Italy is pawing impatiently waiting for this shock at the top or almost.
Inter Milan, leader of Serie A and defending champion, rubs shoulders with AC Milan, 3rd in the standings on equal points with Naples, this Saturday (6:00 p.m.).
If the Nerazzurri win, they will relegate their rival Rossonero to 7 points while remaining a game behind.
Potential turning point of the season on the horizon.
But do you really know the “della Madonnina” derby, as it is nicknamed?
Immersed in the Milanese rivalry.
To discover
Serie A standings
Serie A fixtures and results
Who is the favorite between Inter Milan and AC Milan this Saturday?
Inter Milan are clear favourites.
He has only lost one of his last 20 matches, and that was at Real Madrid in the Champions League (2-0).
Simone Inzaghi's men lack realism in both surfaces in 2022, but in the game they are running at full speed.
Less glorious dynamic for AC Milan.
Stefano Pioli's players remain on a pointless draw against Juventus on January 23 (0-0) and were crucified at the last minute by Udinese before that (1-2).
Against Inter, they will be without their two central defenders: Simon Kjaer, injured until the end of the season, and Fikayo Tomori, injured in the knee.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who suffers from the Achilles tendon, is also forfeited, which should leave the field open to Olivier Giroud.
SEE ALSO –
Inter Milan's overtime victory against Juventus in the Italian Super Cup on January 12 (2-1)
Why do we talk about the “della Madonnina” derby?
If you don't know the answer, it's because you've never visited the city of Milan, famous for its dome, “il duomo di Milano”.
The third largest church in the world, it is symbolized by the "Madonnina", erected on the highest spire of the dome in 1774. The golden sculpture, a representation of the Virgin Mary, is just over 4 meters high.
Tradition has long dictated that no construction should exceed the height of the Madonnina, ie 108 meters high.
Since the 1950s, however, several buildings have crossed this limit... and installed replicas of the Madonnina on their tops, in order to respect tradition.
What is the real name of the Milan stadium?
Inaugurated in 1926, the stadium which houses both Inter Milan and AC Milan has long been called San Siro, named after the district where it emerged. He then belonged to AC Milan. In 1935, the Italian city bought the stadium, and it was not until 1947 that Inter became joint tenants of the Rossoneri. In 1980, the stadium was renamed the "Giuseppe-Meazza stadium", a year after the death of the former Inter striker, of whom he is still the top scorer in its history (282), who also played two seasons at the 'AC Milan. Since then, the enclosure is designated by its official name when Inter receives, and we speak of “San Siro” when it is AC Milan. But this place, increasingly difficult to renovate, will soon belong to the past: a project for a new stadium, which should be completed in 2027,is in progress. It will also host the two Milanese teams. Giuseppe-Meazza should be demolished in the process. A difficult page to turn for supporters of both camps.
The Giuseppe-Meazza stadium in December 2021. AI / Reuters / Panoramic
Inter Milan-AC Milan, who dominates historically?
Of the 229 derbies in official matches, there are 84 wins for Inter, 77 for AC Milan and 68 draws.
Advantage to the Nerazzurri therefore, they who have won 6 of the last 8 confrontations (1 draw, 1 defeat).
In the prize game, Inter has 19 Italian championship titles against... 18 for the Rossoneri.
The latter can however boast of having lifted the Champions League 7 times, against 3 interist crowns.
Who is the all-time top scorer in the Milan derby?
No, Giuseppe Meazza is not the most prolific goalscorer in the 'della Madonnina' derby.
With 13 goals including 12 for Inter, he is the No. 2 behind a non-Italian: Andriy Shevchenko.
The Ukrainian, Ballon d'Or 2004, shook the internal nets 14 times.
Injured, Zlatan Ibrahimovic will not (yet) score his 11th goal in the derby.
The Swede remains one length behind his compatriot Gunnar Nordhal and Hungarian István Nyers on the podium.
Anecdote: Nyers was born in 1924 in... France, in the former commune of Merlebach, in Moselle.
Long before the heyday of Inter, he grew up in Lorraine until the age of 6 and played two seasons in his native country, at the Stade Français, between 1946 and 1948. Cocorico.
SEE ALSO –
The best of Andriy Shevchenko at AC Milan (1999-2006)