The countdown is on for Monday’s Derby della Madonnina, as Inter get Lautaro Martinez back and Milan have several big decisions to make.

It kicks off at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, in the San Siro area of the city, on Monday at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT).

If Inter win this match, they will mathematically be named the new Champions of Italy, as it would make their lead at the top of the table unassailable.

Lautaro returns

The Nerazzurri are coming off a thrilling 2-2 draw with Cagliari, but will field a different starting XI because Lautaro Martinez and Benjamin Pavard return from suspension.

Juan Cuadrado could be on the bench too, providing coach Simone Inzaghi with a full-strength squad, but Matteo Darmian is likely to be preferred to Denzel Dumfries on the right wing to deal with Milan’s Rafael Leao and Theo Hernandez.

Hakan Calhanoglu is eager to face his former club, with Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Nicolò Barella ever-present.

Milan defence decimated

Stefano Pioli has far more concerns to deal with, especially after Thursday’s disappointing Europa League quarter-final exit to 10-man Roma.

Malick Thiaw is suspended, with Simon Kjaer and Pierre Kalulu expected to miss out through injury.

This leaves practically no alternatives in defence, but the changes will be in midfield.

Tijjani Reijnders was initially benched against Roma, so he returns here alongside either Yunus Musah or Yacine Adli, as Ismael Bennacer is expected to be dropped.

Rafael Leao and Theo Hernandez need to step up after some frustrating performances in the big games.

Probable line-ups

Milan (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Calabria, Gabbia, Tomori, Theo Hernandez; Adli, Reijnders; Pulisic, Loftus-Cheek, Leao; Giroud

Inter (3-5-2): Sommer; Pavard, Acerbi, Bastoni; Darmian, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Thuram, Lautaro Martinez

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