Derby match in the Serie A, not only because Inter and Milan are city rivals, but also because it is a match between first and second placed teams on the table. It is difficult to forecast the winner, but what we should not miss at this meeting are goals. Both teams are quite efficient in last period, both teams have played even one match that with seven goals (Inter-Siena 4-3 and Milan-Genoa 5:2), which says a lot about the approach to the game. But when talking about Over 2.5 goals, then it should be said that Milan is in a serie of four games in a row, and Inter two games in a row. Here's how it looks:

16. 01. Bari-Inter 2:2 (0:0)
09. 01. Inter-Siena 4:3 (2:2)
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17. 01. AC Milan - Siena 4:0 (2:0)
13. 01. AC Milan - Novara 2:1 (1:0)
10. 01. Juventus - AC Milan 0:3 (0:1)
06. 01. AC Milan - Genoa 5:2 (2:1)

Tradition also going in that direction. Even six of the last eight games finshed with three or more goals, no matter which team was host. Here are the results:

2008/09 ITA 1 Inter - AC Milan 2-1
2008/09 ITA 1 AC Milan - Inter 1-0
2007/08 ITA 1 Inter - AC Milan 2-1
2007/08 ITA 1 AC Milan - Inter 2-1
2006/07 ITA 1 Inter - AC Milan 2-1
2006/07 ITA 1 AC Milan - Inter 3:4
2005/06 ITA 1 Inter - AC Milan 3-2
2005/06 ITA 1 AC Milan - Inter 1-0

To sum up, everything goes in favor we will see goals. Milan with eventual victory goes only three points to leader. Bearing in mind that there is one less match, then this is a great opportunity for Milan. I do not doubt that Leonardo will play open. On the other hand, Inter has quality attackers, Pandev is truely refreshment (scored one goal against Bari) and with Milito will be constant threat to the goal of Dida.

Small problem for both coaches is that they have a lot of injured players. Leonardo will be without following players: Pato, Oddo, Onyewu, Adiyah and Zambrotta will certainly not occur, while Flamini, Seedorf and Nesta are questionable. Mourinho also has several injured players: Khrin, Chivu, Stankovic, Muntari and Thiago Motta. Eto'o is on  African Cup of Nations in Angola. However I expect a good football and lot of goals.

Probable startin eleven (source: Goal.com)

Inter:
Julio Cesar, Maicon, Lucio, Samuel, Santon; Zanetti, Cambiasso; Balotelli, Sneijder, Pandev; Milito

Milan:
Dida, Abate, Kaladze, Thiago Silva, Antonini; Gattuso, Pirlo, Ambrosini; Beckham, Borriello, Ronaldinho