Following a brief break for international games, including Euro 2024 qualifiers, club football returns, and there’s action from the Italian Serie A starting on Saturday. Juventus brings the curtain up on another frantic weekend of action from the top-tier Italian professional football as the Old Lady hosts Lazio in a thriller from 14:00. The show ends on Saturday with Genoa at home to Napoli, but we focus on the game that slots between the two as Inter Milan plays AC Milan in the first Milan Derby of the season.
One of the biggest games on the Italian Serie A calendar and a major attraction in European football, Inter Milan v AC Milan will draw a crowd. The shared stadium will be packed to capacity for kick-off, with the audience boosted by millions of armchair fans worldwide watching the play live on television. Saturday’s game is a chance for both sides of the Milan divide to bag three points, strengthening their campaign while denting their rivals’ chances of challenging for the major places. Expect a thrilling and fast-paced 90 minutes.
Inter Milan leads the race
Inter Milan entered the weekend sitting on top of Serie A, and that’s where they’d like to stay following this game and the season. Inter raced into pole position after winning each of their opening three games, bagging a maximum of nine points. They have played three, won three, scored eight goals, and conceded zero. That means the home team is working to maintain its perfect start and protect that impressive goals against tally. Another win in the derby and a clean sheet would show their critics they mean business. Victory would strengthen their position at the top.
Inter Milan was last seen in action when beating Fiorentina 4-0 at home before the international break. It was a game they were expected to win, entering as the favourites with the most respected pundits, and Inter wasted no time living up to expectations. They scored the opener through Thuram inside 23 minutes and never looked back. It was the perfect way to sign off ahead of the break, but fans now want to see the team picking up where they left off and scoring another strong victory.
AC Milan could go top
AC Milan fans have looked across the divide and watched their rivals race into pole position, but there’s little between the pair at this early stage, with AC Milan matching the efforts of Inter Milan and bagging three wins from three games. They are joint top of the league with nine points against their name but lag behind the pace-setters on goal difference, with AC Milan scoring eight and conceding two. A fourth victory in four would send AC top of the league while sending a message to the rest of Serie A.
Bet hereAfter winning their first two games, AC Milan made it a hattrick with a battling 2-1 away win over Roma in an end-to-end contest. The final score and bare result suggests a testing game, but former Arsenal and Chelsea man Giroud scored the opener inside nine minutes from the penalty spot before Rafael Leoa made it a two-goal lead early in the second half. It took the beaten team until 92 minutes to get a goal back, but by then, it was too little too late as Spinazzola hit a consolation goal before the finish. Milan fans want to see more of that fighting spirit and character from their team.
Inter Milan v AC Milan prediction
Inter Milan is the team playing at home, but we know that means little in this fixture. Here, we have one of the most exciting renewals of the Milan derby in years. Both teams are fighting over pole position in the league, with Inter and AC on nine points after three games. Inter has scored more goals and is yet to concede, and it’s that strong defence that could make all the difference in this fixture.
AC Milan doesn’t have the same perfect record in defece as Inter Milan, but they are capable of scoring goals and will provide a stern challenge for that backline. The first goal in this game is vital, and if AC Milan gets the opener, there’s no reason why they can’t progress to score an upset win and claim a useful three points.
Serie A odds
The pre-match betting odds offered to 22bet members have Inter Milan trading at 2.2 to continue their winning ways with another three points. You can back Inter to win the first Milan derby, but some respected pundits are happy to take a chance on AC Milan at the 3.28 offered. Those on the fence who think the Milan teams will share can back the draw at 3.4.
The stats tell us to expect a thrilling renewal of the Milan derby, and 22bet helps members enjoy the show by offering several betting markets. The most popular include both teams to score, handicap, total goals, first goalscorer, corners, cards, and more.
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