Good evening! Two of Italian football's fiercest rivals go head-to-head in 45 minutes time at the San Siro as Inter Milan host AC Milan, with both teams currently locked in the mid-table battle. Let's start with a look at the teams...

INTER MILAN: Handanovic, Juan, Vidic, Ranocchia, D'Ambrosio, Icardi, Kovacic, Medel, Gnoukouri, Hernanes, Palacio

AC MILAN: Lopez, Mexes, Abate, Antonelli, Alex, Poli, Van Ginkel, De Jong, Menez, Suso, Bonaventura

So, there are two changes for the hosts following their 3-0 win over Hellas Verona last time out. Teenager Assane Gnoukouri makes his first start for the team after coming off the bench last weekend, while Mateo Kovacic also comes in. They take the places of Fredy Guarin and Marcelo Brozovic, who are both suspended.

Meanwhile, there are three changes for AC Milan as Suso, Alex and Andrea Poli are all brought into the side after being left out of the starting lineup for last weekend's draw with Sampdoria.

Just a few years ago, this derby would have been a clash between two sides fighting for a place in the Champions League. That's not the case this season, with the two clubs fighting to make sure they finish in the table half of the table. AC Milan have the edge coming into this fixture, sitting ninth, but they're just a point ahead of Internazionale. A win for either side would lift them up to seventh.

Ahead of this match, AC Milan defender Ignazio Abate told Sky Italia: "The derby is definitely not like it was a few years ago but motivation won't be lacking. We want to give some joy to our club and to our fans. Inter are a good side with great players. They have great forwards like [Mauro] Icardi and [Rodrigo] Palacio and we will have to be on guard."

Meanwhile, Inter midfielder Gary Medel said at a pre-match press conference: "We need to play with intelligence and be aggressive. Just like us, Milan are having an inconsistent season but they are a strong team. We respect but we don't fear anyone. Three points on Sunday would be a good present for our fans."

Mauro Icardi will surely be the main threat for the designated home side this evening. The winger is their top scorer so far this season with 16 in the league, including one in last week's win at Verona. He'll be leading the attack alongside Rodrigo Palacio this evening.

AC Milan will be hoping that the in-form Jeremy Menez continues his recent run in front of goal. The striker has three goals in his last three appearances.

Here's a look at some of the AC Milan players taking part in their warmup just a short time ago:

As we mentioned in the team news earlier, 18-year-old Assane Gnoukouri is making his first start for Inter. It couldn't come in a more vital match for the club, but manager Roberto Mancini insists that he can handle it:

When the sides met earlier in the season, Menez was on the scoresheet for AC Milan, but his goal was cancelled out by a goal from Joel Obi for Inter, leaving the sides to finish level at 1-1. It's been a low-scoring fixture in recent seasons, with just seven goals in the last five Milan derbies.

It's already been a busy day in Serie A, with wins for Napoli and Palermo, as well as plenty of draws. You can find reports to all of the matches that have already taken place in the Italian top flight on our scores page.

As I mentioned a few minutes ago, this hasn't been a high-scoring match in recent seasons, but these two sides have both struggled defensively this year, but are in the top five scorers in the league. Inter have found the back of the net 46 times, just twice more than their opponents. Only Juventus, Lazio and Napoli have scored more often, so it could be a lively affair tonight.

It's a sellout at the San Siro tonight, and it's filling up nicely as kickoff approaches:

PREDICTION! With the players heading out shortly, there's just time for a quick prediction. With the teams drawing earlier in the season, and little separating them in the table, on paper it looks like this could be a draw. Both sides are missing a few of their regulars, but with Icardi and Palacio in their starting lineup, Inter could just edge it, so I'm going for 2-1 to Mancini's side.

The players are making their way out ready for kickoff in front of a packed out San Siro. It's quite an atmosphere to welcome the two teams!

KICKOFF! AC Milan get the match underway!

It's Inter who try to create some early pressure as Gary Medel lofts a high ball forward towards Palacio, but the midfielder puts far to much on it, and it goes straight through to Diego Lopes, who is playing through a finger sprain this evening.

