Serie A preview: AC Milan vs. Inter – Team news, opposition insight, stats and prediction
On Saturday night, AC Milan face Inter in a game that needs little to no introduction. It’s time for the Derby della Madonnina.
After their defeat in midweek, Milan must end October on a high note. It’s a game that could define their season – a daunting sentence to say only a few months into the campaign – such are the sides of the scale.
Ruben Amorim was happy to admit that his side needed to improve after the recent inconsistencies in his press conference on Friday night, and with two defeats in three games, he’s unfortunately right.
Game date: Saturday, October 31 Kick-off time: 20:45 (CET) Venue: San Siro Referee: Marco Guida (VAR: Mazzoleni)
Team news
As mentioned, this is a huge game for Milan, simply because of how they arrive at this game. Defeats to Bournemouth and Bologna in their last two midweek fixtures have had an impact on hopes for this season.
So, if they are to prove that they are ready to compete, they must show it against one of Europe’s best sides. Saying that, the Nerazzurri are not invincible and Amorim’s side can get the better of them at San Siro, but they will have to fight for 90 minutes.
Unfortunately, the Portuguese’s job is not made much easier, with several injuries still to contend with. Fikayo Tomori headed to the medical room this week, after suffering a torn muscle in his right thigh.
He joins Matteo Gabbia, Alexis Saelemaekers and Samuel Chukwueze, amongst others there. However, Amorim has been given the boost of three potential returns. Indeed, Adrien Rabiot, Mario Gila and Diego Moreira are all expected to be available in some capacity. To what extent, though, remained largely unknown for most of Friday.
Looking at the loss to Bologna, the injury issues had clearly had an impact on the team, as Ruben Amorim named a heavily rotated side, with only five starters on the pitch from the first minute. Though that may have been to combat Saturday’s game.
In the defence, there will be no changes to the core, as Mike Maignan starts in goal, with Koni De Winter and Strahinja Pavlovic ahead of him. However, both full-backs will be changed, with Gila returning to the starting XI, alongside Davide Bartesaghi.
Luka Modric also returns in a starting role alongside Rabiot, who will be entrusted with a starting role after recovering. Then, it will be a full-strength attack, or close to it.
Omari Hutchinson keeps his spot, with the Englishman showing signs of consistency, whilst Moreira also returns from injury. After signing his renewal – which could be worth €10 million per season – Christian Pulisic will start behind Goncalo Ramos.
Predicted Milan XI (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Gila, De Winter, Pavlovic, Bartesaghi; Modric, Rabiot; Hutchinson, Pulisic, Moreira; Ramos.
Predicted bench: Torriani, Bouyer, Estupinan, Vladimirov, M. Cissé, Vos, Perera, Diawara, F. Terracciano, Musah, Jashari, Comotto, Ossola, Menon, Camarda, Cisse.
Injuries & suspensions: Chukwueze, Gabbia, Tomori, Saelemaekers, P. Terracciano.
The opponents
In the summer, Inter oversaw a period of change, with several of the old guard departing. Davide Frattesi headed to Lazio on loan, Denzel Dumfries left to Real Madrid for €20 million, whilst Stefan de Vrij, Yann Sommer, Francesco Acerbi and Matteo Darmian all departed as free agents.
Changes would also come with the incoming mercato, though, as the Nerazzurri spent more than €100m. Djed Spence, Manuel Akanji, John Stones and Curtis Jones arrived from the Premier League, for a combined fee of €75m. Then, Aleksandar Stankovic returned from Club Brugge, with Ivan Provedel also making the switch from Lazio.
Whether those names have been an upgrade so far is difficult to tell, but it’s certainly been an introduction of a new wave of talent.
After dominating in Serie A last season, Inter have started the season in similar fashion, only dropping points to Roma so far. However, they’ve been something of comeback kings, regularly finding an escape when behind.
In fact, in their last three Serie A games, they’ve conceded the first goal – including the midweek disallowed goal against Venezia – yet they’ve always ended up with three points. The inevitability from recent seasons hasn’t disappeared.
What makes this potentially more frustrating is that they’re also struggling with injuries, but still getting results. Without Lautaro Martinez, Stones, Jones and Benjamin Pavard, a drop-off would’ve been understandable, but it hasn’t happened.
After their win in midweek, considering their schedule has also been rough, Chivu rotated slightly. So, there will be a few changes made this weekend to rotate back to their full-strength XI.
In the backline, Manuel Akanji will return to the centre of the back three, replacing Carlos Augusto. Whilst Alessandro Bastoni and Yann Bisseck will start either side of the Swiss defender. Of course, Ivan Provedel remains between the sticks.
Across the midfield, changes will be slightly more common. Federico Dimarco and Andy Diouf will remain on the flanks, whilst Piotr Zielinski retains his starting spot. Though Nicolo Barella and Hakan Calhanoglu both return to the starting XI.
