Inter vs Milan Preview: Derby della Madonnina Returns – San Siro under the lights, the city split in two, and a rivalry that has defined Italian football for more than a century. The Inter vs Milan Preview writes itself: on Sunday 23 November (20:45 CET), the 245th competitive Derby della Madonnina arrives with both sides under new coaches, different ideas and very familiar stakes.
Inter come into the weekend joint-top of Serie A on 24 points, having piled up goals and statement performances in both the league and the Champions League. Cristian Chivu’s first full season in charge has brought a more vertical, aggressive Inter, with Lautaro Martínez and Marcus Thuram again at the heart of everything.
Milan, under the returning Massimiliano Allegri, arrive on a 10-game unbeaten run, still fine-tuning their identity but steadily collecting results and staying firmly in the top-four conversation. For Allegri, this is a chance to reassert Milan on the biggest domestic stage; for Chivu, it is an opportunity to stamp his authority on a fixture he knows intimately as a player.
Add in title-race implications, global spotlight and layers of history, and this Inter vs Milan Preview becomes more than just a match breakdown – it’s a snapshot of where Milanese football stands in 2025.
Inter vs Milan – Where to Watch
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Historic Context: A Derby That Built a Football City
The Derby della Madonnina is as old as modern Italian football itself. Inter and Milan have met 244 times in competitive fixtures; Sunday’s clash will be the 245th. The rivalry spans seven competitions:
- Serie A (round-robin era)
- Coppa Italia
- Prima Categoria and Divisione Nazionale (pre-Serie A top flight)
- Champions League
- Campionato Alta Italia
- Supercoppa Italiana
Across these 244 derbies, Inter lead the head-to-head:
- Inter wins: 91
- Milan wins: 82
- Draws: 71
They also have the edge in goals scored, with 341 goals to Milan’s 322, and have found the net in every competition in which the sides have met.
The origins of the rivalry are woven into the city itself. The derby takes its name from the Madonnina, the golden statue crowning the Duomo, watching over both sets of fans. The very first meeting between the clubs took place not in Italy but in Chiasso, Switzerland, in October 1908, ending in a 2–1 win for Milan. The first official derby followed in January 1909. Early clashes unfolded on pitches like Campo di Porta Monforte, the Arena Civica and Via Goldoni, before the fixture truly found its home at San Siro, where the first derby was played in 1926 – a 6–3 Inter win.
From there, the stories multiply:
- The 11-goal thriller in 1949, when Inter overturned a 4–1 deficit to win 6–5 in what remains the highest-scoring derby.
- The age of Helenio Herrera, who coached Inter in 20 derbies, winning eight – still a club record.
- The era-defining forwards who left their scars on this match: Shevchenko, Meazza, Nyers, Nordahl, Ibrahimović, Milito, and now Lautaro.
It is a fixture where legacy is built in 90 minutes, and sometimes in 13 seconds – the time it took Sandro Mazzola to score the fastest derby goal in history back in 1963.
Recent Derby Trend: Nerazzurri Ascendancy
In recent years, the derby has tilted decisively blue and black. Between 2023 and 2024, Inter put together a six-game winning streak in all competitions against Milan – their longest ever run of derby victories, matching Rossoneri streaks from the 1910s and 1940s.
That run was not just about quantity; it was about moments:
- Supercoppa Italiana 2023 (Riyadh): Inter 3–0 Milan – the first Nerazzurri win over Milan in that competition.
- Serie A 2022/23: Inter 1–0 Milan, Lautaro deciding it.
- Champions League 2022/23: back-to-back wins in the semi-final, 2–0 and 1–0, as Inter marched to Istanbul.
- Serie A 2023/24: a 5–1 demolition in September, then a 2–1 win in April to clinch the 20th Scudetto – the Second Star – at Milan’s “home” derby.
The symbolism of 22 April 2024 lingers: Inter mathematically sealed the title in a Derby della Madonnina. Never before had a Serie A crown been won inside this fixture.
Lautaro’s personal numbers tell the same story. The Inter captain has:
- 9 goals in derbies, making him Inter’s third all-time derby scorer behind Giuseppe Meazza (12) and István Nyers (11).
- 4 of those goals in Serie A, with his tally rising through major games: Supercoppa, Champions League, Scudetto decider.
On the broader historical stage, only Shevchenko (14 derby goals) and Meazza (13, split between the clubs) sit above him. One more derby goal and Lautaro steps into double figures alongside the giants.
Form and Context: Inter’s Firepower vs Milan’s Resilience
Inter: Vertical, aggressive, and top of the table
On paper, Chivu has not torn Inter apart. The core – Lautaro, Barella, Çalhanoğlu, Bastoni – remains. But the Inter vs Milan Preview is impossible to write without stressing what has changed: Inter are more vertical, more direct and more aggressive without the ball.
Key markers of the Chivu Inter:
- Most shots in Serie A: 199 attempts.
- Most goals: 26, making them the league’s most effective attack.
- Most shots after an attacking turnover: 19, with 4 goals from those situations – evidence of the heightened press.