AC Milan are having to defend in the opening stages of this derby as they give away the first free kick of the night, but Mexes is ready to nod Hernanes ball clear. D'Ambrosio tries to get the ball back into the box, but it's cleared again by the Milan back four. It's certainly been a bright start by the hosts.

AC Milan finally manage to get gold of the ball, with Antonelli trying to bring the ball down the left flank, but his path is blocked. Abate eventually does make a break, but he overruns the ball and loses out on the edge of the Inter box.

Suso picks out Van Ginkel with a high ball from the right wing to the left, and the on-loan Chelsea man's first touch is good. He looks towards the goal trying to set something up for AC Milan, but there's no-one open to get on the end of his through-ball. Palacio quickly gets it back down the other end on the counter, but Alex blocks his cross to give the home side a corner, which is soon cleared.

Gnoukouri is showing no signs of nerves on his first senior start for Inter as he battles with Abate near the corner flag, forcing a throw in. The teenager is involved again as the ball comes back in, flicking the ball into the path of Palacio, but Mexes is there to make the block as the striker tries to get a shot away.

CHANCE! What a strike from Hernanes! The pacy winger has the ball 25 yards out, and there's no-one ahead of him, so he takes the shot on himself, combining a vicious strike with some wicked swerve, but Lopez reads it right and tips it behind.

CHANCE! Inter clearly feel like they can catch AC Milan out with a long-range attempt at the moment as Mateo Kovacic goes for goal from a similar position to Hernanes's effort a few minutes earlier, but his shot lacks the accuracy, going well high.

CHANCE! AC Milan break back down the other end, with Menez carving his way in from out wide before slicing the ball across the face of goal, but Medel is back to make the clearance.

CHANCE! Van Ginkel and Antonelli pass the ball back and forth in midfield before the latter fires it across to Abate, who picks out Suso with a through-ball, but the striker's finish is straight at Handanovic, leaving the keeper with a comfortable save.

CHANCE! Inter have to get numbers back as Suso and Bonaventura find the gaps to break into he box. Suso unleashes another shot, and this time he gets some real power behind it, but Handanovic reacts quickly to parry it clear.

Hernanes is on the attack down the other end for Inter, passing out wide to Alex, who in turn tries to cross it in for Kovacic, but he ends up sending the ball into no-man's land, allowing Mexes to boot is to safety.

Inter Milan are really applying the pressure on the edge of their rivals' box, with D'Ambrosio providing the cross, but Mexes is once again on hand to head it away. The defender has been absolutely superb so far!

The referee is surrounded as Antonelli blocks a Medel ball into the box with his arm, but the home side wanted a penalty for a shove by Antonelli moments earlier, while AC Milan aren't happy that Inter have the free kick for the hand ball. Either way, the referee is sticking with his original decision - a free kick 20 yards out.

Hernanes steps up to take the free kick, curling it in with his left foot, but it's nothing for Lopez to worry about. Hernanes is usually pretty deadly with set pieces, but that one was rather disappointing.

BOOKING! Gary Medel is the first player to be booked, charging into Abate out wide level with the penalty area, although the yellow may actually have been for his protests after the free kick was given. It's a costly card, as he's suspended for the next match.

DISALLOWED GOAL! The ball is curled in from the free kick, with Mexes rising highest to get his head to it. Handanovic saves that effort, but can do nothing to stop Alex's follow-up, but De Jong had drifted offside, so the referee rules it out.

BOOKING! The tackles are starting to fly in now as Kovacic tries to get away on the break, but he's hacked down by Nigel de Jong, who become the first AC Milan player to see the yellow card.

Suso battles with Kovacic out wide, but he manages to keep hold of it, eventually setting up Poli to slice it in, but Palacio gets it clear.

BOOKING! It's been a busy few minutes for the referee as Jesus Juan is booked for a high challenge on Suso.

