MILAN – The countdown has started. On Sunday at 20.45 local time, the spotlight will fall on the San Siro for the Derby della Madonnina. Ahead of the big match, here are some interesting facts to whet the appetite. 
This Sunday’s derby will be the 185th in Serie A. Taking into account derby matches from all competitions, and excluding the 45 minute summer derby matches, then it is number 285. 
Looking at potential goal-scorers, Mario Balotelli has already scored a goal in the derby albeit in a friendly at the TIM Trophy in the summer of 2009 and for the black and blue of Inter. 
On the subject of Italian forwards, the last Italian to hit the back of the net in a derby for Milan was Stephan El Shaarawy. The date was February 2013 and the little pharaoh was on target in a 1-1 draw.  
As for Inter, Nicola Ventola was the last Italian player to score in a derby in Serie A when he was on the score-sheet in October 2001. 
Going even further back in time, the first derby to be played with Inter as the home side was in May 1909. The occasion was the Medaglia Inter competition, and with the scores goalless, the match was suspended for a serious on-field incident. 
Focusing back to the present, this Sunday’s derby kicks-off at 20.45 and is the Serie A round 3 late kick-off, which will be broadcast all across the world. The first time that the Milanese derby was televised as the late kick-off in Serie A was over 20 years ago, when Milan edged out Inter 2-1 in 1994 thanks to an own goal from Bergomi and a goal from Massaro. Schillaci scored for Inter.