The two coaches face off for the first time in their careers: here are the Nerazzurri’s tactical moves that could shape the match

Me, a rookie? Cristian Chivu will smile when they mention his first Milan derby. In reality, he’s already faced six without losing a single one: we’re not celebrating his distinguished career as an Inter player—during which he certainly enjoyed plenty of success in 19 derbies—but rather his credentials as a Primavera coach, who in three seasons beat Milan twice and drew the other four matches. With players like Casadei and Pio Esposito, he’s been able to appreciate and understand the match that means the most to the fans, even while watching from the bench. Unbeaten, then, as well as Italian champion for a year. Sunday, however, will be a whole different story. Not only because Chivu is facing an experienced colleague, Massimiliano Allegri, who has a 493-game advantage in Serie A coaching experience (517 to 24 is the overall tally), but also because the big derby is all about tension and excitement, expectations and disappointments, courage and fear. It’s different—even from itself—because no two matches are alike. Perhaps the team that keeps its nerves in check best will win. Or perhaps not. The team that proves to be better in every aspect will win—including strategy. From this perspective, Chivu is ready to step into the role, taking advantage of Marcus Thuram’s return and the many offensive options that will allow him to develop and adapt various tactical ideas. He won’t change his philosophy; if anything, he’ll refine it to contain his illustrious rival.

Thuram worked hard during the break to be at his best. His last start was on September 30, in Inter vs. Slavia Prague, when he pulled a muscle during the sublime twist that led to a winning backheel. Together with Lautaro, he’ll thus reunite the most forbidden dream duo on the most important night. Their movements will be one of the keys to Inter’s attack. Lautaro will often come out to meet the ball when his teammates break out of the press to support the build-up, drawing at least one Milan defender—if not two—toward him. At that point, Thuram will have the space he needs to cut into the box, one of Chivu’s key requirements: he doesn’t want to dribble around the opponent before beating him—he wants to attack him head-on.

Aggressiveness—  Marcus will be fed by the midfielders, all of whom are capable of driving the play forward quickly. Of course, though, to strike, you must first bare your teeth. Aggressiveness is a minimum requirement for the new Inter, which scored against Lazio in the very first minutes precisely through Bastoni’s high press, maximized by Lautaro’s impossible shot. A high press—as they say in Coverciano—worthy of applause. This time, the player to neutralize is the genius Modric, whom Chivu has no intention of giving time to think through his plays. Therefore, Lautaro initially, but then mainly Calhanoglu and the two central midfielders, will have to stifle his decision-making with meticulous marking. If, on the other hand, Milan opts for long balls to avoid trouble when bringing the ball out of the back, Inter has a solid defensive counter-attack and will organize itself accordingly.

Key Focus Areas—  On the defensive end, Chivu’s advice is obvious: don’t leave the flank exposed to Milan’s counterattacks, as Leao and Pulisic can break away at speeds that are impossible for any defender to match. It’s possible that Inter will start with Bisseck in the center again on Sunday, as he’s the most dynamic player in the backline. But a single player is no guarantee of protection on his own. Proactive marking and double-teaming will be crucial: Carlos Augusto excels at these tactics and is set to replace the injured Dumfries on the right flank. It’s not his usual position, but in an emergency, that matters little: Carlos will help Akanji contain Leao. On the other side, Dimarco will support Bastoni to contain Pulisic. These are the sacrifices of a derby.