Italian football is set to witness its latest instalment of the Milan Derby when Internazionale host AC in the Serie A on Saturday at the San Siro.
The Milan clubs are unique not just for their storied history, but also for the fact that they share the iconic San Siro Stadium. While the clubs may be a far cry from the days when they dominated Europe and Italy, Saturday’s clash is sure to witness some fireworks. With the Nerazzurri set to lock horns with the Rossonerri yet again, thestatesman.com has made a combined XI (4-3-3 formation) ahead of the derby.
Goalkeeper: Gianluigi Donnarumma
Samir Handanovic (Inter) has long been of the Serie A top custodians and it would take a truly special player to deny him a place in a Inter-Milan XI. Unfortunately for him, Gianluigi Donnarumma is a one-in-a-generation talent. The 19-year-old continues to grow from strength to strength and gets the nod ahead of the Slovenian veteran.
Left Back: Mattia de Sciglio
Among the most vibrant fullbacks in the Serie A at present, Milan’s 24-year-old full-back continues to impress. Sciglio just about edges the experienced Cristian Ansaldi. While Ansaldi is a versatile player, Sciglio’s overall qualities make him the better left-back.
Centre Back: Alessio Romagnoli
Another talent that plays for the Red and Black half of Milan, Romagnoli has established himself as a starter under Vincenzo Montella for the past two seasons. Big things are expected from the 22-year-old and his classy play-from-the-back style is a pleasure to watch in contrast to Inter man Gary Medel’s charged-up approach. The Chilean is a decent defender but it is safe to say Romagnoli has surpassed him not just vertically, but also in all aspects.
Centre Back: Miranda
The Brazilian central defender may be getting on in years, but he has been the epitome of consistency in the Serie A this season. Always calm, rarely does he put a wrong foot and is the perfect foil for his fiery defensive partner, Gary Medel. Milan’s alternative in this position, Gabriel Paletta, has not been too impressive lately. He already has three red cards this season, which makes Miranda an obvious choice.
Right Back: Danilo D'Ambrosio
With Ignaznio Abate suffering an eye injury, the right-back slot is won hands down by Inter’s Danilo D’Ambrosio. While he may not be able to match the Milan man for pace (few can), D’Ambrosio is extremely consistent. Abate’s replacement, young Davide Calabria, has done a decent job, but has played too few games to be considered worthy of challenging D’Ambrosio.
Left Midfield: Roberto Gagliardini
Gagliardini was impressive in the first half of the season for Atlanta before switching to Inter in January 2017 and hence gets the nod despite having made just 10 appearances for the Blue and Black. Currently racing against time to get fit for Saturday, the 23-year-old has all the qualities a central midfielder requires and while he is naturally right-footed, he would have no problems playing on the left in this three-man midfield.
Centre Midfield: Ever Banega
The Argentine's excellent technique and ball-winning abilities make him an ideal candidate to be the central figure in this midfield. His teammate, Geoffrey Kondogbia, is a fine talent but is still not as consistent as the 28-year-old Banega. As a bonus, he knows how to take a set-piece and would be the man to keep this team ticking with his excellent distribution.
Right Midfield: Juraj Kucka
A no-nonsense midfielder with an excellent work-rate, Kucka quietly gets the job done without any fuss. The Slovenian isn't just about breaking up opponents’ attacks. He, however, is truly an all-round player, capable of pitching in with the odd goal as well. Inter’s contender for this position, Marcelo Brozovic, hasn't had a consistent run of starts in their starting XI to really push him for a spot here.
Left Forward: Ivan Perisic
While not a prolific goalscorer by any stretch of the imagination, Perisic’s tireless running coupled with his speed on the counter make him an obvious choice. The young Gerard Deulofeu only just made the switch from Everton to Milan in January and as a result, cannot be picked over the Croatian.
Centre Forward: Mauro Icardi
The easiest selection for this XI by far, Inter’s captain is among the top forwards in Europe at the moment. He may be a controversial figure. But his goalscoring exploits coupled with his raw talent make him a must-have. Milan’s central striker, Carlos Bacca, has done a fine job of leading the line but is no patch on the Argentine. Count on him to score a decisive goal in a crunch match, such is his burgeoning reputation.
Right Forward: Suso
A close battle for the final spot, which sees the young Suso edge Inter’s experienced candidate Antonio Candreva. Suso has the stats to back it up (seven goals and and eight assists to Candreva’s five goals and eight assists) and his raw speed combined with his guile make him a difficult player to beat.
Final Score: Inter 6, Milan 5