Inter Milan won’t need long to plan this away journey as they face the familiar trip to their own dressing room this Sunday in preparation for the globally anticipated ‘Derby Della Madonnina’.

AC Milan can be backed at 17/11 with Bwin, Inter Milan are 19/10 with Paddy Power and the draw is a best priced 23/10 with Bet365.

The only home advantage AC Milan receive in this game is a higher ticket allocation, however ticket sales have been slow for AC at the San Siro this season and the club have actually made an appeal to their fans to buy tickets for this Sundays derby, after selling only 55,000 tickets so far, that leaves 25,000 empty seats. AC Milan’s slow start to the season coupled with a recession (to which ironically their chairman Silvio Berlusconi has made a significant contribution) have resulted in this, however a successful Derby could provide the spark needed to kick-start their season.

The ‘Rossoneri’ have won only two of their six Serie A games so far, losing three and find themselves in 11^th place in the table. The ‘Nerrazzurri’ meanwhile are sitting in a much healthier third spot and have won four of their first six. AC Milan will be looking for revenge on Sunday after Inter managed the double over them in Serie A last season, winning 1-0 and 4-2 respectively, despite AC emerging 2-1 winners in the cup.

Although Inter are sitting in a much healthier position in the league table, they have conceded six goals so far this year, the same amount as their rivals. Despite the loss of Zlatan Ibrahimovich to money-bag’s PSG this summer, AC have still managed seven goals in six so far and are still dangerous on the attack. They proved this midweek with a dramatic 3-2 victory at Zenit St Petersburg in the Champions League which will have done their confidence no harm whatsoever. With both defences looking far from watertight you might fancy a punt on both teams to score, and William Hill are a best priced 10/11 in this market.

The Milan derby is difficult to predict and often provides more twists and turns than a game of naked twister at a Silvio Berlusconi Bunga Bunga party (allegedly!), with that in mind Paddy Power’s 2/1 for a penalty to be awarded looks extremely tempting. Odds aren’t currently available on the card markets but make sure you check if there is value in any sending off specials or over/under card betting in this market, even without a capacity crowd the Milan derby is always a feisty affair.

One aspect of this Milanese rivalry that never fails to amaze me is the frequency of which they seem to trade players, Pazzini was transfer listed by Inter Milan, and bought by AC with Antonio Cassano as an added sweetener, both forwards are in good form and will be hoping to heap misery on their former employers this Sunday. Pazzini is 2/1 with Sporting Bet to score anytime, while Cassano is a best priced 23/10 with Paddy Power in the same market, if you’re feeling ambitious this Sunday Pazzini is 50/1 with Sporting Bet for the hat-trick, Cassano is 80/1 with Paddy Power, although I certainly won’t be recommending more than a small punt on them! One player who can’t be forgotten in the goal-scoring markets is Argentine forward Diego Milito, who is 6/1 to score first with William Hill, or if you like a bit of Dolly Parton he’s 9/5 to score anytime with Sporting Bet.

Milan Derby Betting Tips

Penalty to be awarded (2/1 with Paddy Power)

Pazzini to score anytime (2/1 with Sporting Bet)

The Bunga Bunga Longshot:

Pazzini to score 1^st and Inter to win 2-1 (85/1 with Bet 365)

Best Free Bets for the Milan Derby (click the offer to get the free bet):

Sportingbet – free £50          Paddy Power – free £20           William Hill – free £25            188bet – free £50           Betway – free £25

By Steven Goulding (@gouldin87)