- PPDA (passes per defensive action) of 10.4, among the most intense presses in the league, behind only Roma and Como.
- Of 172 open-play sequences of 10+ passes, 49 have ended in a shot or a touch in the opposition box – again a league best.
The result is a side that can smother teams high up the pitch, swarm second balls and explode forward with pace and numbers. Inter’s attack has been refreshed and deepened:
- Lautaro Martínez remains the talisman, combining penalty-box instinct with improved link play and pressing.
- Marcus Thuram returns from injury in time for the derby, offering runs into depth, wide drifting and physicality.
- Behind them, Bonny (4 goals, 4 assists) and Esposito have embraced larger roles, with Esposito’s form rewarded by early senior international caps and goals for Italy.
Inter arrive at this game joint-top of Serie A and perfect in the Champions League group stage with 12 points from 12. The caveat: their domestic schedule has not yet been the most brutal, and their attacking ambition has a cost.
Defensively, the numbers are less pristine:
- Inter have conceded 12 league goals, more than direct rivals like Roma, Como, Bologna and Milan.
- They allow relatively few shots (around 100 faced), but when their press is broken, the spaces can be dramatic.
For now, the system holds – especially at San Siro, where Inter come into the derby off back-to-back home clean sheets against Fiorentina (3–0) and Lazio (2–0). Reinforcements like Akanji add experience, but with the fixture list tightening before Christmas, Chivu knows the balance is fragile.
Milan: Allegri’s pragmatism and a 10-game unbeaten run
Milan’s season under Allegri has a different rhythm. The Rossoneri are:
- 10 matches unbeaten in all competitions.
- Coming off three draws in the last five league games, including a 2–2 away at Parma before the break.
Allegri has been clear about priorities:
- The main objective is finishing in the top four.
- Inter and Napoli are, in his words, “the favourites for the Scudetto” right now.
Milan’s recent matches have underlined familiar Allegri themes:
- An emphasis on individual duels: he explicitly blamed the Parma draw on losing too many in the second half.
- Stress on concentration and focus, repeating that the team must be “more focused” in big games than they were in Emilia.
- Targeted defensive awareness: he highlighted Inter as the team that “have physical strength, good shooters, and presence in the box”, who are “top for shots on target” and concede very few goals.
In terms of personnel, Allegri confirmed:
- Only Zachary Athekame and Santiago Giménez are unavailable.
- Adrien Rabiot will play, returning from injury in time for the derby.
Milan arrive healthier than Inter in terms of absentees and with an important psychological boost: Zlatan Ibrahimović, now an advisor to RedBird, dropped in to visit the squad ahead of the match, a reminder of derby standards from someone who dominated this fixture in Rossoneri colours.
Tactical Battle: Chivu’s Vertical Inter vs Allegri’s Compact Milan
This Inter vs Milan Preview centres on a tactical duel between two very different coaches.
Inter: press, verticality and left-sided creativity
Chivu’s Inter are built on three pillars:
- Aggressive pressing and counter-pressing – pressing high, hunting turnovers, and shooting quickly once the ball is won.
- Vertical progression – fewer patient, low-tempo buildups; more direct passes into feet or space for the forwards.
- A left flank in full flight – where Federico Dimarco has been reborn.
Key components:
- Çalhanoğlu, who nearly left in the summer, has rediscovered his form as the metronome and risk-taker: dictating rhythm, splitting lines and arriving on the edge of the area to finish moves.
- Dimarco has created 32 shots for teammates, a figure bettered only by Thomasson across Europe’s top five leagues and matched by names like Güler and Mbappé. His crossing, underlaps and set-piece delivery make the left side a continuous threat.
- On the right, Inter are weakened by the absence of Denzel Dumfries, who is out with an ankle problem. His athleticism and width will be missed in both phases.
Vertical Inter can overwhelm opponents quickly – but they also run the risk of leaving space behind their press and around their back three if Milan can bypass the first wave.
Milan: control of spaces, big-game pragmatism
Allegri’s Milan are still evolving, but certain hallmarks are already clear:
- Compactness and control of central zones, designed to frustrate teams like Inter who look to play straight and fast into the forwards.
- A focus on winning duels all over the pitch – something Allegri pointed to as decisive in Parma.
- Tactical pragmatism: willing to draw Inter out, then strike when spaces appear, especially via counter-attacks and second phases around Lautaro and Thuram’s drops.
Allegri has repeatedly warned his players that Inter are dangerous from:
- Distance shooting – with several capable long-range strikers.
- Set pieces and crowded boxes – “physical presence when they are near the box.”
- Transitions – speed and technique through the Inter front line and wing-backs.
Expect Milan to mix spells of mid-block compactness with moments of higher pressure, trying to disrupt Çalhanoğlu’s rhythm and deny Dimarco time to pick his crosses. The return of Rabiot strengthens their ability to contest midfield battles and cover half-spaces, vital against Inter’s vertical surges.
Key Players to Watch
Inter
Lautaro Martínez
Already one of the great derby forwards, Lautaro has nine goals in this fixture and a chance to join the double-digit club alongside Shevchenko, Meazza, Nyers and Nordahl. Chivu called him a “complete striker”: he presses, leads, finishes and now creates too – he has three derby assists, more than he has against any team other than Spezia.
