Inter Milan Hoping To Leave AC Milan In The Dust Straight Away With Derby Win After International Break

Inter Milan are hoping to open up a big gap on city rivals AC Milan in Serie A early in the derby after the international break.

This is the view in today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews.

In the last few seasons, the derby between Inter and Milan has come early on in Serie A.

For two seasons running, the derby clash came right after the international break.

This time around, Inter and Milan will meet in their second league match after the break.

Both the Nerazzurri and the Rossoneri will have one match back from the break in the league. And then huge tests in the Champions League against Manchester City and Liverpool respectively.

And then the big one. The derby is always one of the showpiece occasions in Italian football.

Inter have been on a streak of fairly convincing wins in the derby. Last season, they secured the title with a win over their city rivals, the first time in history that either side had done so.

Inter also beat Milan home and away in the semifinals of the Champions League last season.

But the Nerazzurri will know full well that they can’t be complacent. The derby is often a fixture where the form book goes out the window.

Inter Hope To Open A Gap Over AC Milan In The Derby

In terms of form at the start of the season, Inter and Milan could hardly contrast more.

The Nerazzurri and the Rossoneri started the campaign identically – with 2-2 draws.

Inter suffered a frustrating start in what has become a typically tough fixture for them away to Genoa, conceding an equalizer in stoppage time.

Milan, on the other hand, salvaged a point against Torino with some late heroics, having been 0-2 down late in the match.

But since then, Inter have found their groove from last season.

A businesslike 2-0 victory over Lecce and a 4-0 rout of Atalanta saw the Nerazzurri firmly reestablish their title credentials.

On the other hand, Milan are still winless under coach Paulo Fonseca. They suffered a shock loss to Parma before drawing 2-2 away to Lazio.

Inter will feel confident going into next weekend’s clash with Monza. Milan, on the other hand, will surely be experiencing the nerves and pressure as their match against newly-promoted Venezia is mist-win.

And what Milan’s stumbles early on mean is that Inter will look at the derby as a particular opportunity.

The Nerazzurri are already five points clear of their city rivals in the table. That is certainly welcome news considering the Rossoneri are among their main title rivals on paper.

But the derby could very well be a chance to open up a lead that already feels insurmountable for Milan in September.