Milan - Inter: When the Scudetto is Not the Goal of Victory

Indeed. Although the Serie A championship title this season is what both teams are aiming for, winning in the upcoming Sunday night derby holds more spiritual value than numerical points on the standings.

A few days ago, coach Cristian Chivu fielded Inter with a starting lineup featuring up to 9 regular substitutes in the first leg of the Italian Cup semi-final against Como, a clear strategy to best prepare personnel and fitness for the Milan showdown.

The Scudetto is Just an Excuse

Theoretically, Milan still have a chance to compete for the title with Inter, but the 10-point gap on the standings at this stage, with only 11 rounds remaining, indicates that Rossoneri's opportunity is unrealistic. Even if they defeat Inter in this crucial encounter, the difference would still be 7 points, still very distant. Assuming Milan wins, they would still need Inter to continuously drop points in the final 10 rounds while they themselves must keep winning, a "fantastical" scenario considering the form and morale both teams have displayed recently.

Specifically, since the loss to Milan in the first leg, Inter have won 14 and drawn 1 in 15 matches, securing 43 out of 45 possible points, a near-perfect record. Meanwhile, Milan have won 9, drawn 5, and lost 1, earning 32 points. Inter have just completed a streak of 8 consecutive wins since the draw with Napoli on January 12, while Milan dropped 7 points in the same period. This demonstrates that Inter does not lose morale or focus after dropping points; instead, they even perform better and more convincingly. Chivu may be a relatively inexperienced coach, but he has shown impressive maturity after each setback. That Inter will not lose the Scudetto when the advantage is so substantial.

Therefore, arguments suggesting the derby is Milan's last chance in the Scudetto race are unfitting. Milan's last chance has already passed, when they drew with Como and then lost to Parma, dropping 5 points in just a few days. But victory remains particularly crucial for Milan to maintain the second position, ensuring the goal of returning to the Champions League. The 9-point gap from the 5th place (Como) is fairly safe, but defeat would complicate the situation.

Fighting for the Fans

Milan allowing Inter to build a 10-point lead on the standings has disappointed many fans, as expectations were higher for Rossoneri. Milan could indeed perform better with the chances created but lacked finishing efficiency. However, reality shows Milan have already done very well; they are second only because Inter have performed much better. Compared to the same period last season, Milan have gained 16 more points, and last season's champion Napoli also had only 57 points after 27 rounds, just like Milan currently. Demanding more from coach Max Allegri and his team seems excessive given Milan's rebuilding season and numerous setbacks due to striker injuries.

Recent statistics from Transfermarkt show Milan and Inter rank 5th and 6th in Europe for stadium attendance, averaging 72,884 and 71,758 spectators per match respectively, about 90% of San Siro's estimated capacity. This confirms the immense affection and support from fans for both clubs, especially Milan after a disastrously poor season. Repaying that loyalty is an obligation for both teams. For Milan, victory would affirm their status after 6 consecutive unbeaten derbies. For Inter, victory would bring the Scudetto sooner, but more meaningful is proving they have truly escaped the fear of big matches, building stronger confidence for the future.

Waiting for the Moments

From Olivier Giroud's brace, Tammy Abraham's close-range tap-in, Stefan De Vrij's equalizer in stoppage time to Christian Pulisic's sliding tackle, most recent derbies have been decided more by moments and individual brilliance than overall tactics or gameplay. This weekend could also be such a match as both teams face issues in attack, especially Inter missing two key forwards.

Inter's complete impotence on Como's pitch playing with only one genuine striker signals a difficult scenario for Chivu's team, while Milan are hinted at solutions to neutralize the opponent. However, with severely declining finishing ability, Rossoneri also need moments of brilliance to break through Inter's currently most solid defense in Serie A.