Inter Milan vs Juventus preview: How to watch on TV, live stream, team news & prediction

TURIN, ITALY - MAY 15: Rodrigo Bentancur of Juventus tussles with Lautaro Martinez of Internazionale during the Serie A match between Juventus and FC Internazionale at Allianz Stadium on May 15, 2021 in Turin, Italy. Sporting stadiums around Italy remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Jonathan Moscrop/Getty Images)
TURIN, ITALY - MAY 15: Rodrigo Bentancur of Juventus tussles with Lautaro Martinez of Internazionale during the Serie A match between Juventus and FC Internazionale at Allianz Stadium on May 15, 2021 in Turin, Italy. Sporting stadiums around Italy remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Jonathan Moscrop/Getty Images)

It’s Derby d’Italia weekend, folks! Massimiliano Allegri takes a buoyant Juventus east to the San Siro where the champions await.

Inter Milan had made a fine start to their title defence under new manager Simone Inzaghi before he returned to face his former club last weekend. The Nerazzurri were controversially beaten 3-1 by Lazio to halt their domestic momentum, but they head into Sunday’s clash off the back of a Champions League victory over Sheriff.

Juventus, too, were successful in the week as Dejan Kulusevski’s late header handed them a trademark 1-0 win over Zenit. The Bianconeri have made a 100% start to their continental campaign and haven’t tasted defeat in Serie A since they lost 2-1 to league leaders Napoli on Matchday 3.

Allegri’s side are starting to find their vintage groove, and Sunday’s Derby d’Italia should be a cracker.

Here’s our preview of the eagerly anticipated contest between two of Italy’s behemoths.

How to watch the Derby d’Italia

When is kick-off? Sunday 24 October

What time is kick-off? 19:45 (BST)

Where is it played? San Siro

TV channel/live stream? BT Sport 1 (UK), Paramount+/CBS Sports Network (US)

Inter Milan Team News

Simone Inzaghi has no fresh injury concerns heading into Sunday’s heavyweight clash.

Alessandro Bastoni is likely to return to the starting XI in place of Federico Dimarco, who could drop to the bench or line up at left wing-back. Arturo Vidal is in contention to retain his place in the team after impressing in midweek, while Edin Dzeko and Lautaro Martinez will lead the Nerazurri’s line.

Hakan Calhanoglu is unlikely to return to Inzaghi’s XI.

Juventus Team News

Paulo Dybala is in contention to make Max Allegri’s squad. (Photo by Marco Canoniero/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Paulo Dybala is in contention to make Max Allegri’s squad. (Photo by Marco Canoniero/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Massimiliano Allegri will welcome Adrien Rabiot back to the fold after the Frenchman underwent his ten-day quarantine following his positive COVID test. However, he may struggle to make the starting XI with Allegri surely returning to his favoured 4-4-2.

Mattia De Sciglio has made a strong case to start over Alex Sandro in this one, while Arthur Melo could make his first start alongside Manuel Locatelli following his tidy cameo against Zenit. Weston McKennie could play in Rabiot’s hybrid function after his bright display in Russia.

Alvaro Morata will lead the Bianconeri’s line, and he could be partnered by Wednesday’s match-winner Dejan Kulusevski with Paulo Dybala set to make the squad but unlikely to start after recovering from a thigh strain.

Predicted Lineups

Inter Milan: Handanovic; Skriniar, De Vrij, Bastoni; Darmian, Barella, Brozovic, Vidal, Perisic; Lautaro, Dzeko.

Juventus: Szczesny; Danilo, Bonucci, De Ligt, De Sciglio; Chiesa, Locatelli, Bentancur, McKennie; Kulusevski, Morata.

Inter Milan’s Recent Form

Inter Milan 3-1 Sheriff (19/10) – Champions League

Lazio 3-1 Inter Milan (16/10) – Serie A

Sassuolo 1-2 Inter Milan (02/10) – Serie A

Shakhtar Donetsk 0-0 Inter Milan (28/09) – Champions League

Inter Milan 2-2 Atalanta (25/09) – Serie A

Juventus’ Recent Form

Zenit 0-1 Juventus (20/10) – Champions League

Juventus 1-0 AS Roma (17/10) – Serie A

Juventus 2-1 Alessandria (09/10) – Friendly

Torino 0-1 Juventus (02/10) – Serie A

Juventus 1-0 Chelsea (29/09) – Champions League

Prediction

Is another masterclass on the horizon? (Photo by Olga MALTSEVA / AFP) (Photo by OLGA MALTSEVA/AFP via Getty Images)
Is another masterclass on the horizon? (Photo by Olga MALTSEVA / AFP) (Photo by OLGA MALTSEVA/AFP via Getty Images)

Last season, this fixture proved a watershed moment in Inter’s eventual Scudetto victory. In that 2-0 triumph, Antonio Conte thoroughly out-coached Andrea Pirlo.

On this occasion, the coaching battle is a much more competitive one, although Allegri must mitigate against the threat of an Inter side that, despite being managed by Simone Inzaghi, has retained the majority of the concepts inculcated by Conte. While there’s less automation, the Nerazzurri remain proficient in the build-up phase and are masters of utilising depth as a means to progress upfield.

Juventus must be compact on Sunday, and I expect the visitors to sit deep in an effort to contain the hosts in this one. If there’s an avenue where Inter can be exploited, it’s in defensive transition and the Bianconeri boast distinct threats in this phase.

Despite tasting defeat last weekend and losing two key attacking stars in the summer, this Inter outfit are still superb. However, it’s hard to bet against Allegri’s resilient Bianconeri right now and I think their unbeaten run will continue.

Prediction: Inter Milan 1-1 Juventus