Verdict: Home win
Best odds: 19/20
Bookmaker: ZetBet
For the first time this season, Serie A heavyweights AC Milan and Inter Milan lock horns in the Derby della Madonnina at San Siro on Sunday evening.
Separated by just two points—with Inter narrowly ahead thanks to their impressive form—both sides are firmly in the hunt for the Scudetto.
Inter Milan
Inter entered the international break on a high, following a 2-1 win over Kairat in Europe and a subsequent victory against Lazio that halted the Biancocelesti’s resurgence.
Goals from Lautaro Martínez and Ange-Yoan Bonny propelled the Nerazzurri to the summit of Serie A, level on points with surprise contenders Roma, and kept the pressure on their title rivals.
Cristian Chivu, a treble winner as a player, knows the race is far from over, but his team’s recent form is encouraging. Since back-to-back defeats in September, Inter have won seven of their last eight league games, averaging more than two goals per match.
They lead the scoring charts with 26 goals and have struck at least twice in every Champions League fixture, where they sit third in the overall league table with a perfect 12 points ahead of next week’s clash with Atlético Madrid.
Before that trip to Spain, Inter must focus on reclaiming derby dominance after losing three of five meetings with Milan last season. Their most recent league encounter ended in a dramatic 1-1 draw in February, salvaged by Stefan de Vrij’s late equaliser.
Team News
Inter could be without three players: Denzel Dumfries is battling an ankle issue and may join Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Matteo Darmian on the sidelines.
With Mkhitaryan unavailable, Petar Sucic and Piotr Zielinski are competing for a midfield berth, while Carlos Augusto might deputise for Dumfries on the right flank.
Up front, Chivu has plenty of options. Bonny and Marcus Thuram will vie with Francesco Pio Esposito to partner Lautaro Martínez, who needs one more goal to become only the third Inter player to score 10 times against Milan.
AC Milan
Milan ended a long losing streak against Inter with a 2-1 win in September 2024, then followed up with victories in the Supercoppa Italiana and a two-legged cup semi-final—rare highlights in an otherwise turbulent year.
The return of veteran coach Massimiliano Allegri has since restored stability. However, his side missed a chance to go top before the break, surrendering a two-goal lead at Parma despite strikes from Alexis Saelemaekers and Rafael Leão, ultimately drawing 2-2.
That result left Milan third, two points behind Inter and Roma, but they remain genuine title contenders. Free from European distractions, the Rossoneri have pieced together a 10-match unbeaten run across Serie A and the Coppa Italia.
Now, Allegri faces his first Derby della Madonnina in over a decade—a tactical showdown with Inter’s rookie boss Chivu.
Team News
Milan’s attacking options are limited: Santiago Giménez is injured, so Rafael Leão and Christian Pulisic should form an unconventional front pair, leaving Christopher Nkunku on the bench.
Adrien Rabiot has returned to training and is set to join Luka Modrić in midfield, giving Allegri near-full strength in the center of the park.
On the left flank, Davide Bartesaghi is slightly favored to retain his spot ahead of Pervis Estupiñán.
Conclusion
Milan cannot afford to let Inter pull five points clear, so Allegri is likely to adopt a cautious approach.
However, Inter’s attacking depth and firepower may prove decisive, and a single goal could settle this fiercely contested derby at San Siro.
Verdict: Home win
Best odds: 19/20
Bookmaker: ZetBet