AC Milan have certainly been looking the more dangerous in the last few minutes, with Menez and Suso leading the charge forward. However, Medel and Juan have both been quick to react at the back, preventing their opponents from getting any real shots away since the disallowed goal a little while ago.

AC Milan have the ball in the box again, but Nemanja Vidic turns it behind for a corner. De Jong tries to pull it back at the far post, but Van Ginkel's initial delivery was too deep.

Inzaghi's side win a free kick as Bonaventura is brought down by D'Ambrosio on the halfway line. Juan ends up having to turn it behind for a corner, but Vidic gets up highest to head away the intiialy delivery, while Poli's attempt to head it back in from the edge of the box is hampered by Kovacic. The AC Milan man has landed awkwardly though, and seems to be in quite a bit of pain.

Poli is back on his feet after being upended by Kovacic, and he's clutching his shoulder. There's just a minute of stoppage time, so he probably won't bother coming back on, but he's got half time to try to shake it off.

An entertaining but goalless first half at the San Siro comes to an end. Internazionale certainly made the brighter start to proceedings, but it was AC Milan who looked the more likely as the break approached. With all three points still up for grabs, it should be another gripping 45 minutes in the second half.

Let's take a closer look at the action from the opening 45 minutes. Inter had more of the ball with 60%, and had three times as many shots as their opponents, but just one of their six efforts was on target. Inzaghi's men have had just two shots, but both of Suso's strikes have forced Handanovic into action. They've also had the ball in the back of the net, but Alex's header was ruled out for offside.

Suso has certainly been one of the livelier players for AC Milan, while Palacio has been involved at both ends of the pitch. Here's both of them battling for the ball during the opening 45 minutes:

Both sides have options on the bench should they need to make changes. Xherdan Shaqiri and Lukas Podolski are among the substitutes for the home side, while Alessio Cerci and Giampaolo Pazzini could feature for the visitors.

The players are starting to make their way back out ready for the second half. It will be interesting to see if Poli is able to continue after appearing to injure his shoulder late in the first half.

RESTART! Inter get the action back underway.

It looks like both sides have returned unchanged, so Poli's shoulder would appear to be fine. Abate and Suso combine early on to get the ball to the edge of the Inter box. Bonavetunra tries to drill it in on the turn, but he scuffs the shot and it ends up going well wide.

DISALLOWED GOAL! It's one offside strike ruled out for each side now as Icardi bursts into the box to collect a squared ball from Palacio, but the striker was just a little to quick as he timed his run, sneaking into an offside position. It was a superb first-time hit from the striker though, not that that will be much of a consolation for him.

AC Milan are on the attack down the other end again as Suso sprints down the right before sending in a low cross, but Vidic is waiting to make the block for the home side.

Ac Milan pass the ball around the back, but a wayward ball from Abate allows Hernanes to intercept and fire a cross in, but he didn't have any teammates forward with him. That's been the problem all too often for Inter today, they can catch their opponents out on the break, but they aren't getting numbers forward often enough.

CHANCE! Inter force a corner, but Hernanes's delivery is a little overhit, allowing De Jong to eventually hook it clear. Icardi wins it back straight away though, and Lopez isn't eexpecting it. The winger thinks that he's about to slot it into an empty net, but a spectacular effort from the keeper just rescues the situation as he throws himself into the path of the shot. That was a lucky escape for the Rossoneri.

It's been a bit of a slow burner at times, but it feels like it's building to be quite a thriller in the final 30 minutes of the Milan derby as the home side get on the attack again, setting up Palacio for a shot, but Abate deflects the ball behind, just past the post.

CHANCE! Palacio is really starting to cause problems for the Milan defenders as he holds off Antonelli before pulling it back to Kovacic on the edge of the box, but the Croatian drags his shot just wide.

CHANCE & PENALTY APPEAL! Palacio has been superb for the last five minutes, and he's on the charge again, bursting down the left before crossing it in for Hernanes, whose finish is deflected behind for Antoelli. The Inter players swarm around the referee, claiming that it struck the defender's arm, and the replays seem to back them up. AC Milan aren't happy with the appeals, and a bit of a skirmish breaks out. Despite the drama, Inter have to settle for a corner.

