The Milan Derby: Expect goals at the San Siro

Antonio Cassano has been in good form for Inter

With just one point separating them in the league table, it promises to be a lively affair when the Milan giants lock horns on Sunday evening, live on ESPN. Betfair's own Ben Boucher - an Inter season ticket holder - is expecting goals...

Inter Milan v AC Milan
Sunday, 19:45 GMT
Live on ESPN

The Milan derby fills any Nerazzurri supporter with a sense of excitement and dread in equal measure. From the 6-0 humiliation in 2001 to an unforgettable 4-0 victory in 2009 that saw Wesley Sneijder make his debut; ecstasy and heartbreak never seem far apart.

These encounters tend to play out like Hollywood screenplays and this edition promises not to be any different. The main protagonist will be Mario Balotelli. The striker's return to Italy has seen him fire four goals in his first three matches and one imagines he'd like nothing better than to add to his previous employers growing list of problems.

Following a 2-0 victory over Catania in mid-October, Andrea Stramaccioni's side have failed to keep a clean sheet in 15 of their 17 Serie A fixtures. With this in mind the young tactician will be relying upon a goal scoring record that has seen Inter score at least two goals in eight of their previous 10 home league games.

Often used as a clich but never more appropriate than when these two giants meet, form is often immaterial. Inter will certainly hope that is the case this time around as Milan are only a few days removed from a terrific victory against Barcelona in the Champions League.

Inter's season seems to have reached a tipping point; their wretched away form has heaped pressure on to the team when playing at the Giuseppe Meazza and, as a season ticket holder myself, you can feel the sense of desperation growing.

The loss of Diego Milito could be the final straw, the talismanic Argentine has torn his anterior cruciate ligament and Inter will struggle to replace him as a reference point in attack.

A transfer window designed to provide the missing ingredients to a side already showing signs of wear and tear didn't account for Milito's prolonged absence and hope now rests firmly on the shoulders of Cassano, Palacio and the enigmatic Fredy Guarin.

Antonio Cassano has been wonderful this season, having moved across the city last summer he has been everything Inter could have hoped for when they let Giampaolo Pazzini move in the opposite direction.

Recommended Bets

Cassano looks good value in the First Goalscorer market, trading at 7.06/1. With the weather set to be inclement at best I also fancy goals as both sides have been less than convincing at the back this season. Go for Over 3.5 Goals at 3.211/5.