Seven matches without winning the derby, 922 days since the last victory: these are the numbers weighing on Inter on the eve of the city showdown against Milan. The last triumph dates back to April 22, 2024, the historic night of the second star. Since then, according to Corriere della Sera, the Nerazzurri have accumulated a negative streak that Chivu has inherited and has not yet managed to break.
The newspaper highlights how this streak, completely unrelated to the league standings — last year both derbies ended 1-0 for the Rossoneri — represents one of the main motivations ahead of the match. Chivu has already shown he can break negative sequences, as happened in the Champions League where he was coming off four consecutive defeats. The risk, however, is that the same tension seen against Shakhtar could be repeated, then beaten with ten men thanks to a goal by Carlos Augusto.
Tactically, Inter will continue to defend with a high line, with the obligation to win the ball back quickly in case of loss. In the league, the system is holding up: the Nerazzurri have collected 13 points out of 25 available after falling behind, a record in the three-point era. However, there remains the feeling that the team is not yet completely comfortable with this approach, and Chivu does not want to keep having to overturn the momentum of the match at halftime as has already happened on more than one occasion.
To this must be added the chapter on absences: the lack of Lautaro, Pavard, Stones, Jones, and Luis Henrique is described as significant by Corriere della Sera. Two motivations, therefore, one linked to recent history and one to the emergency in the squad, will push the Nerazzurri to face the derby with extra motivation.
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