AC Milan vs. Inter Milan: Draw helps no one in Milan Derby

In theory, Mancini’s system allows for a high degree of fluidity. Instead of the attacking support they provide always coming from wide areas via the wing backs, Guarin and Obi can float in and out, combining with the fullbacks to provide outlets, or add direct supporting runs in to the box to help capitalize on balls in the box.

Unfortunately, for now that’s all theory. In actual practice yesterday, the central areas of midfield wound up frequently overcrowded, with Guarin or Obi frequently tripping over Zdravko Kuzmanović or Mateo Kovačić as two or three players fought for the same ball. Things stayed too tight and too rigid in midfield, which frequently lead to attacks being blunted before they could become true threats.

The Derby della Madonnina was an energetic display Sunday as the return of Roberto Mancini gave Inter enough of an edge to carve out a 1-1 draw with AC Milan in front of a loud San Siro crowd.

The next moment of drama was also focused on Inter, but it wasn’t good. Young left back Dodo was sprinting in to the box when he ran straight in to the outstretched arm of Muntari, laying him out and causing a cut by his mouth that bled profusely. It took a couple minutes to get Dodo back up and moving, and then he had to spend several more minutes on the sideline getting attended to by the trainers to get the bleeding stopped and his wound patched up.