Milan Could Be About to Inter a New Era

There are few clubs who carry the sort of romantic charm that Inter Milan do. They are a club defined by their glories of yesteryear, whether it’s the Treble success of 2010 or the European triumphs of the 1960s. But times have been a little tougher of late. The Nerazzurri, rather than being emboldened by their glorious reputation in recent years, have been burdened by it.

Indeed, it’s now over eight years since Inter were Italian champions, with the famous, old club more accustomed in the time since to floating around the flabby middle of the Serie A table than challenging for honours at the top of it. And yet there have been signs of a renaissance in recent weeks and months.

Things didn’t start so well, with the home defeat to Parma suffered in September prompting stories that manager Luciano Spalletti could be sacked. From that moment, though, Inter have embarked on a six-game winning run that has included victories over Spurs and PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League. With eight fixtures of the new season played, the Nerazzurri find themselves in a respectable third place in the Serie A standings.

This weekend’s Milan derby could underline the improvement they have made. AC Milan were also expected to enjoy something of a renaissance this season, but theirs hasn’t quite materialised yet, currently sitting slumped in 10th position in Serie A. Of the two historic and storied Milanese clubs, it’s Inter who are in the stronger position, both in the league table and on the pitch, right now

In Mauro Icardi, Inter boast their most prolific out-and-out striker since Zlatan Ibrahimovic played for the club. In Marcelo Brozovic and Radja Nainggolan, they have a solid midfield platform, with Stefan de Vrij and Milan Skriniar among the best centre back pairings in the Italian game right now. Then there’s Ivan Perisic, a lightning winger, the kind of which are rare in the modern game.

Challenging for the title will most likely be beyond Inter this season, with Juventus expected to win an eighth straight Scudetto at a canter such is their strength in every area of the pitch. But Inter, for the first time in a long while, are at least on an upward trajectory. That can be traced back to last season, when they qualified for the Champions League on the last day of the campaign, but there has been further progress since then. Another win this weekend, Inter’s seventh in succession, would be symbolic of this.

Tips:

Inter Milan to win

Mauro Icardi to score anytime