Though neither has hope of winning the Scudetto this season, history will be made at San Siro when Inter and Juventus meet in one of the Italian football's most famous fixtures.
Eighteen points behind Napoli, second-placed Inter are looking over their shoulders at those behind them in a tight fight for the Champions League places.
Had they not been deducted 15 points, Juve would be above Inter and firmly in that battle.
As it is, victory here is critical for Juve's slim chances of climbing into the top four — they are 10 points adrift of fourth-placed Milan — with both sides hoping the Rossoneri slip up at Udinese and Lazio and Roma play out a draw.
And, as Stats Perform explains in a look at the standout Opta numbers ahead of the Derby d'Italia, history is on the side of Juve keeping themselves in the hunt.
Juve dominance
Inter and Juve are set to face off for the 180th time in the top flight, making it the fixture with the most matches in Serie A history.
Juve have dominated this great rivalry, winning 86 matches compared to 48 for Inter, with 45 games finishing as a draw.
The hosts have long since struggled in this fixture when it has been played in the second half of the season. They are winless against Juve at home in Serie A in such games since April 2010.
On top of that, since winning the treble 13 years ago, Inter have prevailed in just two their 12 total home league games against the Bianconeri (D5 L5).
Key to improving that record may be Lautaro Martinez, who has scored four home goals in Serie A in 2023, a tally only Adrien Rabiot and Victor Osimhen can match.
However, the World Cup winner has only scored one goal in nine top-flight games against Juventus and has a goal average of one every 586 minutes against the Bianconeri: his worst in Serie A against any opponent versus whom he has found the net.
Bianconeri back at their best
From an Inter perspective, Juve head into this game in worryingly good form.
Indeed, the Bianconeri are playing at a level not far away from that of runaway leaders Napoli.
Only Napoli (23) have scored more goals than Juventus (20) in Serie A in 2023, while Partenopei are the sole team to have claimed more wins (9) than Massimiliano Allegri's side in this calendar year.
Perhaps of even more concern for Inter is the contrast in form between the two sides in the match immediately after a European contest.
Another Champions League hangover?
Inter got the job done in Porto in midweek and, through to a quarter-final with another Portuguese opponent in Benfica, can have hope of a first Champions League final appearance since their triumph in 2010.
But the Nerazzurri have struggled of late in games following Champions League tussles. Inter have lost three of their last six Serie A matches after their Champions League games, including their last two (against Bologna and Juventus in the reverse match).
Juve are competing in the Europa League after failing to make it out of the Champions League group stage, but they have won each of their last such six league games after Continental encounters.
If Juve repeat the feat from the reverse fixture and defeat Inter without conceding, it will mark the first time they have won both games in this fixture to nil since the 1976-77 season.
Napoli 'lucky' not to have Serie A title rival, claims Totti
Francesco Totti has lauded Napoli and "great coach" Luciano Spalletti but suggests the runaway Serie A leaders have been "also lucky" this season.
Napoli are on course for their first Scudetto since 1990, when Diego Maradona was still at the club.
The Partenopei are a mammoth 19 points clear with only 11 games remaining, making a title triumph almost an inevitability.
Yet Roma great Totti, while praising their work under ex-Giallorossi boss Spalletti, believes they have benefited from the absence of a genuine competitor.
Legend Totti won only one title with Roma, although they finished as runners-up on a further nine occasions across his remarkable career, missing out to Juventus, Milan and Inter.
"I honestly didn't expect it like this," Totti told Sky Sport of Napoli. "I knew it was a good team with a great coach – it was a well-made combination.
"They expressed themselves to the fullest in everything and were also lucky because they didn't have an opponent behind them who can keep up with their pace.
"When we were there, there was always Juve, Inter, Milan who always clung there.
"If you won 20 games, they won 19. Napoli doesn't have a second team like that."
Lazio are Napoli's nearest rivals, but Juve would be second if not for a 15-point deduction. Even then, the Bianconeri would be 15 points off the pace.
Tottenham chief Paratici faces uncertain future after ban extended worldwide by FIFA
Tottenham managing director of football Fabio Paratici's future at the club has been cast into doubt after his ban by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) was extended worldwide by FIFA.
Paratici was one of 11 individuals connected with Juventus who were issued with bans by the FIGC in January after the club was found guilty of false accounting in relation to transfer dealings.
Juventus were also docked 15 points as part of the punishment.
Paratici and Juventus denied any wrongdoing, with an appeal against the initial sanctions imposed by the FIGC to be heard by the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) on April 19.
Despite his 30-month ban, Spurs director Paratici was able to continue his role with the Premier League club because the suspension only applied to Italian Football.
However, FIFA confirmed on Wednesday the bans handed out by the FIGC have been extended worldwide, meaning Paratici will be unable to fulfil his duties at Spurs unless his appeal is successful.
A widely reported FIFA statement read: "FIFA can confirm that following a request by the FIGC, the chairperson of the FIFA disciplinary committee has decided to extend the sanctions imposed by the FIGC on several football officials to have worldwide effect."
The news comes just three days after the sacking of Spurs head coach Antonio Conte, with the Italian leaving after 17 months in charge.
Paratici, who would have likely played an important in appointing Conte’s replacement, appeared in a video on Tuesday outlining Spurs' plans for the rest of the season and describing the decision to fire the former Inter and Chelsea coach as "the right decision."
Fati's father wants son to leave Barcelona despite Ansu's wish to stay
Ansu Fati wants to stay at Barcelona, but his father has other ideas.
The 20-year-old, who has been with the club for a decade, has made 38 appearances in all competitions this season but 27 of them have come as a substitute.
Bori Fati – who manages his son alongside agent Jorge Mendes – has been left angered by the situation and believes the winger deserves more minutes for Xavi's side.
"If it was up to me, I would take him [to another team] but [Ansu] wants to stay at Barcelona," Bori Fati told Spanish outlet Cope.
"He does not want to sign for another club, but I want to see him succeed. As a dad, I am angry.
"Seeing Ansu play so little winds you up a little bit, and sometimes I think as a father, not a coach."
Fati, who has scored six goals this season, is under a long-term contract with Barca, who are 12 points clear at the top of LaLiga.
And despite his father's wish, Fati has previously stated his desire to remain with Barcelona, where he feels at home.
"I'm under contract with Barcelona until June 2027, and I hope to stay here for many more years," he said in February.
"I feel grateful and lucky to play for Barca and I have to thank the people who support me daily for their backing."
The situation led to Bori calling a meeting with Barcelona sporting director Mateu Alemany, and agent Mendes.
Alemany reassured him of his son's role at the club, though Bori remains unconvinced the situation will change.
"I called Mateu," said Bori. "He told us that Ansu is part of the club's heritage, and they have bet big on him.
"As a dad, I think differently, maybe I am wrong. He is your franchise player, the number 10, he took [that number] on when no one was ready to take it from [Lionel] Messi.
"What annoys me is how they're treating him in terms of minutes. One minute, two, three.
"I am not asking for him to be a starter, because all the forwards at the club are phenomenal, but we are talking about Ansu Fati, of Spain and Barcelona, who came through La Masia."
It is now at the point where Bori no longer wants to visit Camp Nou to watch his son play.
"If it carries on like this, I will go [back] to [the family home in] Seville and that's that," said Bori.
"I didn't go to the game against [Real] Madrid. I won't go to the stadium anymore.
"The other day Ansu asked me why I didn't go, he thought I was there. I told him I didn't fancy it."
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