing. Chivu must have a soft spot for that weak L. Henrique. He’s already proven he’s not good enough to play for Inter.
same case with aslani. from the start its not inter materials
At this point its on Chivu Inter needs energy on the right Barella isn’t going to run forward and Henrique is just not Inter material so Dumfries will dominate the ball in the air and he’s much more aggressive and direct
The ball reaches Luis Henrique in dangerous position and the guy decides to pass it all the way back so that Inter can lose the ball simply because he’s scared and knows he can’t cross and already proven multiple times he can’t defend. So why does CHivu plays him when he has Darmian and Dumfries fully or even half fit.
better playing darmian with one leg than trust henrique defend skill
But it seems Chivu actually prefers Luis Henrique who is so bad that when Inter wanted to come back from 2-0 against Pisa was substituted then Inter went on to win 6-2. Yet Chivu is so blind even with options now just keeps using the guy who makes everything so predictable on the right
This ^^^^ 100%
Another woeful, fully expected performance – it doesn’t matter if you have 60,70% possession if you don’t have anybody who can do anything remotely attacking..
As soon as they have the ball they look dangerous, it’s a running theme every week.
The system is the problem, everyone looks backwards. And without Lautaro there is absolutely no outlet ball.
So we have to hope for a set piece or moment of brilliance.
Fitness levels are a serious issue too
Nope if Inter manages to go upfront from the right there’s a good chance that play will go back to SOmmer because 1 single player is too afraid to dribble past a defender or cross. Plus with Barella screaming and constantly being out of position it means it’s even worse for a player like Henrique
with barella always complaining. and henrique lacking confidence . what we do expect ?
Finally someone realizing facts, Henrique is basically left alone there, dribbling everytime is not the best solution. And nobody asking what instructions he has from Chivu, go all out or play safe as Barella’s is often way off
Chivu keeps playing barella, sommer and mikhy, every single game. You get what you f%*en deserve against sh*tty teams like bilan. Well done chivu !!!
You literally blaming the only guy putting any effort in on the pitch?!
Barella is NOT the problem, his job it to run all day and win the ball back, he’s doing his bit,
Mikhi, Henrique, bisseck, Bastoni, sommer, Bonny all currently not worth being there.
Pio is having to press for two because Bonny can’t be arsed, if he’s not fit then play a youth lad or frattesi as a st at least he runs.
No barella didn’t do anything. And chivu is clueless. We don’t win games by just being completely dead on the pitch. Chivu needs to go. We need to replace him next season.
We looked really dead. Just pass pass pass but bbilan had 1shot on goal and they scored while we just focus on passing the ball. Plus you have mikhi on the pitch who offer nothing to the team.
Mikhi is fine, he provides tactical stability, but there is no reason why a 37-year-old should get high minutes if we have better players.
Dumfries gotta be subbed in and calha to mhki out and henquire out those 2 are playing shit we couldve been 1 up with mhki but we arent
This is the worst inter i have ever seen. It’s just passing practice at this point. Our strikers are isolated and can’t receive any balls, zilienski has been fine, the rest of the midfield horrid. What has happened to the bastoni and dimarco combo? bastoni barely crosses into the box and anymore and he doesn’t alternate runs with dimarco anymore. People might blame Henrique and i usually do but he honestly hasn’t had a horrid game. This mediocrity can’t go on anymore. Something needs to change
You can complain about ref as much as you want, but we are playing like sh*t tonight. It’s like a continuation of another bad halftime vs Como.
well, this is what happen when 3 mids with similar characteristics play together. they were good, but they were stuck when the creativity needed. becaude, in the end opponent knows you will pass to di marco before he crosses. i respect chivu’s guts to play two young strikers instead of one useless senior striker.
Besides Doveri being an amateur and our very slow midfield. Call me crazy but Somehow I have a feeling that Henrique would be much more efficient in central midfield in attacking options, he has so many great small passes and interesting solutions.
Hope second half will be better for us
Nope he’s just bad. He can’t replace Mikhi, Hakan, Barella or Frattesi or even Diouf in midfield the fear he has when it comes to crossing is just at serie B level
Read my comment carefully again, central midfield. He has quality, but wingback is not his position, he is a winger, never had many defensive tasks in past, normally he needs to adapt. Look at Leao when you play him at wrong position, is he trash also ?
Either Barella or Mikhi must go off then a must sub is Dumfries for Henrique. It’s so obvious what Inter needs to do and it’s all on Chivu now
When Ac milan wins today, inter will have lost the scuedtto.
Cry more rube
You are fake and a loser
Inter are boring. We cannot score like this except from a fk or corner
we exposed on the right side. with double bisseck henrique
very poor defending from them
This is the worst right side in the last 10 years
with runner like leao and estupinan. we are finished. im not surprised if chivu dont change tactic. one of them will score again.
