Looking Ahead to the Milan Derby

Italy's Biggest Rivalry Set for Sunday Showdown at Gillette

By Mark Goodman

July 23, 2009

After being announced in March, Sunday’s awaited match between Inter Milan and AC Milan at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Mass. is finally upon us.

Bitter rivals since 1908 – when a group of disgruntled Milan club members broke away from the club to form Inter – the match will provide a rare opportunity to see one of European soccer’s biggest derbies outside of Italy.

The match will serve as both clubs’ finale in the World Football Classic, a week-long, four-team competition featuring six matches across the country. And thus far, both of the Italian sides have struggled.

Inter are 0-2 in the competition after losing on penalties to Mexican power Club America Sunday (after a 1-1 draw in 90 minutes) and falling 2-0 to Chelsea of the English Premier League Tuesday. AC Milan kicked off its WFC campaign with a 2-1 loss last night to Club America, and will play Chelsea Friday in Baltimore before heading up to Boston.

The big question for local fans of the nerazzuri centers around star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and whether he will still be an Inter player by the time Sunday’s match rolls around. A swap with Barcelona for striker Samuel Eto’o, midfielder Alexander Hleb (on loan) and up to 45 million euros has been in the news for weeks. The deal isn’t official as of yet, but appears to have taken another step with today’s widely reported story that Eto’o has agreed to a contract with the Italian club.

Regardless of whether Ibrahimovic is at Gillette for the 5 p.m. kickoff, there will be plenty of star power on display for both sides. AC Milan sold 2007 FIFA World Player of the Year Kaka to Real Madrid earlier this summer, but still boast Ronaldinho, Pato, Filippo Inzaghi, Andrea Pirlo and Clarence Seedorf on its roster.

The club also figures to be watched more closely by American soccer fans after signing U.S. international defender Oguchi Onyewu on a free transfer from Belgian side Standard Liege earlier this month. The towering center back made his debut for the rossoneri last night against Club America, playing the second half after coming on for Alessandro Nesta.

Inter’s squad includes Maicon, Esteban Cambiasso, Javier Zanetti and two of the world’s brightest teenage prospects in striker Mario Balotelli and fullback Davide Santon.

Mark Goodman can be reached at newsdesk@soccernewengland.com.