Rossoneri To Nick Milan Derby

The second Milan derby of the season takes place on Sunday, but with both clubs languishing in mid-table it looks as though there will be little more than local bragging rights at stake.

Form
Inter finally brought an end to their terrible recent run of results after picking up their first win in eight games in all competitions thanks to a comfortable 3-0 victory against Verona last weekend. That series of results has all but mathematically ruled Roberto Mancini’s side out of the reckoning for a European spot this season as they lie in 10th place, eight points adrift of Fiorentina in the last qualification spot for the Europa League next term.

The Nerazzuri’s home form remains a huge problem, as only six teams in Serie A have picked up fewer points on their own patch, despite the fact that only three teams have scored more home goals in the Italian top flight this season.

Mauro Icardi scored the opener in Verona last weekend to take his tally for the season to 16 in Serie A, just one behind league leader Carlos Tevez although it was Icardi’s first in five league outings.

A 1-1 draw at the San Siro against Sampdoria last weekend was a reasonable result for Milan, although it brought an end to their brief run of two wins on the bounce. Filippo Inzaghi’s side have now lost just once in their last seven games though thanks to Nigel de Jong, who levelled the scores following Roberto Soriano’s opening goal for the visitors.

Their away performances have been terrible all season though, having picked up just three wins on their travels throughout the campaign, although given the shared status of the ground, that will count for little in the derby.

Jermey Menez is also just one goal behind Tevez in the race to be Capocannoniere after both failed to register last weekend although the Frenchman has scored four in his last five appearances.

Team News
Mancini was given further injury concerns with the news that defender Hugo Campagnaro is out for a month with a calf injury he suffered this week and joins Dodo, Jonathan Moreira, Davide Santon and Zdravko Kuzmanovic on the sidelines.

Inzaghi has an even longer list of injury problems to contend with though, as Marco van Ginkel and Giancomo Bonaventura are both doubts while Keisuke Honda is ruled out along with Stephan El Shaarawy, Riccardo Montolivo Michael Essien and Cristian Zaccardo. However, Adil Rami and Cristian Zapata are both expected to be available.

Head to Head
Menez and Joel Chukwuma Obi traded goals in the reverse fixture earlier this season when both had to settle for a share of the spoils.

That’s the fifth derby in a row to feature fewer than 2.5 goals – and sixth in the last seven – while Inter have lost just one of those seven against their bitter rivals.

Recommended Bets
Given the dour nature of their recent contests and both teams substandard performances overall a classic looks unlikely and so the value has to lie with Milan being nominally the away side, and the 7/5 on Milan in the Draw no Bet market particularly eye-catching.

Under 2.5 goals also stands out at 20/23. With penalty duties and a fine season behind him Menez also looks overpriced at 13/2 to score first and 21/10 to find the back of the net at any stage.