The Serie A title race will go down to the final day of the season and Football Italia picks three players from Milan and Inter who could potentially be decisive on Sunday.
A draw against Sassuolo at the Mapei Stadium will be enough for the Rossoneri to become Serie A champions for the first time in 11 years, while Inter must beat Sampdoria at San Siro and hope their city rivals lose against the Neroverdi to retain the Scudetto.
Football Italia looks at three players from Inter and Milan who could potentially be decisive on Sunday. Both games will be played at 17.00 UK time.
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Milan
Mike Maignan
The France international hasn’t only been decisive between the sticks this season but has often been involved in attacking play, even delivering one assist for Rafael Leao against Sampdoria in February. The Rossoneri have only conceded three goals in the last 11 games and their defensive solidity has been a key factor in the second part of the campaign.
Sandro Tonali
The Italy international has been transformed this season, becoming one of the pivotal players in Stefano Pioli’s squad. His importance for the team goes beyond the five goals and three assists in 35 Serie A appearances. Tonali has been one of the most reliable centre midfielders in Serie A thanks to his physical strength and late runs that have given solidity and unpredictability to Milan in the middle of the park. The battle with his compatriot Davide Frattesi will be fascinating, especially considering La Nazionale‘s future.
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Rafael Leao
The Portugal striker has stepped up over the last few weeks, scoring three goals in the last six Serie A appearances. He is the best scorer of the Rossoneri this season and arguably the most in-form player at the moment. Even when Milan don’t play well, he is always able to get the ball and carry it forward creating goal-scoring opportunities or looking for the goal himself. He is been the real added value in the final third this season, earning comparisons with some legends of the game, such as Thierry Henry.
Inter
Milan Skriniar
The Nerazzurri will need to be attacking-minded against Skriniar’s former club Sampdoria, but the balance will be essential, like in every Serie A game. Alessandro Bastoni is recovering from an injury and Stefan de Vrij hasn’t had his best season. Skriniar, on the other hand, has always been consistent and it’s no coincidence that the Nerazzurri are in a hurry to extend his contract expiring in 2023. If there will be gaps to fill at the back, the Slovakia international will step up as he’s always done this term.
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Marcelo Brozovic
Inter literally depend on him. Think that the Nerazzurri have only managed three points in the only three Serie A games he’s missed this season: home loss against Sassuolo and draws against Torino and Fiorentina. He is probably the only player Simone Inzaghi can’t do without. He has contributed to seven goals this season (three goals and four assists), but his importance has gone beyond it. His ability to dictate the tempo and his defensive commitment make him one of the best players in Serie A and definitely the most crucial one for Inter this season. His compatriot Ivan Perisic also deserves mention, given his recent brilliant performances in Serie A and the Coppa Italia Final.
Lautaro Martinez
Right now, he is even more important than Rafael Leao for Milan. El Toro is absolutely on fire thanks to his seven goals in the last six Serie A appearances. He has scored more goals than last season when he formed one of the best strike partnerships in Europe with Romelu Lukaku. Lautaro hasn’t missed Rom much and is becoming a leader of Inter on and off the pitch. No surprise that the Nerazzurri are unlikely to sell him despite their need to part ways with one of their stars to balance the books in the summer. Inter will need goals against Samp and Lautaro is the perfect man for the job. If the Nerazzurri do take the lead and eventually win the game, they’ll have to wait and hope for a miracle in Reggio Emilia.
@lorebetto
Can we please just stop? Sesaon is over, Milan won when Inter failed to beat Bologna.
Let`s focus on the transfer market, much more interesting topic.
It isn’t over yet, no way.
Milan can still lose on Sunday and Inter can still claim the scudetto
Given that Theo is up against Berardi (who has always tortured Milan) I’d put him on the list over Tonali maybe.
He will definitely play a crucial part.
I agree with Milan fan.
Theo has had more influence on Milan than Tonali
@Paratici agreed, but you can never say never. Something also tells me VAR will be up to no good. PS how do you get a picture to go on your username?