MILAN (AP) — The Milan derby has the air of a title match even at this early stage of the season.
Both Inter Milan and city rival AC Milan are off to perfect starts with three wins in three matches, with both playing an exciting style of soccer boosted by new signings that already look set to light up the Italian league.
Both also recorded confidence-boosting victories before the international break, with Milan winning 2-1 at Jose Mourinho’s Roma and Inter thumping Fiorentina 4-0.
The derby della Madonnina — so-called because of the statue of the Virgin Mary that tops Milan’s iconic cathedral — has always had a special atmosphere. But the intensity has ramped up even more over the past few seasons with both teams fighting for the Serie A title, which Inter won in 2021 only to be deposed by Milan the following season.
Inter has won five of the past six matches between the two, including both legs of their Champions League semifinal last season.
But after a glut of new arrivals in the offseason, who will emerge on top this campaign?
“Let’s say that the derby is the perfect opportunity to find out,” Christian Pulisic said in an interview with Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport.
Pulisic has been one of Milan’s standout signings and his two goals in the opening three matches already have the Rossoneri fans chanting the name of the United States international.
“It was love at first sight for me too,” Pulisic said. “Especially when I saw the fans. I’ve never seen a passion like this.”
Pulisic, who turns 25 on Monday, came to Milan to revive his flagging club career after falling out of favor at Chelsea. He is among more than 10 new players Milan splashed cash on over the summer to try to wrestle the title back from Napoli.
“We are confident in the title race,” he said. “We have strong players, really good players came in, there’s a great mix of talent. We can win it, we just have to continue working hard and playing like this.”
Milan's powerful attack faces perhaps its sternest test yet against an Inter defense that is the only team yet to concede in the Italian league.
“They have a strong squad and they’re difficult to play against, as they showed in the Champions League final too,” Pulisic said. “They know how to defend very well and at the same time they have the quality to score goals on the counterattack.”
Inter also brought in several players in the offseason, including Marcus Thuram, who joined on a free transfer after deciding not to renew his contract with Borussia Mönchengladbach.
Thuram scored his first goal for the club against Fiorentina and also has three assists.
“It’s easy to play with great players,” Thuram said. “They help me a lot in training and that shows during the match. I’m expecting the derby to be a very tense match but we do this job to play in those kind of matches.”
His father Lilian played as a defender for Parma and Juventus and also won the World Cup with France in 1998. The 26-year-old Thuram, who came on as a substitute for France in the World Cup final defeat to Argentina last year, netted his first international goal last week.
Teammate Lautaro Martínez has had an even more impressive start to the season and tops the scoring charts with five goals.
Martínez, who won the World Cup with Argentina in December, netted twice against Milan last season.
“It is the match that is the most special for this club,” he said. “It will be important because they are also at the top of the table with us, so it will be a very good match to play in.”
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