The five players that could decide Serie A's Derby d'Italia this weekend

It's a huge weekend in Serie A as four of the top five meet in games that will have a huge say in who finishes in the league's top four, as well as the destination of the Scudetto. 

On Saturday night, all eyes will be on the San Siro as Inter play host to Juventus in the second Derby d'Italia of the season. 

In September, it was Juve who took the bragging rights between Italy's two most successful sides, with a last-minute winner in a thrilling 4-3 victory for the Old Lady. 

Juventus will now look to do the double over the league leaders and strengthen their own Champions League cause, but which of the stellar names on show will make all the difference in this showdown? 

Lautaro Martinez 

A no-brainer. There hasn't been anyone more effective in front of goal than Martinez in Serie A this season, and he'll once again be Inter's main man against Juventus. 

The Argentine leads the goalscoring charts with 14 to his name, six clear of the nearest challenger, and the striker has also contributed four assists across the campaign to the Nerazzurri's dangerous attack. 

Often wrongly overlooked when talking about the world's best strikers, Martinez is on course to win his second Capocannoniere and has played a huge part in Inter's ascent to the top of the table. 

His goals have contributed to 12 winning points for Cristian Chivu's men, and it could see the skipper lifting another league title come the end of the season. 

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Kenan Yildiz 

While Inter have relied heaviest on their 31-year-old striker, Juve's own talisman is at the other end of the scale and one of Serie A's most exciting young players. 

Yildiz only turns 21 in May, but has already shown in his rapid rise to becoming the Old Lady's latest number 10 that there's a wise and talented head on his young shoulders. 

Often the player Juve turn to when in need of a creative spark, the Turkish international has already racked up his highest tally of league goals in a season with eight, as well as providing four assists.

It's no wonder his performances have seen some of Europe's biggest clubs eyeing in the direction of the playmaker. 

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Federico Dimarco 

Few would have predicted that Serie A's ace assister this season would be Inter's flying wing-back - especially with the arrival of Kevin De Bruyne - but Dimarco has been one of the league's standout performers. 

So far in 2025-26, he's laid on 11 assists for his Inter teammates, the most by any defender at this stage of a Serie A season, in what's been an MVP-like campaign for the Italian. 

He hasn't been shy about grabbing goals for himself, too, netting five times, to add to his attacking contributions. 

Juventus will hope to keep Dimarco busy in his defensive duties, but they'll also need to watch out for what he adds to this Inter side at the other end. 

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Manuel Locatelli

A model of consistency at the back for Juventus, if the visitors are to get anything out of their visit to the San Siro, they'll need their captain to help protect a defence that's facing the league's most dangerous attack. 

Alongside his midfield partner in Khephren Thuram, the pair provide the base from which Luciano Spalletti likes to build, while also providing a wall in front of their backline. 

The Italian international's battle in the middle with Nicola Barella will be a key clash in the derby and could determine which way the game flows. 

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Hakan Calhanoglu

Unlikely to be involved from the start following an injury lay-off with a calf problem, but the Turk should return to the squad in time for the derby. 

Before his enforced break, the 32-year-old was on course for his highest scoring season yet in an Inter shirt, having netted eight times for the Nerazzurri this term. 

His all-action displays from midfield give Cristian Chivu's men the energy they need from the middle and another weapon in what is already a potent attack. 

And of course, his ability from set-pieces is almost unrivalled in Serie A. 

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