Internazionale v Milan: Serie A – live!

22 min: A cross was whipped onto Perisic’s head, allowing to steer the ball towards goal but Donnarumma was equal to and palmed it wide.

Was that a touch naughty from Biglia? Nainggolan was in motion but it did look like the Belgian went out of his way to ensure his studs landed on top of Biglia’s ankle.

20 min: Both Biglia and Nainggolan eventually got up after plenty of writhing and checking none of their tattoos were damaged in the incident.

18 min: The first spicy moment in the game as Biglia receives a caution for catching Nainggolan on the ankle. The Milan midfielder wasn’t malicious but got nowhere near the ball. Both men are down in agony.

The replays of the disallowed goal show how Icardi did at least achieve kicking Donnarumma in the head. So that’s something.

16 min: Every pass Milan make is being chased down by the Inter players who very much unwilling to let them take their time. To prove it Brozovic fouls Kessie in the middle of the pitch, which relieves the pressure for Milan.

14 min: Inter are certainly on top here and Donnarumma is putting his own side in danger by repeatedly wanting to punch the ball rather than taking control of the situation. Milan are trying to play out from the back but it just seems to be adding to the pressure as they’re not particularly good at it.

12 min: An inswinging cross from Brozovic on the left flank took a flick off the top of Vecino’s head and ended up with Icardi at the back post who smashed it into the roof of the net, before wheeling away to celebrate but the flag was up.

10 min: Calhanoglu fired in a hopeful shot from just outside the area but it bounced well wide of the goal but it was worth taking the chance on it. Inter still happy to bide their time, it would seem.

8 min: Both strikers are looking a touch isolated so far as the rest of the players on the pitch eye up their counterparts on the pitch. Needless to say, Icardi and Higuain won’t mind that as they both know they only need a sniff of a chance to make a difference.

6 min: Inter are offering plenty of patience at the moment as they play out from the back, while some pyrotechnics go off in the stands. Inter are looking very composed in the early stages.

From our man in Milan …

4 min: Milan are trying to slow the game down a little to take the sting out of Inter in the early stages. They lured Inter in before breaking on them through Calabria, resulting in Suso smashing a low shot from 25 yards just wide of the goal.

2 min: Inter are working on the idea that putting Milan under a lot of pressure with high press will rattle them and at the same time get the fans right behind him, which could be crucial. A high tempo start thus far.

Let’s get ready to rumble!!

It is pretty lively in the San Siro tonight, not that the pre-match dance music is helping. Luckily, that has been swapped for something a tad more traditional with an operatic tone which has riled me right up.

Some pretty decent fan choreography in the stands, with the Inter supporters offering up a massive snake, which looks like it be scary if I am being honest.

National team coach Bobby Mancini is in the stands to watch the game, not that there are lot of Italians on show for him to watch.

A quick reminder of the two teams …

Inter starting XI: Handanovic; Vrsaljko, Skriniar, De Vrij, Asamoah; Vecino, Brozovic; Politano, Nainggolan, Perisic; Icardi

Milan starting XI: Donnarumma; Calabria, Musacchio, Romagnoli, Rodriguez; Kessié, Biglia, Bonaventura; Suso, Higuain, Calhanoglu

Inter are now fourth in the table following today’s result, while Milan are languishing in 12th but they have two games in hand.

Don Hutchison has just been described as a ‘Derby Day Specialist’ which is something for him to stick on his business cards.

I don’t know, I suspect it leads back to watching on Channel 4 with He Who Shall Not Be Named. It’s just what I’ve always referred to it as and I am too lazy to change.

Don’t forget that you can get in touch via the useless means, which are signposted above this adoring post. *points up*

Perisic proved at the World Cup how he can be decisive in a match and will be aiming to make the difference once again tonight. AC Milan have a pretty impressive defence, as one might expect, so it will take some doing to drag them around and create space but he is certainly one man who can do so and might be earmarked for special attention.

Something in your eye, Mauro?

