Article by Aurelian Botezatu – Published Sunday, November 23, 2025, 3:15 p.m. / Updated Sunday, November 23, 2025, 3:16 p.m.
Inter Milan hosts today the derby of the 12th stage of Serie A, with AC Milan. The match starts at 21:45 and can be watched liveTEXT on GSP.ro and live on Prima Sport 2 and Digi Sport 2.
Italian journalists will this evening have more eyes on Cristi Chivu than on his counterpart Massimiliano Allegri – claims the daily La Repubblica. The main reason would be that a great challenge awaits the Romanian technician, who is at his first “Derby de la Madonnina”.
Cristi Chivu and the curse of foreign coaches in the first duel with AC Milan
Chivu has the chance on Sunday night to break a curse of foreign coaches that Inter has had on the bench since 2000. “From Hector Cuper to Jose Mourinho, from Rafa Benitez to Leonardo, they all lost their first duel with AC Milan. And Ronald de Boer was sacked before he could play a derby!“, writes the aforementioned newspaper.
The famous Jose Mourinho was on the sidelines for the first time in a derby with AC Milan on September 28, 2008. He started Cristi Chivu in that match on the left flank of the defence, but the Nerazzurri were defeated 1-0, following a goal scored by Ronaldinho, in the 36th minute, from Kaka's cross.
Mircea Lucescu did better than Jose Mourinho in his first Madonnina Derby
As coach of Inter, Mircea Lucescu also won a Madonnina Derby on March 13, 1999. It drew 2-2 with the Rossoneri, goals scored by Bruno N'Gotty (own goal) and Javier Zanetti, respectively Leonardo (“double”).
But it didn't help them much. After a 1-1 with Manchester United, in the “quarters” of the Champions League, and a 0-4 with Sampdoria, in the championship, Inter sacked him and returned to Rapid, which he had left in November 1998 to train, among others, Ronaldo, Diego Simeone, Javier Zanetti, Youri Djorkaeff and Ivan Zamorano.
Inter comes after 3 defeats and two draws against AC Milan
Returning to Chivu, he has one more challenge. To break the black streak recorded by the predecessor Simone Izaghi. Inter haven't won against Milan since April 2024.
Since then, they suffered 3 defeats against the Rossoneri and ended two matches in a draw.
