The midfield will make the difference in the derby of Milan, at least according to La Gazzetta dello Sport. The two teams bring different tactical philosophies, and the duels between the midfielders of the two sides promise to be decisive.
The most anticipated clash is between Calhanoglu and Modric. The Turkish player from Inter is among the most dangerous weapons of the Nerazzurri, capable of being decisive especially on set pieces: he has already scored three times against Milan and can make an impact with shots from distance, free kicks, and penalties. The Croatian, for his part, is called to play further forward compared to his first season, with greater involvement in build-up play and the offensive phase. This positioning increases his responsibilities but also exposes him to some risk in covering spaces.
Equally awaited is the duel between Barella and Rabiot, now a classic of Italian football. The Nerazzurri midfielder comes to the derby after managing his minutes against Venezia, resting in the second half, and is aiming for a personal milestone: it will be his twenty-fourth derby, but he has yet to score against the Rossoneri. The Frenchman, on the other hand, had to miss the matches against Udinese and Bologna due to a calf problem and, according to Gazzetta, is ready to return from the first minute. His physicality and ability to support the attack could prove valuable in transitions.
The third duel sees Musah up against Zielinski. The American is tasked with containing Inter’s play, limiting the initiatives of Barella and Calhanoglu. On the Inter side, however, the choice of the Polish player is not yet final: Chivu is also considering Mkhitaryan as an alternative. The Armenian guarantees experience and runs into the box, while Zielinski offers quality in possession and unpredictability in the final pass. The decision will also depend on the tactical approach the Nerazzurri team wants to adopt.
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