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Ibrahimovic return adds spice to Milan derby
MILAN, Feb 7, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s return to AC Milan
will add spice to the city derby against Inter Milan on Sunday with the Swede
looking to thwart Antonio Conte’s side from keeping pace with Serie A leaders
Juventus.
Ibrahimovic played his first Milan derby as an Inter player 13 years ago,
while his last was for rivals AC Milan in May 2012, when he scored a double
in a 4-2 defeat.
Ibrahimovic was the top scorer that season with 28 goals but Milan lost
the Serie A title to Conte’s Juventus, the first in the Turin giants’ current
run of eight league crowns.
The 38-year-old’s return to Milan — whom he helped to their last Serie A
title in 2011 — has proved a boost with his side now eighth, seven points
adrift of the Champions League berths.
Milan were on a three-match winning run with Ibrahimovic on the pitch but
were held 1-1 by Hellas Verona last weekend when the Swede was sidelined by
the flu.
AC Milan director Zvonimir Boban praised Ibrahimovic’s impact, insisting
the Swede was pushing to be ready for “a unique derby”.
Ibrahimovic meanwhile posted on Twitter a video of himself roaring, with
the caption: “Lions don’t sound like humans.”
Stefano Pioli’s Milan come up against an Inter who have been transformed
since Conte’s arrival last June. They are just three points behind Juventus,
who travel to Verona.
Milan lost the reverse fixture 2-0 in September under Marco Giampaolo, who
was sacked after just seven games.
Last summer Inter signed Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez, the latter on
loan, from Manchester United.
Conte again raided the Premier League during the winter break, bringing in
Christian Eriksen, Ashley Young and Victor Moses.
“He’ll be more used to this type of game, I’m just starting,” said former
Tottenham midfielder Eriksen of Ibrahimovic, adding he was relishing his
first ‘Derby della Madonnina’.
“I’ve seen it on TV in the past but playing now will be very different,”
the Dane told Gazzetta Dello Sport.
“Compared to London, I expect a different atmosphere, here the whole
stadium sings, there will be so much noise, it will be beautiful.”
– Ronaldo in Verona –
Juventus travel to Verona on Saturday with Cristiano Ronaldo bidding to
extend his scoring streak to 10 consecutive league games, to keep pace with
Lazio’s Serie A top scorer Ciro Immobile’s 25 goals.
Verona are on a seven-game unbeaten run and held in-form Lazio to a
goalless draw in Rome midweek.
Simone Inzaghi’s Lazio are just one point behind Inter Milan in third and
will be targeting a record 18th successive match unbeaten.
City rivals Roma host Bologna on Friday after losing to Sassuolo last time
out, as they try to staying in the Champions League race.
The side from the capital are equal on points with fourth-placed Atalanta,
who travel to 14th-placed Fiorentina.
Torino host Sampdoria under new coach Moreno Longo after Walter Mazzarri
was sacked following three consecutive defeats, in which they conceded 13
goals.
Struggling Brescia also switched coaches with Diego Lopez replacing
Eugenio Corini.
Key stats
19 – Points between Inter and AC Milan
17 – Lazio’s unbeaten run in Serie A
14 – Ronaldo’s goals in the last nine games
3 – Inter’s points off leaders Juventus
Fixtures (all times GMT):
Friday
Roma v Bologna (1945)
Saturday
Fiorentina v Atalanta (1400), Torino v Sampdoria (1700), Hellas Verona v
Juventus (1945)
Sunday
SPAL v Sassuolo (1130), Genoa v Cagliari, Brescia v Udinese, Napoli v
Lecce (all 1400), Parma v Lazio (1700), Inter Milan v AC Milan (1945)
BSS/AFP/BZC/1445HRS