Savicevic: No favourites in Derby della Madonnina, Milan missed Pulisic

Milan legend Dejan Savicevic sees no favourites in the derby della Madonnina but admits the Rossoneri ‘missed’ Christian Pulisic in October: ‘He has great instinct.’

Inter and Milan meet in the first derby della Madonnina of 2025-26 at 20:45 CET this evening.

Both sides can jump to the top of the table with a victory as Inter are just one point below current leaders Napoli with a game in hand, while Milan are three points behind the Partenopei, who beat Atalanta 3-1 on Saturday.

Milan legend Savicevic previewed the upcoming Milan derby in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport.

‘No favourites’ in Milan derby

PODGORICA, MONTENEGRO – OCTOBER 08: Dejan Savicevic President of FSCG of Montenegro prior the FIFA 2018 World Cup Qualifier between Montenegro and Kazakhstan at Podgorica City Stadium on October 8, 2016 in Podgorica, Montenegro, (Photo by Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images)

Inter and Milan are “well-equipped teams with good coaches,” Savicevid said.

“It’s a big showdown with great interest, just like in my days, as always. This is a truly special match, different from all the others. You feel it, you prepare for it with a different kind of tension. I don’t think the atmosphere has changed. Anything can happen on the pitch. Inter are strong and score easily, but you can really talk about favourites.”

The Rossoneri see Adrien Rabiot and Christian Pulisic return to the starting XI after missing several games in October.

Savicevic: ‘Inter have great strikers’

MILAN, ITALY – NOVEMBER 09: Lautaro Martinez of Internazionale celebrates scoring his team’s first goal with teammate Ange-Yoan Bonny during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and SS Lazio at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on November 09, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Pulisic already made his comeback before the break, making a substitute appearance in a 2-2 draw at Parma, while Rabiot missed the last five games. The Rossoneri collected two wins and three draws without the Frenchman.

“Inter have very good strikers: Lautaro, Thuram, now Bonny and even that kid, Esposito; a real surprise. I saw his goal against Norway: quick, sharp, he turned in an instant and struck,” Savicevic said.

“Milan don’t have Gimenez, who is a smart centre-forward who works for the team. He just needs to break the ice, and he will. Leao is excellent in one-v-one situations; he goes straight at his man, and it’s not a small thing. It must be said, Pulisic was missing; he has great instinct and usually doesn’t miss. Mistakes happen, and it’s true for everyone. I think it’s going to be a great derby.”

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