Ibrahimovic will miss the match on April 3rd after being sent-off for aiming a karate chop into the ribs of Bari defender Marco Rossi in the 74th minute of the 1-1 draw last Saturday.

Milan – who lead defending champions Inter by five points – have appealed the decision and it will be heard on either Thursday or Friday this week, though, most observers feel they have little chance of winning it.

Should the decision be upheld then Milan will have to do without their leading scorer – he has scored 14 goals in Serie A this season – for not only the derby match but also next Saturday’s away to Palermo and against Fiorentina.

Ibrahimovic’s coach Massimiliano Allegri, suggested after the match that it may be the tall Swede’s recent dry spell in front of goal that got to him.

“He has to stay calm, these periods can happen, he shouldn’t get annoyed because he hasn’t scored for a month, he’s giving a lot.”