Derby della Madonnina: Inter Milan vs AC Milan - 4 things to watch out for

One of Italy's historic derbies, the Derby della Madonnina a.k.a the Milan derby, which was once considered as a prime-time extravaganza for its viewers, has sadly been reduced to a pale imitation of it's illustrous past. The great names have long gone, and so has the sheen of this rivalry.Once a promising goal bonanza, the Milan derby of recent times has been nothing but a slugfest. Reckless challenges coupled with some lack of creativity in the final third has only served to dull the viewership of the fixture. With both sides teetering in the mid table, the derby was downgraded to just another low key, inconsequential clash.However, for the first time arguably since 2011, both the Milanese clubs appear to have a say in the outcome of the Scudetto. After some vital acquisitions in the market, the Rossoneri as well as the Nerrazurri look reinvigorated and may put themselves back on the map of Europe.As the first Milan derby of the season approaches near, we look at the four exciting things that this edition has in store for us.

#1 A friendship bordering on rivalry

Come this Sunday, and the fixture will not only pit two historically rival clubs, but also two old friends, on the opposing dugouts. Roberto Mancini and Sinisa Mihajlovic, the Inter and AC managers respectively, will see their long-term friendship transcend into the boundaries of rivalry, albeit for a course of 90 minutes.

Having shared five years of their playing career together, stretched across stints at Sampdoria and Lazio, Mancini and Mihajlovic reunited again at La Baneamata in 2006, when the latter started his managerial career as an assistant to the Italian, for the next two years.

In 2008, both stepped out of the exit doors of Inter and after venturing off to a contrastingly different paths, they meet again, here at Guiseppe Maezza, from where it all began.

For the next 90 minutes from the kick-off, all the camaraderie aside, the two distinguished managers will be seen using every subterfuge to steal a march over the other, on the grounds of professionalism.

An enticing clash on the touchline to look out for.