Inter head into the Milan derby facing a severe injury crisis without a single returning player from the treatment room, while city rivals Milan welcome back three key contributors.
The extent of Inter’s selection problems became clear as preparations for the derby finalized following a taxing away victory against Venezia. Sky Sport confirmed none of the five players currently sidelined—Lautaro Martínez, John Stones, Benjamin Pavard, Curtis Jones, and Luis Henrique—will recover in time for the clash against Milan manager Rúben Amorim’s side.
The Treatment Room Timeline and Milan’s Boost
While Inter remain short-handed, Milan approach the weekend fixture with a significantly healthier squad. Amorim recovers Adrien Rabiot, Moreira, and Gila within a single week, starkly contrasting with the prolonged absences facing the Nerazzurri. Cautious optimism surrounds Curtis Jones and Benjamin Pavard as they work to recover from adductor issues in their right thighs, though their presence in the derby remains practically impossible. The technical staff instead targets a return for both defenders during the UEFA Champions League fixture against Feyenoord on November 3 in Rotterdam.
Other recovery timelines extend further into November. John Stones aims for a return against Como on November 8, while Lautaro Martínez and Luis Henrique require a longer rehabilitation window through the upcoming international break, targeting a comeback for the fixture against Atalanta.
Tactical Adjustments for the Derby Attack
With Martínez unavailable, Chivu must adjust his forward pairing for the San Siro encounter. Marcus Thuram and Francesco Pio Esposito are the favorites to start in attack, with Bonny expected to begin the match on the bench. The technical staff evaluates further rotations from the starting lineup that secured the narrow win in Venice.
The physical toll on the available squad remains a primary concern for the coaching staff. Following the derby, Inter face upcoming fixtures in Europe and domestic competition without the benefit of squad rotation from their long-term absentees, forcing remaining players to manage heavy minutes across multiple competitions.
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