Derby Della Madonnina Preview: AC Milan vs Inter Milan

Maurizio Mariani has been appointed to officiate the Derby della Madonnina between AC Milan and Inter Milan this evening. The highly anticipated clash is set to bring intense competition, with AC Milan, popularly known as the Rossoneri, seeking to overcome past provocations and rivalries. Tensions were exacerbated by Inter’s Hakan Calhanoglu, who taunted his former club on social media, highlighting unfinished business and strained relationships, particularly with Milan players.

This event will mark Mariani’s fourth time refereeing the Milan derby, previously overseeing a 2-1 win for Milan in a 2020 league game and the dramatic 2022 Coppa Italia semi-finals. Under Mariani’s supervision, AC Milan has historically achieved 12 wins, 4 draws, and suffered 6 defeats in 22 matches, although several of these games were mired in controversy. Inter Milan’s record with Mariani officiating stands at 8 wins, 4 draws, and 3 losses out of 15 games.

Hellas Verona was involved in a past controversial moment under Mariani’s officiating of an AC Milan game, yet he is generally regarded as having managed well when overseeing the Rossoneri’s matches. Tonight, the stakes are high as both teams enter the Stadio Meazza in San Siro at 20:45 Central European Time (CET).

Inter Milan has triumphed in the past six derbies against their rivals, a streak they aim to maintain, if not extend to a record seventh consecutive victory. The Nerazzurri welcome back Federico Dimarco from an injury incurred against Manchester City earlier this week, along with Lautaro Martinez who was benched previously.

Conversely, AC Milan is dealing with injuries, notably Davide Calabria, who will be replaced by Emerson Royal, allowing Mike Maignan to return to goalkeeping after his recovery. For tonight’s lineup, Paulo Fonseca‘s tactical switch sees a 4-4-2 formation from AC Milan with Alvaro Morata and Tammy Abraham leading their offensive line. Inter Milan, managing a 3-5-2 setup, will feature Yann Sommer as goalkeeper and expect significant contributions from France international Benjamin Pavard.

The Derby della Madonnina will be broadly available through various streaming platforms: Paramount+ in the United States, TNT Sports 1 and OneFootball in the United Kingdom, while fans in Australia and New Zealand can view the match via beIN SPORTS CONNECT.