The upcoming Derby della Madonnina could have important ramifications for Inter and Milan in their fight for Champions League qualification.
Whilst league leaders Napoli have started to run away with the Scudetto, sitting 13 points ahead of the second place Nerazzurri, the fight for a top four finish has really started to heat up.
Five teams have serious shot of finishing in the Champions League spots this season. Inter sit on 40 points and behind them are Lazio, Atalanta and Milan, all tied on 38. Roma are also in the running with 37 points, keen to keep up the pressure at the top of the table.
This jostling for positions puts extra weight on the second Derby della Madonnina of the season; last campaign, Milan picked up four points from their two league meetings with Inter, results that ultimately proved crucial in their Scudetto victory as they finished just two points ahead of their intercity rivals.
Another factor that makes this derby even more key in the Champions League race is the hunger of their rivals at the top of the table; Lazio, Atalanta and Roma are all hungry to take the next step and fight for silverware, making a top four finish vital ahead of the summer transfer window. All three competing teams are keen to take advantage of Juventus’ 15-point deduction, increasing the heat amongst the top six.
Qualification for the Champions League is equally important for Milan and Inter, as well. The Rossoneri are trying to retain star forward Rafael Leao and missing out on the competition could prompt a summer departure, whilst the Nerazzurri are still managing financial concerns and may be forced to sell a few players should they miss out on a top four finish.
Inter won the recent Derby della Madonnina clash in the Supercoppa Italiana final and they’ll be hoping to repeat this, whilst Milan are hungry to shake off their recent drop in form with a resounding win against their rivals.