Inter, Darmian will be the anti-Leao in the derby

Simone Inzaghi looks at the national team and sees his Dimarco, Barella and Bastoni immovable on Luciano Spalletti’s board. But also a Darmian who, despite being summoned, rests. On the bench against North Macedonia, barring any surprises against Ukraine too. The Piacenza coach will be blessing Di Lorenzo’s ownership in blue as right back: Matteo, 34 years old on December 3rd, can take a breather. He can rest and get into the role: on Saturday he has to take on the role of the anti-Leao.

without leao…

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A test, the one against Rafa, that Darmian has already passed in the last season. But with an asterisk: he has never met a Leao like this since Matteo has been playing as the right-hand man. In the Champions League semi-finals, the Portuguese was not present in the first leg while in the second leg he was on the pitch, but with the consequences of the adductor injury suffered against Lazio. Leao was also out in the last derby of the championship, in February, with Pioli who, to plug the defensive gap, had aligned himself with the 3-5-2, starting with Origi-Giroud in front and the Portuguese on the bench. In that match Darmian was still a full-back, as well as in the Super Cup. In short: in the four derbies in 2023, with a total score of 7-0 for Inter, Leao was a passing presence. Now the Portuguese arrives at his best, just like when, a year ago, he dragged the Devil to their last victory in a city match, with a brace for the Rossoneri’s 3-2. Darmian was on the bench, with Skriniar arm in right and Dumfries on the outside. Now the former Parma player faces a Denzel who seems to have been reborn and has Pavard on his heels, the newcomer destined to steal his starting position. But giving up now – and moreover in a derby – to Darmian seems really complicated. Even more so considering the energy saved during this stop.

the hardest test

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Darmian is a derby man, for nights like this. He who grew up in Milan’s youth team and who made his Serie A debut in the Rossoneri shirt knows how to defuse the Devil’s attack. The Gazzetta ratings in the last four derbies speak for themselves: 7 in the Super Cup (3-0), 6.5 in the league (1-0), double 7 (2-0 in the first leg, 1-0 in the second leg) in the Champions League. The first two as a winger, the Euro-derby as a defender. Now comes the most delicate challenge: arm in arm against a charged Leao, in confidence, the new leader of Milan with the 10 on his shoulders. It will take a perfect test from Darmian, the man Inzaghi trusts blindly. And Simone thanks Spalletti: Matteo’s rest can help Inter.