Martinez challenges Maignan in the derby: Inter's goalkeeper seeks redemption amid mistakes and comeback

According to Tuttosport, tonight’s derby is not just a team challenge: between the posts, there is a parallel duel between Maignan and Martinez, both seeking a clean sheet which, in this Serie A, the newspaper describes as “a feat for the few,” highlighting how goalless draws have almost disappeared and clean sheets have become a rarity.

The numbers tell a similar story for both. Mike Maignan has kept a clean sheet in 3 of his 9 appearances this season, while Pepo Martinez has managed it on 2 occasions out of 7. In European competitions, the Milan goalkeeper has conceded 3 goals in the Europa League; the Spaniard from Inter, on the other hand, has picked the ball out of his net 6 times in 3 Champions League matches, some due to his own mistakes.

The evening carries more weight for Martinez. After giving way to Provedel in the last two league matches — a rotation decided by Chivu to test the former Lazio goalkeeper — the Spaniard returns as a starter with the aim of confirming himself as the first choice between the Nerazzurri posts. Provedel, especially in the match against Venezia, has shown he can challenge for his spot.

The past is not on his side when it comes to encounters with the Rossoneri. In the two-legged Coppa Italia 2024-25 semifinal against Milan, Martinez faced a negative record: a goalless draw in the first leg and a heavy 3-0 defeat in the return. Before that, with Genoa in the 2023-24 season, he suffered a defeat and a draw. Martinez has never beaten Milan.

The mistakes made against Real Madrid, Udinese, and Bruges weighed more than the good performances against Cagliari, Roma, and Shakhtar. Tonight, writes Tuttosport, “everyone at Inter hopes to see his best version, without too many lapses, especially with the ball at his feet.”