WHAT TO EXPECT (DERBY): THE AC MILAN AND INTER MILAN AFFAIR

Source: Sportskeeda.com

The Milan Derby is back this weekend and this season the two teams have strengthened their squads and would make life difficult for reigning champions Juventus. It wasn’t an easy Mercato for both sides but the 2015/16 fixture is reminiscent of the 2009/10 season where they played the derby in the second match day this time round, it is the third match day.

Internazionale Milano have had a perfect start to the season having won their first two matches and AC Milan’s performances have been average as the players are still trying to find rhythm.

With both teams out of Europe and witnessing the ground they play their home games used for the Uefa Champions League Final 2016, the two teams performances in this derby is one that would prove to the world and more importantly to Italians that the two dominant Italian clubs in Europe are back.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

INTER MILAN

Source: Footyheadlines.com

Jeffrey Kondogbia snubbed Ac Milan for Internazionale Milano and he would like to prove a vital point why he was purchased for such a huge sum from French Club AS Monaco. Joao Miranda has become a great part of the Brazilian team in recent times and having transferred from Atletico Madrid where he formed one of the deadlines pairs with Diego Godin would use his experience in helping Internazionale win this game so that they would have a perfect start to the season and a great chance to win the Serie A and head back to Europe. Stephan Jovetic has become a new man. He came out from Fiorentina and was used as a better substitute at Manchester City but his loan move back to Serie A has seen him regain the form that made him a sort after wonderkid and he would surely want one over the red and black outfit.

MILAN

Source: Soccerbible.com

Luis Adriano’s transfer from Shaktar to Ac Milan was much of a surprise to the fans, but having won many champions in the Ukranian league, he feels he needs a new energy and have gotten the chance to shine. His goal was vital in helping Milan win their second game against Empoli and he would surely like to score and secure his name in the hearts of the faithful Rossoneri fans who value derby wins.

Carlos Bacca has been good and having won the Europa League twice in succession, his move from Sevilla was a shock for the footballing world as Milan’s purchases in contemporary times were on small money deals, loans and co-ownerships. His form is lightning up and he has played two games in the league and has done a great deal of transition from La Liga’s passing game to Serie A’s tactical setup where teams prepare hard for matches.

Keisuke Honda has been average for the Rossoneri fans and with the 4-3-1-2 formation back in action and the two forwards cemented in the form of Luis Adriano and Carlos Bacca, the trequartista role is up for grabs and if gets the nod to shine, he would do it with all he can in order to cement a place in the starting lineup for Milan.

Mario Balotelli has his last chance and tempers would be rising on his return onto the only ground he knows best having played for the two teams.

Whatever happens many inferences would be drawn from the game and the whole world would experience for themselves whether the two rival clubs have prepared and can challenge for honours this season.

LAZIO MUST SAVE ITALIAN FOOTBALL WITH A WIN TO UCL GROUP STAGE

SS Lazio was the team to play last season in the Italian Serie A. The team boast of great talent and with the team fighting to make the Uefa Champions league in as many years shows the transformation and the difficulty the team has gone through in getting back to their old days.

Italian football has been reduced to fourth place in World and European football and with Lazio placing third and making the playoff against Bayer04 Leverkusen they should put in more efforts to save Italian football. The Champions league has not seen Italian teams make the semi-finals in five consecutive seasons after the exploits of Internazionale Milano under the tutelage of Jose Mourinho in 2010.

Antonio Candreva has been by far underrated by pundits of world football because he plies his trade in the Serie A which has gone down in recent years. But the level of pace and contributions Candreva adds to the game would be fancied by any manager who wants an all round player who does everything to track back and support the defence. With the likes of Filipe Anderson, Marco Parolo and captain Stephan Mauri still holding the sea blue and white stripes together, Lazio must ensure that the playoff game against Leverkusen would be the first step towards reinstating them back into the European game.

Italian football must rise and with Lazio playing a game that would see Italian teams have three teams in the group stage with the clause "if they win" should be taken seriously. The Spanish La Liga would see five competitive teams play this season and with the powerhouse of world football being FC Barcelona and Real Madrid winning the last two editions, La Liga would be favourites to win but Italians must have the numbers to be able to compete. If Lazio should lose and get eliminated from the UCL it means that Italian Football would see only two of its teams being Roma and Juventus in the Champions league.

This is a pleading call to all the management setups that make the core group of Lazio and lovers of Italian football to support them in making the group stages because they face a great hurdle and an uphill task against a very good Bayer04 Leverkusen side which opened their Bundesliga season with a win.