Marcus Thuram
Back from a muscle injury and, according to Chivu, “much better now” after using the break to work purely on conditioning. His ability to run channels, attack space in behind and pin centre-backs is vital to Inter’s vertical game. If he is sharp, Milan’s back line will be stretched constantly.
Hakan Çalhanoğlu
The regista and playmaker rolled into one. Çalhanoğlu’s passing range and decision-making will dictate whether Inter can turn their pressing gains into sustained territorial dominance. His set-piece delivery adds another dimension in a derby where one dead ball can decide everything.
Federico Dimarco
Inter’s creative outlet from the left has returned to his peak. His partnership with the left-sided centre-back and interior midfielder allows constant overloads and crossing opportunities. If Milan cannot slow down his deliveries, Inter will generate a high volume of chances.
Milan
Adrien Rabiot
Returning in time for the derby, Rabiot’s ability to cover ground, break up play and drive the ball forward will be crucial. He is one of the few Milan players capable of matching Inter’s midfield intensity over 90 minutes.
Milan’s attacking unit in tight spaces
Chivu openly acknowledged that Milan’s attackers are “lethal in tight spaces”. Their ability to combine in narrow zones, receive between lines and turn under pressure means Inter’s defenders must be aggressive but measured – one mis-timed challenge can open the pitch.
Defensive line vs Lautaro and Thuram
Allegri has been explicit: Milan must “keep a close eye on Lautaro, Thuram, Bonny and Esposito”. How his back four track Lautaro’s drops, Thuram’s runs and the late arrivals of Bonny or Esposito could decide whether Milan survive Inter’s waves of pressure.
Intangibles: Zlatan Ibrahimović
Now an advisor rather than a striker, Ibrahimović’s presence around the squad before the derby carries symbolic weight. He knows this fixture, knows what is required emotionally, and his message of playing with “adrenaline, emotion and fun” could free some younger players from fear.
Managers: Chivu’s First Derby vs Allegri’s Return to the Stage
For Cristian Chivu, this is a first Derby della Madonnina as head coach, but far from his first as a protagonist. He spoke of:
- Embracing the fact that the derby is “shown all over the world” and is “special for the city and the fans”.
- Wanting to transmit “attention and determination” while still insisting that football remains a game to be enjoyed.
- Believing there are “no favourites in derbies – they start 0–0 and at 50/50”, with outcomes decided by details, duels and key moments.
He also made a point about mentality: he wants the same spirit “in every match, not only against big sides”, knowing that true consistency is built that way.
For Massimiliano Allegri, this derby is a familiar environment but in a new chapter. He called Inter–Milan a “wonderful evening” and a “historic rivalry”, and stressed:
- Inter and Napoli are Scudetto favourites.
- Milan’s task is to play a “solid match”, be “more focused” than in Parma, and to treat this as a chance to extend an unbeaten run and make a small but significant step.
- Derbies are about duels, and whoever wins more of them “has a better chance of winning”.
He also revealed that in 2021 he could have joined Inter or Real Madrid instead of returning to Juventus, underlining the deep personal and professional links that thread through this fixture.
What’s at Stake?
This Inter vs Milan Preview isn’t just about passion; it’s about the table.
For Inter:
- A win keeps them on top and reinforces the notion that Chivu’s more open, vertical football is not just beautiful but effective at the highest level.
- A derby victory would stretch their psychological dominance over Milan, especially at San Siro, and fuel belief before a brutal run of fixtures across all competitions.
For Milan:
- A result – even a draw – sustains their unbeaten run and proves they can go toe-to-toe with the favourites in a high-stress environment.
- A win would send a shock through the title race, cut Inter down to size, and inject fresh confidence into a side whose stated aim is still “just” the top four.
Beyond points, it’s about narrative. Inter’s six-game derby winning streak is already over; a failure to win here would reignite questions about their defensive balance and the sustainability of Chivu’s approach. For Milan, another derby defeat would reopen old wounds from the Champions League semi-final and the Scudetto-clinching loss in 2024.
Inter vs Milan Preview – Verdict
Two new coaches, familiar leaders, and a rivalry that never gets old. Inter arrive as the more explosive attacking side, with a clear identity built on pressing, verticality and a left flank in full flow. Milan counter with Allegri’s pragmatism, a strong unbeaten run, and a near full-strength squad boosted by Rabiot’s return and Ibrahimović’s presence in the background.
Expect:
- High-intensity phases when Inter press and Milan look to spring counters.
- Key battles on the flanks, especially Inter’s left vs Milan’s right.
- Moments of chaos around the box, where Lautaro, Thuram and Milan’s forwards can punish even tiny lapses.
There may be no official favourite, but the pressure is heavier on Inter: league leaders, recent derby dominators, and hosts in front of their own curva. Milan arrive with a little less to lose and plenty to gain.
Whatever the outcome, everything about this Inter vs Milan Preview points in the same direction: another Derby della Madonnina that will sit comfortably alongside the stories, statistics and legends that brought it here.