SUB! Inter are making the first change of the night, and it's 18-year-old Assane Gnoukouri making way for Joel Obi, who was on the scoresheet against AC Milan in the reverse fixture earlier in the season.

Palacio has been creating chances over the last few minutes, but it's D'Ambrosio looking for the striker now as Inter break again, but the cross is behind Palacio, allowing the visitors to clear.

CHANCE! Medel picks out Palacio with a superb ball forward, and the striker swiftly squares it to his strike partner, but Icardi's low effort is stopped on the line by Lopez. That was an excellent save from the AC Milan keeper, but Icardi could probably have done better with the shot.

SUB! AC Milan are forced into their first change of the evening as Alex appears to have picked up a knock, so Gabriel Paletta takes his place at the back.

DISALLOWED GOAL! Well there's confusion all round as the ball ends up in the back of the net again, but once again it's not awarded. Icardi tries to stretch to turn it in, but he misses. Mexes was following him in and ends up turning it into his own net. The home players celebrate, thinking that the defender has given them the lead, but the referee rules it out after several seconds. It looks like Palacio pulled Antonelli down on the edge of the box in the build up, but it was a slow decision from the referee.

SUB! Mancini, who still looks fuming after the disallowed goal, makes another change, sending Shaqiri on in place of Kovacic.

CHANCES! Inter Milan are on a mission now to make amends for the goal that wasn't given a few minutes ago. Icardi tries to turn it in at the near post, but it's deflected behind, while Jesus Juan gets a shot away moments later, but Lopez makes a diving save to tip it around the post. From the resulting corner, Obi hits the ball on the half-volley, but once again Lopez gets himself between the ball and the back of the net, although he didn't appear to know too much about that one as he bounced back off his chest.

CHANCE! Palacio flicks the ball on for Hernandes. The winger's footwork in the box is superb, setting him up to pull it back for D'Ambrosio, but his first-time shot rises just a fraction high of the crossbar. Inter are certainly looking the more likely as the match heads into the final 10 minutes.

SUB! It's a change for AC Milan as Poli makes way for Cerci.

BOOKING! Abate is the latest player to pick up a yellow card for a late challenge.

BOOKING! The yellows are coming thick and fast now as Hernanes wipes out Paletta with a low challenge, earning him a booking.

CHANCE! Bonaventura finds a gap through the middle to run at the Inter goal. He gets it to Destro, who has space on the edge of the box, and hits the ball on the turn, but his low strike can't get the better of Handanovic. That's the first time the Rossoneri have threatening for a while.

De Jong wins the ball back for AC Milan in midfield, linking up with Abate as they try to find a late winner. Menez is left in space on the edge of the box, but his strike is straight at Vidic, who is certainly feeling the aftereffects of the block.

CHANCE! From Vidic's block, Inter quickly make their way down the other end of the pitch, with Shaqiri playing his way in from out wide to drive the ball in from the edge of the box, but it's just high.

CHANCE! Icardi's first touch is superb as he shakes off Abate to control a high ball forward and lash a shot towards the bottom corner. It looked like Lopez was beaten, but it was just wide. Meanwhile, there are four minutes of stoppage time.

AC Milan win a corner, but Shaqiri is back to help get it clear. Inter are slow to get numbers forward again as Cerci and Medel make a charge through the middle. Hernanes holds it up long enough on the edge of the box to allow Palacio to charge forward, but his delivery in is deflected into the arms of Lopez.

Well, it was another lively half of football, but it ends goalless at the San Siro between Inter Milan and AC Milan. There were plenty of talking points, with the home side finding the back of the net twice after the break, while also being denied what appeared to be a clear-cut penalty, resulting in the first goalless Milan derby in 10 years.

The draw means there's no change to the table, with AC Milan remaining ninth, one place and one point better off than their city rivals.

Well that's all from this match, but don't forget to check out all of today's results from Serie A. Thanks for joining me this evening. Goodbye..