The eyes of the footballing world turn to the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza this Saturday, February 14, 2026, for a Valentine’s Day clash that could define the Scudetto race. Cristian Chivu’s Inter Milan (1st, 58 points) faces Luciano Spalletti’s Juventus (4th, 46 points) in the most anticipated Derby d’Italia in years. Kick-off is scheduled for 19:45 UTC.
Inter enters the fixture as the runaway leaders, currently eight points clear of second-placed AC Milan. However, Juventus remains one of the few teams to have troubled the Nerazzurri this season, winning the reverse fixture 4–3 in September.
Match Information
| Feature | Details |
| Competition | Serie A (Round 25) |
| Date | Saturday, February 14, 2026 |
| Kick-off | 19:45 UTC / 20:45 CET / 14:45 ET |
| Venue | Stadio Giuseppe Meazza (San Siro), Milan |
| Referee | TBD |
| TV Channel | DAZN (Italy) / Paramount+ (US) / TNT Sports (UK) |
Inter Milan: The Chivu Revolution
Under the guidance of former player Cristian Chivu, Inter has transformed into a high-octane offensive machine. Fresh off a 5–0 demolition of Sassuolo, they have now won five consecutive league matches. Their statistical dominance is staggering: a league-high 57 goals scored and only 19 conceded.
Team News and Selection:
Midfield Boost: Inter has received a massive double boost as Hakan Calhanoglu and Nicolo Barella have both returned to training. Calhanoglu has confirmed he "can make it" for Saturday, though he may start on the bench.
Talisman in Form: Lautaro Martinez continues his hunt for the Capocannoniere title, currently leading the league with 14 goals.
Defensive Absence: Denzel Dumfries is sidelined with an injury, meaning Benjamin Pavard or Matteo Darmian will likely occupy the right flank.
Predicted XI (3-5-2): Sommer; Pavard, Acerbi, Bastoni; Darmian, Zielinski, Mkhitaryan, Barella, Dimarco; Lautaro Martinez, Thuram.
Juventus: Spalletti’s Tactical Chess
Since taking over in October 2025, Luciano Spalletti has stabilized a Juventus side that was previously struggling for identity. While they sit 12 points behind Inter, a win at San Siro would solidify their Champions League spot and mathematically keep their faint title hopes alive.
Team News and Selection:
Vlahovic Update: Star striker Dusan Vlahovic is back on the grass following thigh surgery but is unlikely to start.
The "Yildiz" Factor: Young sensation Kenan Yildiz is the creative heartbeat of this side, leading the team with 8 goals and 4 assists.
New Arrivals: January signings Francisco Conceição and Lloyd Kelly have integrated well, though Conceição is nursing a minor knee issue.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Di Gregorio; Danilo, Gatti, Bremer, Kelly; Locatelli, Thuram, Koopmeiners; Conceição (or Weah), Yildiz, Boga.
? Head-to-Head (H2H) and Key Stats
Season Sweep? Juventus won the first meeting 4–3 in September. Inter has not been swept by Juve in a single season since 2001/02.
Clean Sheet Kings: Inter leads the league with 15 clean sheets in 24 matches.
San Siro Strength: Inter has won 7 of their last 8 home matches in Serie A.
Spalletti’s Record: Historically, Luciano Spalletti has often frustrated Inter at the Meazza, including during his tenures with Roma and Napoli.
Tactical Preview and Prediction
This match pits Inter’s direct, vertical play against Spalletti’s nuanced possession system. Inter will look to overwhelm the Juventus midfield with the energy of Barella and the wing-play of Dimarco. Juventus, meanwhile, will look to exploit any space left by Inter’s high line, relying on Kenan Yildiz to create 1v1 situations.
While Juventus won the chaos of the 7-goal thriller in September, Inter's current defensive stability and the emotional lift of playing at a sold-out San Siro make them slight favorites to avenge that defeat.
Final Score Prediction: Inter Milan 2–1 Juventus