I guess Luis Henrique is still trusted by CHivu despite consistently being among the worst players in many matches both in attack and defend
While inter just keep passing the ball back and forward look what Milan is doing to us… This is the inter we want to see chivu?? I expect us to wake up and play more attacking football 2nd half.
Well bruh…doveri doesnt let us win a challenge. Giving it all to mulan
No it’s not the reff. We are too predictible and were not playing fast football. Look at us, our players are look dead with this slow passing and the opponent can easily read our game. Milan looks more hungry to win with their counter attacking football. While our players are clueless. Especially our grandpa micky. Chivu really need to work something out in 2nd half.
The only thing im not happy with is the lack of delivery to dima. But Tar my friend…doveri is cap…lets hope for two for inter now brother. I’m also not happy about our lack of domination. But we gotta believe. Forza Inter bro
Ladies and gents…daniella doveri
no way ur blaming the referee lmao. We are utter garbage. we pass the ball and don’t shoot. we deserve to be down a goal.
Bruh…the lil moments change the game. Daniella wount let us roll
Today the referee is making us paying the juve’s games
You’re not crazy bro. Its easy for mulan to play when they get to push us around and we cant touch them. Fokin doveri. Wanna sock him in the fartbox
Esposito “falling” again almost resulting in conceding a 2nd…
Imagine the commentator stating “the problem inter has is the fact that Pio Esposito (20) and Bony (22) are starting”… Just imagine the daft statement… Maybe he feels Taremi and Arnautovic would have scored by now…
I guess every coach we will have at inter will keep starting mikhi taryian and sommer. Consider this game is over. Milan will win.
Like great play by henrique, how is no one at the other end? why they all cramped in the middle. this team is just the definition of mediocrity
I just hate Milan. Doing nothing and score every freaaking time..
Why couldn’t Mikhi do that?!?
We look so knackered all over the pitch, no movement, and same crap sideways backwards pass yourself into trouble.
Only 1 team was ever gonna win this game
All three midfield players playing way too deep. Barella, Mikhi and Zielinski looks to all come back and get the ball leaving only Bony and Pio
Of course they fucking score it
Expected.
Mki is the player we do want to see on the bench how comes he missed that one?
FFS Mhiki, from that many meters of goal you have to shoot it into Maignan. This is now punishment for that miss
Byte Bye scudetto
Mkhitaryan you fucking donkey now we need to come back
So mkhi makes a great run and shoots it right at maignan, and then they score…. get out.
Well. It was gonna happen Inter don’t look like attacking with purpose at all.
LOL
WHY DID HE HIT IT STRAIGHT AT HIM
Wtf, they hit themself and getting fouls xD
What? that was not on Bastoni.
You play mikhi this is what you get. Enjoy.
Mikhi is infuriating
mkhi has not been good at all… another game where it’s just passing and not end goal. i’m not like this playstyle at all
And we are extending his contract. Congratulations!!!
Really? Yet some feel the management is not daft…
Damn… Barella is slow…
Bonny looks like Thuram in disguise… flat feet, little effort
he just came back from injury, give him a little break
He’s literally standing still adding nothing
what the hell was that sommer?
He is on quick decline, he is not even suitable as a bench option anymore; age has caught up with him.
I guess De Rossi is not Romanista he defeated them 2-1. I wish AC milan and their fans the worst luck ever tonight. May the night be miserable for you and you get defeated in this match.
the attitude is everything tonight. let’s hope our players have more grinta than the opposition.
I’m not even fazed that Thuram is missing, we would be down to 10 men with him on the pitch. Also, hoping that Barella keeps his head cool throughout or he will be spreading Sh**ty nerves to the rest of the team.
the attitude is everything tonight. let’s hope our players have more grinta than the opposition.
I’m not even fazed that Thuram is missing, we would be down to 10 men with him on the pitch. Also, hoping that Barella keeps his head cool throughout or he will be spreading shitty nerves to the rest of the team.
I hope we smash them !
We all do robi. Forza Inter
We need to play carefully, keep things under control and strike at the right moment. A draw is enough tonight, so we need to focus on not allowing them to score through counterattacks like they did in the reverse fixture.
We dont play for a draw. But the approach could be cautious. Not too much though. We need to stay in control
Hope Barella simulate in the zone and we win undeserved penalty. 😛
Just kidding. Cristian Chivu has made miracles until now, but he had not much luck against strong sides. So, maybe we ask too much if we want win. I’d be pleased with clean sheet draw 0:0 or any draw and we keep 10 points distance from Milan.
Barella has complained so much that nobody believes him anymore. haha
Maybe.
I hope sandro scores. Twice. And pio 3 times