AC Milan vs Inter Milan: Match Preview, Prediction, Team News & Head-to-Head

Competition: Serie A
Match: AC Milan vs Inter Milan
Date: Saturday, October 31, 2026
Kick-off: 1:15 AM IST (Sunday, November 1)
Venue: San Siro, Milan

Match Preview

AC Milan and Inter Milan meet in the first Derby della Madonnina of the 2026/27 season.

Inter arrive as joint leaders of Serie A alongside Lazio, having collected 25 points from their opening nine matches. Cristian Chivu's side have enjoyed an excellent start to the campaign and will aim to maintain their position at the top.

AC Milan, meanwhile, sit fifth with 18 points. Ruben Amorim's team suffered a disappointing 4-2 home defeat against Bologna in midweek, ending their unbeaten league run.

The derby presents Milan with an opportunity to respond in front of their home supporters and close the gap on their city rivals. Inter will be determined to extend their lead and continue their impressive league form.

Team News

AC Milan

AC Milan will be without Fikayo Tomori, who suffered a thigh muscle injury and is expected to be sidelined for at least a month.

The positive news for the Rossoneri is that Gila, Moreira and Adrien Rabiot have returned to training and could be available for selection.

Christian Pulisic has also signed a contract extension until 2031, providing a boost ahead of the derby.

Inter Milan

Inter will be without captain Lautaro Martínez, who is unavailable for the derby.

Benjamin Pavard and Denzel Dumfries are also sidelined, while Carlos Augusto and Federico Dimarco are among the players whose availability and starting roles require assessment.

Marcus Thuram is expected to lead the attack, potentially alongside Pio Esposito, who has recovered from illness.

Players to Watch

Christian Pulisic – AC Milan

Pulisic has been a key attacking player for Milan and has scored three goals against Inter as a Rossoneri player. His movement and ability to find space could be crucial.

Rafael Leão – AC Milan

Leão's pace and dribbling could cause problems for Inter's defensive line, particularly if Milan can exploit space on the counterattack.

Marcus Thuram – Inter Milan

With Lautaro Martínez unavailable, Thuram will carry much of Inter's attacking responsibility. His physicality and finishing make him a major threat.

Nicolò Barella – Inter Milan

Barella's energy, pressing and ability to progress the ball will be important in the midfield battle.

Head-to-Head

The Derby della Madonnina has produced many memorable encounters over the years.

AC Milan have won the last two Serie A meetings against Inter, both by a 1-0 scoreline. The Rossoneri also remain unbeaten in their last seven meetings with Inter across all competitions.

However, Inter have been in stronger overall league form this season and will be confident of challenging Milan's recent derby advantage.

Tactical Analysis

AC Milan are expected to look for opportunities to attack quickly through Pulisic and Leão. Their ability to exploit space behind Inter's defence could be important.

Inter will likely rely on their familiar 3-5-2 formation, aiming to dominate the midfield and create attacking opportunities through Thuram and their wing-backs.

The midfield battle could decide the match. Milan will need to remain disciplined and avoid losing possession in dangerous areas, while Inter will look to control the tempo and take advantage of their attacking depth.

Match Prediction

Inter enter the derby in stronger league form, but Milan's recent record in this fixture makes them difficult to dismiss.

The absence of Lautaro Martínez could affect Inter's attacking combinations, while Milan's defensive injury concerns may provide opportunities for the visitors.

Prediction: AC Milan 1-1 Inter Milan

Conclusion

The Derby della Madonnina promises an intense contest between two rivals with contrasting recent results.

AC Milan will be eager to bounce back from their midweek defeat and make a statement in front of their supporters. Inter, meanwhile, will look to maintain their position at the top of Serie A.

With both sides possessing quality across the pitch, this derby could be decided by a moment of individual brilliance or a crucial defensive mistake.

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