Milan and Inter are about to take each other on in the Derby della Madonnina.
This is one of the oldest and most historic derbies in the world as the two Milanese clubs will go head-to-head in the San Siro. This weekend’s match will be the 222nd official encounter between the two, with Inter having won more of the official matches (78) than the Rossoneri.
The Nerazzuri enter the showdown four points ahead of their rivals in the table; they sit third on 16 points whilst Milan are all the way down in 10th despite only being two games back on Inter. Winning this match would put the Rossoneri just one point behind and give them all the momentum as they would bring Inter’s six game winning streak to an end.
So Inter are having a better season, just, but how would it look if you combined both their teams? We’ve had a look and come up with a team.
Goalkeeper: Samir Handanovic (Inter)
The gigantic Slovenian is an Inter legend, having played over 250 games for the Nerazzurri. Inter have conceded just six goals so far this season he’s a big part of why. Whilst Gianluigi Donnarumma is a talent for the future, Handanovic is the main man for right now.
Right-back: Davide Calabria (Milan)
After Mattia De Sciglio’s defection to Juventus, Calabria has emerged in his stead. He’s happy in both attack and defence and here he beats out Danilo D’Ambrosio because he’s been much more impactful defensively, winning more tackles and making more blocks and clearances.
Centre-back: Stefan De Vrij (Inter)
The Dutchman has turned into an incredibly solid centre-back, marshalling one of the stingiest back-lines in Italy. De Vrij is no stranger to playing with the ball at his feet, but he has developed a great command of his defence (all those games with Miranda probably helped). Inter have only conceded six goals this season and De Vrij is a big part of why.
Centre-back: Milan Skriniar (Inter)
The spectacular Slovak is a hard-hitting centre-back, the kind you could see thriving anywhere in the game due to the robust and powerful nature of his game. There’s rumours Manchester United want him and one could easily see how he fits a José Mourinho team. Alessio Romagnoli has had a good season but Skriniar is on another level.
Left-back: Kwadwo Asamoah (Inter)
The Ghanaian has been around for ages, but he’s maintained a consistent level throughout his times with Udinese, Juventus and now Inter. Asamoah has created five chances, completed five take-ons and made 10 interceptions. He’s a proactive presence down the left.
Midfielder: Lucas Biglia (Milan)
The Argentine flop has shrugged his terrible World Cup off to once again be an anchoring force in midfield, now for Milan. Bigilia isn’t the flashiest with the ball at his feet, but he’s in the team to defend and he does that across all fronts: 12 interceptions, 10 blocks, 12 clearances and 16 tackles won is one hell of a stat-line. He’s key for Gattuso’s men.
Midfielder: Marcelo Brozovic (Inter)
Across town there’s just one player to outdo Bigilia as a defensive anchor and that’s Brozovic. The Croation has been so good for Inter that he’s even impacting the attack. Brozovic has 10 chances created, 12 interceptions and a whopping 20 tackles won. The man is a machine and alongside Bigilia would anchor this combined XI, freeing up the front four.
Right-wing: Suso (Milan)
Suso was one of Spain’s brighest young talents but a move to Liverpool somewhat derailed his progress. He’s back on track at Milan, though, and is thriving under Gattuso (earning a recall to the Spanish national side). No player from either side has more through-balls, chances created, assists or successful take-ons than the Spaniard. He’s been Mr. Everything in Milan.
Left-wing: Ivan Perisic (Inter)
The second Croatian in the side is the World Cup hero Ivan Perisic. A ruthlessly direct wing presence, Inter’s no. 44 has been scoring and creating with equal measure (he has 2 goals and 2 assists) as per usual. A constantly danger from either flank, Perisic is the man.
Striker: Gonzalo Higuain (Milan)
The best pure strikers in Italy both play in Milan and here’s the first of them. Gonzalo Higuain is now entering the twilight of a career that began when he was 18 and banging braces by Boca Juniors for River Plate. This is a man who lives for derbies (just not international finals) and for scoring goals. He has 152 games across all competitions for Italian clubs and still holds the all-time record for most goals in a single Serie A season with 36 (and currently has 4 in 5 in the league for Milan). An angry, motivated Higuain could be a special thing.
Striker: Mauro Icardi (Inter)
The other best pure striker in Italy is, of course, Mauro Icardi. The Argentine’s temperament and personal life are legendary, but his talent should be as well. This is a striker of remarkable consistency and leadership (he is Inter’s captain, after all) who has just once failed to hit double-digits for Inter, and that was his debut season. Since then he’s scored more than 20 Serie A goals (and 25 in all competitions) in three of his last four seasons with the Nerazzuri, only falling short in 2015/16 because of injury. To be that consistent for a club as inconsistent as Inter is a remarkable feat and one worthy of praise.
The post AC Milan v Inter: a combined XI ahead of the Serie A derby appeared first on Squawka News.
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