Serie A: Flawless Records are on the Line in the Milan Derby

Inter Milan vs AC Milan

Serie A fans are in for a huge treat this weekend, as age-old rivals Inter Milan and AC Milan are set to collide at the San Siro this Saturday.

This match is easily the pick of the litter because these derby rivals are the only perfect teams left in the Italian top-flight with three consecutive wins after the first three matchdays of the 2023-24 campaign.

Inter Milan are on the back of 2-0 wins against Cagliari and Monza and a 4-0 beatdown of Fiorentina, while AC Milan recorded a 2-0 win over Bologna, a 4-1 win against Torino, and a 2-1 win against AS Roma just before the international break.

So, which team will stay unbeaten this weekend? Read today’s SBOTOP match preview below.

Talking Points

Martinez and Giroud in lethal form

Inter Milan and AC Milan’s early-season success can be owed primarily to their two top scorers, Lautaro Martinez and Olivier Giroud, who also happen to be the frontrunners of the Capocannoniere right now.

The Nerazzurri have scored the most goals so far this campaign with eight, and they have yet to concede one on the other side of the pitch. Martinez, who took the captain’s armband this summer, is relishing his leadership role with five goals under his belt.

Martinez is averaging more touches (44.3) and progressive passes received (8.6 per 90) to start this year, which is more than in any of his previous five seasons with Inter Milan, making him the head of the snake in the final third.

Giroud, on the other hand, leads AC Milan in scoring with four goals, and he also has one assist. The Frenchman also leads Serie A for expected goals (xG) per 90 so far with 1.15, which is impressive for a 36-year-old.

Needless to say, Martinez and Giroud are expected to be in the Serie A 2023 highlights reel this weekend, as both trained with their respective teams this week after playing for their national teams during the September international break.

AC Milan will try a new defencive pairing, while Pavard might make his Inter debut

The other side of the pitch is what makes this game tricky, as Inter Milan and AC Milan are said to be making certain changes to their squads.

With Fikayo Tomori and Pierre Kalulu sidelined because the former was sent off against AS Roma and the latter sustained an injury, Stefano Pioli is inclined to start Malick Thiaw and Simon Kjaer at centre-half. Thiaw and Kjaer have only started together twice, which resulted in two clean sheets.

Meanwhile, Benjamin Pavard might make his Inter Milan bow against AC Milan. The 27-year-old has fallen out of favour at Bayern Munich, so this is his chance to reinvigorate his career.

Pavard is one of the most versatile defenders that we have today, as he can play as a centre-back or as a full-back. With Simone Inzaghi regularly employing a 3-5-2 formation, the Frenchman should be able to fit in seamlessly.

History

During the 2022-23 season, AC Milan defeated Inter Milan 3-2 in their first league meeting, but the Nerazzurri went on to beat the Rossoneri four consecutive times: in the Supercoppa Italiana, Serie A (reverse fixture), and in the two legs of the Champions League semi-finals.

Inter Milan are now aiming to record five straight victories for the very first time in the 114-year history of the Derby della Madonnina.

Overall, these two teams clashed in 237 matches across all competitions. Inter Milan have won 89 games, while AC Milan have won 79 times, along with 69 draws.

These two teams managed to put an end to Juventus’ nine-year Serie A dominance, as Inter Milan won the Scudetto in 2020-21 before losing it to AC Milan in 2021-22.

Betting Tip

The Serie A 2023 odds expect a close fight between these two bitter rivals. Inter Milan were given the slight edge at 2.14, while AC Milan are at 2.91 odds to win. A draw, meanwhile, is at 3.45 in the 1X2 market.

But while Inter Milan have gotten the better of AC Milan in their recent head-to-heads, we believe that the Rossoneri have the capability to put an end to their slump, although it’ll be easier said than done.

Because Inter Milan in particular have been scoring goals for fun lately, Over 2.50 at 1.91 is a great alternative for our recommended bet. And if you fancy the Nerazzurri to win again, a Correct Score of 2-0 is on offer at a whopping payout of 10.00.

 

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