Inter pin hopes of upset on Adriano

EVERY form guide suggests that AC Milan’s 2-0 lead from the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final with city rivals Inter should be enough to see the Italian champions through to the last four.

But Inter Milan, who hope to have their Brazilian striker Adriano fit enough to play from the start, insist they are capable of producing an upset at the San Siro this evening.

Inter have not won any of the last nine meetings between the two teams in Serie A and the Champions League and in the three games this season have yet to score a single goal against Carlo Ancelotti’s side.

They will have to score three times against Milan to progress yet Milan haven’t conceded more than one goal in a Serie A or European game since their 5-2 victory over Lecce on January 6.

Indeed Milan have conceded just three goals in their entire Champions League campaign so far this season.

Inter Milan coach Robert Mancini though, has taken heart from last season’s quarter-finals when Milan crushed Spain’s Deportivo Coruna 4-1 in the first-leg but were then eliminated after a shock 4-0 reverse away from home.

“Football is a strange game which is full of unthinkable things, including incredible comebacks,” said Mancini.

“If you believe in yourself then sometimes these things can happen for you. There are teams that come back from 3-0 down. We lost 2-0. There are weaker teams that beat stronger sides sometimes but there is little to choose between us and Milan.

“The important thing in this situation is to have the pride and the desire to turn around this deficit. We have nothing to lose and all that remains is for us to get out there and do it. There is no room for any defeatism,” he added.

Adriano’s knee ligament injury kept him out of the first-leg but there is confidence that he could be ready to start against Milan.

The Brazilian’s hat trick in the last round of the Champions League against Porto made the difference for Inter and Mancini knows he needs a similar display if there is to be any hope on Tuesday.

Inter beat Bologna 1-0 in Serie A on Saturday playing with two wingers - Dutchman Andy van der Meyde on the right flank and Argentine Kily Gonzalez on the left.

Mancini has hinted that he may opt for such a formation with Juan Sebastian Veron switching to a central midfield role.

“The fact that we were able to play with two wide men was important - that is the type of line-up I prefer,” said Mancini after Saturday’s game.

Milan looked distracted on Saturday as they struggled to a 1-1 draw with Brescia ending their run of eight successive wins in Serie A and they could be without captain Paolo Maldini for the derby.

Maldini is suffering a thigh injury and Ancelotti will wait until before kick-off before taking any decision.

Brazilian Serginho deputised for Maldini against Brescia but was unimpressive and Milan also have Georgian Kakha Kaladze and Italy international Giuseppe Pancaro who could come into the side at left-back.

Maldini has played most of this season in the centre of defence but returned to left-back for the first-leg with Dutchman Jaap Stam and Alessandro Nesta operating in the middle.

Massimo Ambrosini is expected to deputise for the suspended Gennaro Gattuso in the centre of midfield.