Sunday night was the slot for the Milanese derby. A fixture that in the past has gone on to decided the title credentials of both AC and Inter. However Sunday night had a different feel to it entirely.
Pre-game both sides were struggling for any sort of form in the league. AC Milan were 9th while Inter were 10th a point behind but a massive 30 points behind champions-elect Juventus which gives an idea of how far both Milan sides have fallen.
It was only as recently as 2010-11 that AC Milan were Scudetto champions with Inter runners-up. Fast forward only four seasons and both Milan clubs look like missing out on European football. AC Milan last season did miss out on European football which was seen as a shock but the struggles have continue this season but now Inter are also struggling for form.
The decline of AC and Inter reflects the decline of Italian football in general in the last few years. Performances in Europe have declined that aside from Inter's stunning 2010 champions league triumph no Italian side has made the semi-finals since AC Milan in 2007. Juventus this week have an opportunity put an end to not only that run but their own current run of no European semi-final since 2003.
The Milan derby on Sunday was a dour contest. A game of disallowed goals but overall, few goal scoring opportunities and a result that neither wanted or needed. A win for either would've given a little bit of hope of getting a Europa League spot but with this result looks like Milan won't be hosting any European fixtures next season.
The current sides have a few decent players but it is a massive far cry from the players that both sides could call upon a decade or so ago. Players such as Rui Costa, Kaká, Andriy Shevchenko, Paolo Maldini, Cafú, Javier Zanetti, Ronaldo, Álvaro Recoba, Hernán Crespo and Iván Córdoba were regular stars in this fixture.
The sight of Rannochia and Abate captaining the sides showed how both sides have lost their way. This of course a fixture that was once captained by Javier Zanetti and Paolo Maldini with the referee being the highly respected Pierluigi Collina.
The 2014-15 Serie A season isn't going to last that long in the memory in terms of excitement. Juventus have had the title won for months as Roma have self destructed and the relegation picture is as clear as its ever been with Parma, Cagliari and Cesena certainly going down. It's also rather sad that the drama at the bottom has come from Parma's appalling financial state as opposed to on the pitch.
However the small positive for Serie A during this 2014-15 season is the slight improvement in Europe. Juventus are on the cusp of securing a champions league semi-final while both Fiorentina and Napoli have good chances of reaching the semi-finals of the Europa League. A couple more seasons of improvement in Europe and that coveted 4th champions league spot might come back but it does remain to be seen if this improvement in Europe can last.
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