Milan vs. Inter: last shot at the Scudetto
The derby comes at a crucial moment of the campaign. For Milan, it may represent their last true chance to stay in the running for the Scudetto. The Rossoneri have to chase the seven-point gap and put pressure on Inter if they hope to get back in the title race with two months of the season still to play.
The Nerazzurri come into the clash in impeccable form. Cristian Chivu’s side have been undefeated since the reverse derby and have won all of the 15 matches that came after, with the only slip being a draw against Napoli. On the other hand, Milan have dropped in form over the last few weeks as a 23-match unbeaten run at San Siro came to an end against Parma. The Rossoneri have not won at home since 18 January, when they beat Lecce 2–0.
With the Rossoneri fans all set to turn San Siro into their fortress, the derby could be the moment that shifts the balance of an entire season. These ninety minutes in Milan could change everything.
The numbers behind the showdown: Inter’s dominance, Milan’s strength in big games
Milan have secured 57 points from their first 27 matches, which is exactly the same as they had in the 2021/22 season, when they went on to win the Scudetto. However, back then, the Rossoneri were top of the table, on par with Napoli and two points clear of Inter.
This time the opposite is true, with the Nerazzurri determined to keep their rivals away from their top-of-the-table spot. Chivu’s side have recorded an almost unmatchable record: Inter have won at least eight Serie A matches in a row for the first time since January–March 2024, when they reached ten. The Nerazzurri also stand out across Europe’s top leagues: Inter have the most wins this season among teams in the major European competitions (22), while also keeping the highest number of clean sheets (15).
Milan can have faith in themselves thanks to one major factor: their performances in big matches. The Rossoneri remain unbeaten against the other top sides and, even more notably, have never fallen behind against teams currently in the top eight, except Como, both home and away. Moreover, if they find themselves in a chasing position, Allegri’s side know how to respond: Milan have recovered more points from losing positions than any other team in the league (14), while Inter have gained just three.
Milan can have faith in themselves thanks to one major factor: their performances in big matches. The Rossoneri remain unbeaten against the other top sides and, even more notably, have never fallen behind against teams currently in the top eight, except Como, both home and away. Moreover, if they find themselves in a chasing position, Allegri’s side know how to respond: Milan have recovered more points from losing positions than any other team in the league (14), while Inter have gained just three.
The derby may also be decided by the smaller details. Set pieces are a major weapon for Inter and a potential weakness for Milan. The Nerazzurri have scored more goals from set-pieces than any other team in Serie A this season (21), including 15 from corners, both league records. Across Europe’s top five leagues, only Arsenal have recorded more. While Milan have conceded the highest proportion of goals from dead-ball situations: 10 of the 20 they have conceded (50%) have come from set pieces, with a quarter of them from corners. It is an area Allegri will be keen to refine if he wants to ensure the derby isn’t sealed by one of Inter’s trademark strengths.
Derby and the Scudetto: previous encounters fuelling Rossoneri hope
History offers Milan reason to keep faith. Neither of the city’s two clubs have ever gone on to win the Scudetto after losing both Derby della Madonnina matches in the same season.
This fact keeps Rossoneri hopes alive. In 2023/24, Simone Inzaghi’s Inter beat Milan 5–1 in a landslide victory in the first meeting before completing the job in the return fixture, securing their second star right in their rivals’ own stadium. Just two years before that, it was a completely different story. In 2021/22, after a draw in the first encounter, Stefano Pioli’s Milan came from behind at the derby, making a dramatic comeback thanks to Olivier Giroud’s iconic brace, a moment that proved decisive in their run to the title. A season earlier, Antonio Conte’s Inter had lost the first derby (with a Zlatan Ibrahimović brace) but took their revenge in February with an impressive 3–0 victory that sparked their surge to the Scudetto. The derby is, therefore, more than just a game.
The protagonists: stars, new faces, and derby dreams
Among the players expected to take centre stage are two iconic figures for their respective sides: Federico Dimarco and Rafael Leão.
Federico Dimarco’s 2026 has been simply spectacular. The Inter wing-back has already scored six league goals, a new personal best, and was named EA Sports FC Player of the Month in January. His consistency has been outstanding: in 2026 he has been directly involved in 12 goals across 10 Serie A matches (four goals and eight assists), at least twice as many as any other player in the same period. With Lautaro Martínez on the bench, Dimarco has taken on even greater responsibility, delivering complete performances that combine assists, flawless strikes, and decisive defensive contributions, including a crucial goal-line clearance against Sassuolo.
Milan have their attacking leader to respond, Rafael Leão. The Portuguese forward is the star of Massimiliano Allegri’s attack and the Rossoneri’s top scorer with nine league goals, four of them scored in 2026. Allegri’s decision to play him consistently as a central striker has brought out his greatest strengths, bursts of pace and his ability to attack space, qualities that fit perfectly into a game built on transitions and penetrating passes. Leão has scored three league goals against Inter but has not scored in the derby for more than two years, making Sunday night a perfect opportunity to turn things around.
Milan also hope to see Christian Pulisic in his element again. The American forward scored the deciding goal in the first derby of the season and has scored three times against Inter since joining Milan. However, he is still on the hunt for his first goal of 2026, partly due to a series of injuries that broke his momentum after a brilliant start to the campaign, when he produced eight goals and two assists in his first eleven appearances. Allegri will be hoping the American can find his edge again on the biggest stage, especially as Pulisic and Leão have rarely been in their prime at the same time this season.
Without Lautaro Martínez, Cristian Chivu may rely on starboy Francesco Pio Esposito. The young striker is enjoying a season with many milestones and firsts in the Nerazzurri shirt, topped off with an iconic goal in the big match against Juventus. At almost 21 years old, he would become the youngest Inter striker to start in a derby in more than twenty years, since Obafemi Martins. The last Italian Inter striker to score in a derby at that age was Christian Vieri in 2002, and “Bobo”, with his explosive physicality, is someone Pio calls one of his inspirations.
For Milan, there will be keen eyes on Luka Modrić, who is relishing the dream of wearing the Rossoneri shirt he supported as a boy. The Croatian “Maestro” continues to show sparks of his enduring class and leadership, as demonstrated by his decisive assist in Cremona and his heavy involvement throughout the season. He will also be hoping to leave a lasting mark on his Milan adventure with a derby goal, a perfect way to add to an extraordinary career.
Another player on the rise is Piotr Zieliński. The Polish midfielder has scored four Serie A goals against Milan, one of his favourite opponents, and will be eager to add another as he looks to record a season of clear development.
Finally, the goalkeepers could also play a decisive role. Mike Maignan was crucial in the first meeting, saving a penalty and producing several key stops that kept Milan in the game. On the other hand, Yann Sommer will be aiming to make up for the last derby defeat, when a rebound from his save fell kindly for Pulisic after Alexis Saelemaekers’ shot. A standout performance this time could erase that memory and help push Inter towards what might prove a decisive break in the title race.