Serie A: Derby D’Italia is all about the 2023/24 Champions League

Inter Milan vs Juventus

Two of Italy’s juggernauts are set to collide on Sunday in the Derby D’Italia and, as always, this game is about pride, but there’s plenty at stake for both teams with European places on offer.

Serie A: Inter Milan vs Juventus is one of football’s biggest games but, unusually, this year it isn’t a battle for the top spot as Napoli are running away with the Scudetto. The Azzurri are a whopping 18 points clear with 12 games to play, and 2021 champions Inter are in second place. Juventus are clawing their way back up the table after their January points deduction and they have a Europa League place in their sights but have certainly not ruled out a top four finish. 

This is a huge match which could have serious implications for the top four run-in and a Juventus win, in particular, would send shock waves around Italy.

Both teams were in European action in midweek, Inter came through their Champions League tie against FC Porto while Juventus saw off Freiburg to progress to the Europa League quarter finals. In the league last week, Inter lost away to Spezia while Juventus had a thumping 4-2 win at home to Sampdoria  

The Inter Milan vs Juventus betting odds are leaning towards a home win but I’m not so sure.

Talking Points

Inter’s case for the defence  

Inter went through to the quarter finals of the Champions League with a 1-0 aggregate win over FC Porto, grinding out a 0-0 draw in Portugal on Tuesday and it is Simone Inzaghi’s defence which has caught the eye this season, particularly at home, with Francesco Acerbi, on loan fro Lazio adding steel and experience. While World Cup winner Lautaro Martinez has scored an impressive 14 goals to top score for I Nerazzurri, Inter’s defence has a more outstanding record, particularly at the San Siro Stadium where they have conceded just two goals all campaign.  

But a strong defence alone isn’t always enough to see a game through and in Inter’s recent trip to Bologna they mis-fired in front of goal and were punished by a late Riccardo Orsolini goal on the break. And I Nerazzurri received another blow during their 0-0 draw with FC Porto on Tuesday when defender Alessandro Bastoni pulled up with a muscle injury, though Dutch defender Stefan de Vrij is ready to step in.

Inzaghi doesn’t need any more injuries in his defensive unit. With just two wins in the last five games his team is only three points ahead of fifth placed Roma. He wants the San Siro to be a fortress over the next six games, starting on Sunday against I Bianconeri.      

Juventus fighting back hard

Juventus boss Max Allegri had a big task to keep his team focused following the 15 point deduction the club copped in January. His players have responded well and are pushing up towards the Europa League places, in seventh and only four points behind sixth placed Atalanta and, whisper it quietly, ten behind AC Milan in second. So there will be plenty of teams in the leading group paying close attention to the Inter Milan vs Juventus updates as they roll in.   

Dusan Vlahovic is in good form, with eight goals this season, and he scored a penalty in Juve’s 2-0 win in Freiburg, Federico Chiesa bagging the second. And these two will pose Inter’s defence plenty of questions on Sunday, particularly if Manuel Locatelli can win the midfield battle with Inter Milan’s Marcelo Brozovic. Another key player is France midfielder Adrien Rabiot who had a superb World Cup and has rebuilt his reputation as a box to box player, effective in front of his defence and in support of the attack. He scored twice in the Old Lady’s entertaining win over Sampdoria last week.

At the back, Bremer has settled well in the middle of the Old Lady’s defence but he will be without the rock, Leonardo Bonucci, beside him as the Juve legend and skipper was injured against Sampdoria with Danilo stepping in against Freiburg. Meanwhile, midfielder Paul Pogba remains a long term absentee.     

History

I Bianconeri are ahead in the head to head results with 32 wins to 17 and there have been 22 draws, in all competitions over the past three decades.

With five wins from six Juventus have shown plenty of form in recent weeks while Inter have stuttered, winning three of their last six, but they have an imposing record of 11 wins and two defeats at home.   

Betting Tip

The hosts are favourites, odds on at 1.96 to win this game to keep a firm grip on their second place, while the draw is 3.11 and Juventus are priced at 3.35 with SBOTOP to take all three points. The Bianconeri players have an ‘us against the world’ attitude and at the moment they are winning; and I have a feeling their momentum will continue in Milan on Sunday.

 

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