Preview: Milan Derby headlines match week 21

After a Coppa Italia interlude in midweek, Serie A action returns to the centre of attention with 10 exciting fixtures spread across the weekend up until Tuesday, February 7.

But one game stands out from all 10 fixtures and that is the Derby Della Madonnina between Inter Milan and AC Milan at the Giuseppe Meazza stadium.

Second-placed Inter Milan come into the derby looking to widen the gap between themselves and the other top-four contenders while also drawing closer to runaway league leaders Napoli.

The Nerrazzuri have the advantage of form having only lost once in their last 10 games across all competitions which was a slip up at home to Empoli.

The Rossoneri on the other hand have been in poor form since the turn of the year, Milan have only won once in seven games so far in 2023 and have lost their last three games.

Failure to strengthen the team have left the Serie A holders significantly weaker than there opponents as they currently sit fifth but only two points behind Inter in second.

Recent results in this storied fixture favours Inter Milan who have won five of the last 10 Milan derbies while AC Milan won three and there were two draws.

If AC Milan aims to get a positive result in this game, they have to find a way to stop Lautaro Martinez who has scored 11 goals in 20 Serie A games so far having also scored six goals in 12 previous derbies so far.

But as is mostly the case in these derbies, form and head-to-head flies out of the window and the result is often decided on the night by factors such as passion, desire and in-game decisions.

Round 21 action in Serie A kicks off on Saturday with Cremonese still looking for their first win of the season at the 21st time of asking at home to Lecce, buoyed on by the impressive midweek win away at Roma in Coppa Italia.

Speaking of Roma, they are at home to Empoli in Saturday's afternoon kickoff while fellow top four contenders visit Sassuolo in the last match of the day.

The action begins on Sunday with runaway leaders Napoli away at Spezia in the early kickoff led by top scorer who has scored in four consecutive games.

Torino hosts Udinese, and Fiorentina welcomes Bologna after which the big one follows, the Milan derby in Sunday's late kickoff.

Two teams on opposite ends of the table collide on Monday evening when Lazio visits Hellas Verona after which resurgent Monza hosts Sampdoria later that night.

Match week 21 rounds off on Tuesday night when Juventus pays Salernitana a visit in a bid to bounce back from last week's shock loss at home to Monza.