A derby as captain for Barella: he has an uncontrollable desire to erase a stat

The number 23 for Inter Milan is certain of a starting spot in midfield against Milan in the first leg of the Coppa Italia semi-final. 

While waiting to know Inzaghi's final choices for Milan-Inter, there is already one player who is certain of a starting role: Nicolò Barella, who will likely start the match from the first minute. 

The number 23 will be a starter tonight, and then he will rest against Parma due to suspension in the league. 

He will probably be moved to the left to give Mkhitaryan a breather. And he will take on a heavy responsibility, as explained by Corriere dello Sport via Fcinter1908.it today. 

The paper writes: "In the absence of Lautaro, it will be up to him to wear the captain's armband. From vice-captain to captain for one night, tonight against Milan in the first leg of the Coppa Italia semi-final. 

A different kind of match, but even more so this time in a season-long saga in which the Nerazzurri have been hypnotized by their cousins, with two defeats and one draw."

This will be Barella's debut in the Coppa Italia this season. 

He will have the chance to break a very particular drought: "For his part, Barella approaches the derby with special energy and an unstoppable desire to finally hurt the Rossoneri. 

Despite the fact that Milan is the team he has faced most in his career (24 times, the same as Juventus), the Sardinian has never managed to score against them while wearing the Inter Milan shirt. 

The only goal he has scored in direct confrontations with Milan was during the 2017/18 season when he still played for Cagliari. 

The Coppa Italia semi-final, however, will be a remake for him, following the sweet 180 minutes of the 2021/22 season that secured the Nerazzurri’s passage to the final."