Inter Milan have a pretty tricky week ahead of them, starting with AC Milan tonight, the Barcelona in midweek and Lazio next weekend. It could be pivotal in their season. They start tonight seven points behind league leaders Juventus having played the same amount of games, so really need a victory to keep up any sort of pressure.

Both teams are getting warm on a windy night in Milan.

Gennaro Gattuso says some of his players hate him for being so demanding, which must be something he picked up from Ally McCoist at Rangers.

Over the last month, my team has improved a great deal in terms of mentality.

Perhaps some players hate me, but my vision of football demands a very professional attitude in training and I don’t keep my opinions to myself.

I’m well aware some love that, while about 20 per cent probably hate me.

This is the kind of game that prepares itself, so we must if anything try not to feel it too intensely and avoid losing too much energy to stress.

If we look at each individual player, we have different characteristics to Inter, and certainly less in terms of physicality. On the other hand, we have something more on a technical level.

Inter are a strong side and not just on paper, as they showed in the Champions League. They have quality, are physically imposing, and we mustn’t make mistakes or show fear.

We’ve got to respect Inter and play our style of football, keeping a particular eye on set plays, plus the movements of Mauro Icardi and Ivan Perisic.”

Remind yourself of the state of Milan’s owners, how it all went a bit weird and how they should be back on a decent path once again with this piece from August.

It is pretty breezy at the San Siro, which hopefully won’t impact the game. I think it was Joe Royle who said that wind is the only type of weather which ruins football.

Ps the lads are here

Inter boss Luciano Spalletti reckons fans of the club are more likely to forget their partner’s birthday than when they play AC Milan. Luckily, for me, Mrs Live Blogger always gives me a reminder that I need to buy her something to make up annually for me spending Sunday nights writing about football matches in foreign countries.

Since coming here, I’ve realised that Inter fans are more likely to forget the birthdays of their husbands or wives than they are the date of the derby.

There are three tiers at San Siro, and a fourth with all our fans on their couches cheering us on from home.

If you want to go down in the history of Inter, and not just for the length of your contract, then you’ll do it via this game.

People shouldn’t talk about the crowd as the frame to this match, but as part of the painting itself, because no other game can provide the kind of passion that represents a Milan derby and the city ought to be proud.

I think the derby is worth far more than three points for what it brings out in the minds of the players and the enthusiasm of the fans.

This week we haven’t thought about Barcelona or anything else, just the derby. This game is the thermometer to measure the Inter fever in the city.

A victory could give us so much more than just three points. We must be demanding of ourselves and expect great things, because that is what this game requires.

We won’t stand for any fear, because we are convinced that what we are doing is right.

Inter starting XI: Handanovic; Vrsaljko, Skriniar, De Vrij, Asamoah; Vecino, Brozovic; Politano, Nainggolan, Perisic; Icardi

Milan starting XI: Donnarumma; Calabria, Musacchio, Romagnoli, Rodriguez; Kessié, Biglia, Bonaventura; Suso, Higuain, Calhanoglu

Inter are back in the big time and have the little prospect of playing Barcelona midweek but today they will be giving their all to prove they are the kings of Milan.

After some testing seasons at the San Siro, things look like they are back on track for Inter who are trying to challenge Juventus this season having made it into the Champions League. Luciano Spalletti has brought wisely in the summer; Inter have a defence to be proud of, Radja Nainggolan dominating the midfield and more than just Mauro Icardi upfront, which is a novel concept.

The away team this evening is AC Milan and even they might finally have all their ducks in a row. They started the day in 11th but due to the clogged up middle ground in Serie A, this is not a full reflection of how things are going for Gennaro Gattuso and his charges. They, too, enjoyed a fruitful summer in the transfer market bringing in Gonzalo Higuain and Mattia Caldera to solve problems at each end of the pitch. In addition they splashed cash on a number of others to bolster a floundering squad.

They are pretty evenly matched overall and two competitive Milan teams can only make Serie A a better place and they will both be aiming to show they are ready to bring back the glory days.