Ibra, Pato, Ronaldinho: Why AC Milan Will Challenge Inter Milan For The Scudetto

AC Milan, fresh off a dazzling transfer window display which brought them Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Robinho, among others, have infused their aging squad with several sets of fresh legs and have, in theory at least, narrowed the gap between themselves and European Champions Inter Milan. Milan also signed Mario Yepes, Ghanaian World Cup star Kevin-Prince Boateng, and Greek defender Sokratis Papastathopolous.

Inter haven’t fared any better in the transfer market, signing only the rising Brazilian teenager Phillippe Coutinho, Jonathan Biabiany, and McDonald Mariga and bringing in former Liverpool and Valencia manager Rafael Benitez to replace the wildly successful Jose Mourinho, who left for the opportunity to coach Real Madrid. In addition, Inter lost enigmatic starlet Mario Balotelli, sold to the ambitious Manchester City side.

A comparison of the two squads follows...

Christian Abbiati figures to be the number one ‘keeper for Milan, to be backed up by one of Marco Amelia or Flavio Roma.

Inter are blessed to have one of the world’s premier shot-blockers in Julio Cesar. Cesar will be backed up by Paolo Orlandoni and Luca Castellazzi. 

Edge: Inter Milan

Luca Antonini is number one for Milan, while Inter have several options for the left-back spot. Christian Chivu and Javier Zanetti have played this position in the past few years, and Davide Santon, though a natural right-back, can be one of the world’s best in no time with experience on the flank. Antonini is an inexperienced player, and many have questioned the wisdom of not signing a more reliable left-back this summer for Milan.

Edge: Inter Milan

Gianluca Zambrotta is Milan’s first-choice right-back, and has been rapidly declining following Italy’s World Cup triumph in 2006. In Maicon, Inter possess arguably the finest right-back in the world at the moment, with Santon waiting in the wings should there be injury or loss of form for Maicon.

Edge: Inter Milan

Milan’s pairing of Alessandro Nesta and Thiago Silva is among the safest duos in the sport today, simply put. Inter counter with Lucio and Walter Samuel, two highly talented and secure defenders in their own right. Choosing between the two pairs is an almost impossible task, but much hinges on the notoriously injury-prone Nesta’s ability to stay healthy. If he fails to stay on the field this season, Milan will be left very vulnerable to experienced attacking units.

Edge: Even

Milan has relied on the playmaking skills of Andrea Pirlo for the better part of the past decade, and will continue to do so this year. Current Captain Massimo Ambrosini, Kevin-Prince Boateng, Matthieu Flamini and Gennaro Gattuso are all available to provide cover for Pirlo in the middle of the park. Inter boast Esteban Cambiasso,one of the world’s premier holding midfielders, and McDonald Mariga of Kenya to provide the tenacity in midfield. If Pirlo is able to rediscover the form that he carried into the 2006 World Cup, and if Boateng can provide that same youthful spark he injected into Ghana's World Cup campaign to the Milan squad, Milan will possess a talented midfield which could link up with the attacking players to form one of the world’s deadliest scoring outfits.

Edge: AC Milan

Milan has a number of attacking midfielders including Ronaldinho and Clarence Seedorf, the former of whom is expected to make a big impact this season. Inter has a plethora of options here, starting with Dutch superstar Sneijder and also including Serbian international Dejan Stankovic and new signing Coutinho. Despite Sneijder’s unbelievable season for club and country last year, replicating that type of form is a nearly impossible task for this season, while it is dangerous to expect Coutinho to have a major impact in his first stint in Europe at the tender age of 18. Ronaldinho is shouldering the hopes of all Rossoneri fans to connect the midfield to the exciting attackers Milan has in its arsenal.

Edge: Even

Milan possess arguably the most talented attack on paper in the world, with Alexandre Pato, Ibrahimovic, Robinho, Pippo Inzaghi, and Ronaldinho (expected to carry the creative burden in the final third). Inter also have a fine attack, with Samuel Eto’o and Diego Milito expected to make their mark this season after last season’s remarkable exploits. Goran Pandev and Jonathan Biabiany are the backups to Inter’s two star forwards. Simply put, if Milan’s attackers can gel together this season, coupled with a likely decline in Milito and Eto'o's performance, the result will be a frighteningly deep and lethal front line that can lead Milan to domestic and European glory.

Edge: AC Milan

Milan’s new coach, Massimilliano Allegri, is entrusted with the not-so-simple task of meshing the egos in Milan’s locker room together, but has experience with Cagliari and was named Serie A Coach of the Year the past two seasons running. Rafael Benitez has experience with Liverpool, winning the Champions league in 2005 and reaching the final in 2007 against AC Milan, no less. Benitez is expected to motivate Inter’s treble-winning squad to perform at a similar level this season following the departure of Mourinho to Madrid. Benitez has already raised eyebrows due to his decision to not part with any cash to counter AC Milan’s busy summer transfer season, while Allegri has shown his savvy at coaching such a big-name club already following a cracking 4-0 victory over Lecce, despite his relative inexperience with such a high-profile job.

Edge: AC Milan

Milan now has the attacking firepower to cover up some of the defensive frailties that have been exposed in years past by this very same Inter side. In addition, Milan has quietly assembled a quite deep squad, with the majority of the likes of Boateng, Flamini, Gattuso, Ambrosini, Seedorf, Inzaghi, Mario Yepes. Daniele Bonera, Marek Jankulovski, Oguchi Onyewu, Oddo, Papastathopolous, Alexander Merkel, and Rodney Strasser available off the bench every game. With such a deep squad, Milan will finally be able to field a competent starting eleven multiple times a week. Inter, meanwhile, are expecting a dropoff following Mourinho and Balotelli’s departures, and may find it hard to replicate the form of the past season after their wholesome success this past year. Look for AC Milan to challenge for their first Scudetto since 2004 and take on the role of the most feared Italian team in world football once again.