Internazionale vs AC Milan 10/02/20

10 February 2020

The weekend’s Serie A (SA) action concludes with a massive-heavyweight clash at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, as Internazionale take on bitter rivals AC Milan.

The ‘hosts’ have snapped a three-game winless SA run (D3) with a 2-0 away win over Udinese last weekend to keep a three-point deficit on league-toppers Juventus. But, the Nerazzurri have won just once in their previous four SA home fixtures (D3), with all of those draws featuring under 2.5 goals. A lack of home goals has been a genuine problem for Inter this season, with only 43.18% (19) of their 44 SA goals coming at the Giuseppe Meazza. Still, 63% (12) of those home goals arrived in the first half, with Antonio Conte’s men breaking the deadlock in eight of 11 SA home matches. Inter also boast league’s best defensive record (18 goals conceded overall/eight at home), keeping a clean sheet in 45% (five) of their SA home outings so far.

Meanwhile, the ‘visitors’ have interrupted their high-flying start to the new calendar year (W3) with a dismal 1-1 home draw with Hellas Verona last weekend, as they currently sit seven points adrift of fourth-placed Roma. A victory in this high-profile Derby della Madonnina clash is a necessity for the Rossoneri, but they’ve failed to beat Inter in all seven of their previous top-flight H2Hs (D3, L4), drawing a blank in three of the last four. Stefano Pioli will have to step up their first-half performance if they are to walk away with all three points, given that they’ve scored just three of their 12 SA away goals before halftime (25%). Interestingly, although none of Milan’s 11 SA away matches ended in a draw (W6, L5), six of them have yielded the same 0-0 halftime scoreline.