Marcus Thuram will be given a starting role, hoping to continue his fine form this season, but Ange-Yoan Bonny will return to the bench. Pio Esposito will take his place instead.
Predicted Inter XI (3-5-2): Provedel; Bisseck, Akanji, Bastoni; Diouf, Barella, Calhanoglu, Zielinski, Dimarco; Thuram, Esposito
Predicted bench: Martinez, Di Gennaro, Augusto, Jakirovic, Bovio, Mkhitaryan, Lavelli, Mosconi, Spence, Bonny, Stankovic, Sucic.
Injuries & suspensions: Pavard, Jones, Stones, Martinez, Henrique.
Head to head
Saturday’s contest will be the 243rd meeting between the two sides and, after the horrific period of defeats between 2023 and 2024, Inter sit the happier of the two, with 88 wins to the Rossoneri’s 83.
Saying that, it’s the Diavolo who are currently enjoying a better time of things, having avoided defeat in their last seven meetings. Last season, this record was made even better, with a double taking place, thanks to two 1-0 victories, with goals from Christian Pulisic and Pervis Estupinan.
Key stats and facts
➤ AC Milan have won three of their last four Serie A matches against Inter (D1), as many as they had in their previous 16 meetings (D4 L9). The Rossoneri have won their last two matches and have not won three consecutive matches against the Nerazzurri since a run of four under Carlo Ancelotti between 2002 and 2004.
➤ Inter have won more matches (70) and scored more goals (260) against Milan than any other team in Serie A history. However, the Nerazzurri have also conceded 236 goals against the Rossoneri, less than those conceded against Roma (237) and Juventus (270); with 496 goals in total, the Milan derby could become the third match in the competition’s history to reach the 500-goal mark, after Inter-Roma (544) and Inter-Fiorentina (502).
➤ Milan have collected 18 points from their first nine games of this Serie A season, the same amount they achieved at the same point last season; in five of their previous six seasons in the top flight, the Rossoneri have collected at least 21 points after the first 10 games, with the sole exception of 2024/25 (17).
➤ AC Milan have lost four of their last eight home games in Serie A (W3 D1), as many as they had suffered in their previous 29 (W15 D10); furthermore, the Rossoneri have conceded six goals in their last two home games, one more than they had conceded in their previous five.
➤ Inter have scored in each of their last 19 Serie A matches, the longest unbroken streak among teams currently in the top flight; their last clean sheet came against AC Milan on March 8, 2026.
➤ Since the start of last season, Inter have scored at least two goals in 16 away league matches; only Bayern Munich (18) have done better in the top five European leagues, with Barcelona sharing the same figure as the Nerazzurri.
➤ Inter and Milan are the only two teams in Serie A this season to already have two players with at least four goals scored: Marcus Thuram and Lautaro Martínez for the Nerazzurri, and Adrien Rabiot and Alphadjo Cisse for the Rossoneri.
➤ Hakan Çalhanoglu played 135 Serie A matches for AC Milan between 2017 and 2021, scoring 22 goals and providing 31 assists. The Nerazzurri midfielder hasn’t been involved in a single goal in his last four matches for the Rossoneri in the tournament, after having been involved in four goals in his first five (two goals, both penalties, and two assists).
➤ After his brace on the last matchday, Alphadjo Cisse reached four goals in Serie A at 20 years and 6 days; if he were to score his fifth goal at 20 years and 9 days, he would become the seventh-youngest player in AC Milan’s history to do so, and the third in the three-point-for-a-win era, after Alexandre Pato and Stephan El Shaarawy.
➤ Francesco Pio Esposito, at 21 years and 125 days, could become Inter’s youngest Italian goalscorer in a Serie A derby since the three-point-for-a-win era; among Nerazzurri players of any nationality, only Obafemi Martins and Ronaldo have scored in a league derby at an earlier age during this period.
Ones to watch
There is no avoiding it, Goncalo Ramos has to shine here. If you’re going to spend the big bucks, you need players who’ll deliver in big moments. Ramos has played in big games before, scored big goals and they’ll be needed on Saturday.
Luka Modric was singled out by Raffaele Palladino after the defeat in midweek, but with him returning as a starter, the game could be played at his pace. The Croatian needs to show that he can still dictate the biggest games of the season.
For the visitors, Marcus Thuram will always be a player to keep an eye on. The Frenchman is the leader of the attack, especially with Lautaro Martinez out, and he has hurt the Diavolo previously. If given the chance, he’ll do so again.
The flanks could be decisive on Saturday, and Federico Dimarco is another who can and will haunt San Siro if given the chance on Halloween. Facing Mario Gila will be no easy task, but if any wide player is to take advantage of the makeshift right back, it’ll be him.
Prediction
Coming into this game, both managers have asked for improvements from their team. However, you’d feel the hosts are the side who need it most. Saying that, Amorim is fielding enough of a full-strength team that they could well get a result.
These games are always tough to call, so we’re going down the middle. Even if it is a cop out, it’d be a good result.
Milan 1-1 Inter
