Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the leader of AC Milan’s young team, won’t be able to feature for in the Derby Della Madonnina on Saturday. It’s a big blow for the Rossoneri ahead of the pivotal fixture against their city rivals and Serie A leaders Inter.The troublesome Achilles tendon will sideline the legendary Swede, but coach Stefano Pioli has another classy veteran to lead his attack – Frenchman Olivier Giroud. The red and blacks were hoping that perhaps Zlatan would be able to as least come off the bench and help the team in the final stages of the derby, but the medical staff told Pioli that he’d have to look elsewhere. The latest development could see new recruit Marko Lazetic get his chance. The Serbian youngster only joined from Richard Odada’s club Crvena zvezda and is still adjusting to Italian football.#ACMilan’s record with Ibrahimovic starting (2021-22, Serie A):➤ 11 games➤ 4 wins➤ 3 draws➤ 4 defeats➤ 1.36ppg➤ 18 scored➤ 15 concededMilan’s record with Ibra not starting:➤ 12 games➤ 11 wins➤ 1 draw➤ 0 defeats➤ 2.83ppg➤ 28 scored➤ 10 conceded pic.twitter.com/CXIi91QApQ— MilanData📊 (@acmilandata) February 2, 2022 Pioli nevertheless urged his players to show desire and determination in the game that means everything to the fans – and one that could prove as the season’s pivotal point.”A very important match, but we have experienced many others like the last one in Bergamo, the one in Turin against Juve… I’m missing Zlatan, I’m sorry. We have grown a lot with Zlatan and now we have to show that we are strong even without him. We must have that willpower, especially in the delicate moments of our seasons.”To make things worse for Milan, winger Ante Rebic will also have to sit the big game out, leaving Rafael Leao, Junior Messias and Franck Kessie to play in a more advanced role, just behind Giroud.As far as the champions go, they head into the game brimming with confidence, having won nine out of their last ten Serie A games. In those ten games, they’ve also kept seven clean sheets. It’s an amazing run for Simone Inzaghi’s team.This is one of the most contested derbies in European football with the sides having met in 229 matches, with Inter having 84 wins and Milan managing 77 victories against their rivals.SERIE A – Round 24Saturday17.00: (1.40) Roma (4.90) Genoa (9.00)20.00: (1.92) Inter (3.60) Milan (4.40)22.45: (2.60) Fiorentina (3.40) Lazio (2.85)Sunday14.30: (1.25) Atalanta (6.75) Cagliari (13.0)17.00: (2.15) Bologna (3.60) Empoli (3.50)17.00: (3.00) Sampdoria (3.50) Sassuolo (2.45)17.00: (9.00) Venezia (4.70) Napoli (1.42)20.00: (3.20) Udinese (3.15) Torino (2.50)22.45: (1.60) Juventus (4.10) Verona (6.25)Monday22.45: (3.10) Salernitana (3.35) Spezia (2.45)***odds are subject to change
