Verdict: Home win
Best odds: 9/10
Bookmaker: Luckster
Serie A’s marquee Saturday night fixture sees league leaders Inter Milan host fierce rivals Juventus at San Siro, as another Derby d’Italia arrives with major repercussions at the top of the table.
Following September’s seven‑goal spectacle, tensions will be high once again on Valentine’s Day, with Inter pushing toward the Scudetto and Juve trying to cut down a 12‑point gap.
Inter Milan
Inter enter the match unbeaten in 12 league fixtures, strengthening their grip on first place in 2026. Last week brought their most emphatic performance of the campaign, dismantling Sassuolo 5‑0 at San Siro. Federico Dimarco starred with three assists, while five different players found the net.
That victory extended their winning streak to five across all competitions, a run that includes a 2-0 triumph over Borussia Dortmund to book a Champions League playoff date with Bodo/Glimt. Cristian Chivu’s side remain alive on three fronts: top of Serie A, into the Coppa Italia semi-finals to face Como, and still fighting in Europe’s elite competition.
Yet, Inter’s Achilles heel has been their inability to perform in marquee games. Their humbling by Paris Saint‑Germain in last season’s Champions League final appears to have left lingering scars in major fixtures. The Nerazzurri have taken just one point from matches against Italy’s current top four, and that includes their chaotic 4-3 loss to Juventus earlier this season.
Despite leading with 10 minutes remaining in Turin, Inter left empty‑handed and have managed only one win in their last seven league meetings with Juventus. Their history at San Siro in recent Derbies has also been dramatic—most notably the 4-4 thriller in October 2024, when Kenan Yildiz’s late double denied them victory.
Team News
Inter welcome the return of Nicolo Barella and Hakan Calhanoglu to full training, though it is unclear whether either can start. Denzel Dumfries, sidelined since November with an ankle injury, hopes to return to the squad, but Luis Henrique—fresh from scoring his first Serie A goal—should continue on the right flank.
Dimarco, already on 11 league assists, starts on the left. Captain Lautaro Martínez leads the line but will look to improve upon his modest Derby record, having scored just twice in 15 league appearances versus Juventus. One of Marcus Thuram, Ange Bonny or Francesco Pio Esposito should partner him.
Juventus
Seeking a third straight league win over Inter—something they last achieved nearly 14 years ago—Juventus arrive with confidence in their recent offensive output. The past three Derbies have produced 16 goals, and Serie A’s two most prolific attacking units will collide again on Saturday.
Luciano Spalletti has overseen a dramatic transformation since taking charge. Juventus have scored 23 goals across their last 10 league matches, winning seven of them. Their latest outing, a lively 2‑2 draw with Lazio, saw Pierre Kalulu rescue a point with a 96th‑minute equaliser, preserving their unbeaten home run.
Juve remain in the Champions League knockout race, where Galatasaray await in the playoffs, but they were recently knocked out of the Coppa Italia by Atalanta BC. With Roma and Como closing in behind them in the table, Spalletti’s men cannot afford a setback here.
However, their away form is a growing concern. Across trips to Cagliari, Parma, Monaco and Bergamo, Juventus have lost twice, drawn once and failed to score in three of those fixtures—an unwelcome trend heading into one of the season’s most demanding away games.
Team News
Francisco Conceição is available again following a knee issue, leaving only Dusan Vlahovic and Arkadiusz Milik sidelined. Jonathan David is expected to start over Lois Openda as the lone striker.
Weston McKennie, now on seven league goals, should retain his midfield place after overcoming a minor leg problem. Yildiz, who has three Serie A goals against Inter, will aim to add to his derby tally.
Head‑to‑Head
The Derby d’Italia remains Italy’s most storied rivalry. Juventus have taken seven points from the last three league meetings, including September’s dramatic 4-3 win.
Inter’s sole win in the last seven Derbies came in 2023, while their last home triumph over Juve featured in the wild 4-4 draw in 2024. Historically tight and emotionally charged, this fixture rarely disappoints.
Conclusion
Inter have the chance to strike a decisive blow in the title race and finally overturn their recent struggles in headline fixtures. Juventus, meanwhile, arrive shaky on their travels and lacking consistency.
With superior depth and momentum, Chivu’s side appear poised to overcome his former mentor Spalletti and take another significant step toward the Scudetto.
Verdict: Home win
Best odds: 9/10
Bookmaker: Luckster