The Derby della Madonnina will decide the outcome of this edition of the Supercoppa Italiana as Inter Milan faces arch-rivals AC Milan in Riyadh.
The Supercoppa Italiana has been a competitive affair in Riyadh as the curtains draw to a close on the mini-tournament. Inter Milan, who have won this accolade for the last three years, will be vying for the fourth time on Monday, as Simone Inzaghi’s side face arch-rivals AC Milan in this edition of the Derby della Madonnina.
Inter Milan are in this position following a stellar showing against Serie A leaders and UEFA Europa League holders Atalanta. With the game evenly poised at half-time, wing-back Denzel Dumfries came up with a brace in the second half to take the Nerazzurri into another final of the Supercoppa Italiana.
This will be the second time that Inter Milan face their local rivals AC Milan in this particular final, with both teams winning one each. The first time it happened was in 2011 when the Rossoneri won with a narrow scoreline. But the Nerazzurri got their revenge two years ago when a 3-0 scoreline swept them aside.
Meanwhile, Sergio Conceicao enjoyed a fantastic start to life as Milan’s new manager following their victory in the Supercoppa Italiana semi-final. The Rossoneri were faced with the task of dismantling a stubborn Juventus side, and his charges managed to do that well.
Kenan Yildiz opened the scoring for Juventus, and it appeared he had got the team going in the semi-final. It took until midway through the second half for Milan to get a penalty as Christian Pulisic scored from the spot to get his team on level terms.
In any case, Conceicao will aim to win a trophy within the first two games of his tenure at AC Milan. Lifting the Supercoppa Italiana will be crucial to building momentum for Milan ahead of a tough season for the manager and the players. Hence, this game promises fireworks as the Derby della Madonnina will be an event worth the watch.
Team News & Tactics
Inter Milan
The Supercoppa Italiana semifinal did come at a big cost for Inter Milan as top scorer Marcus Thuram was taken off at halftime in the game against Atalanta. It was Iranian striker Mehdi Taremi who replaced the Frenchman for the second part, and it might be the case that he comes into the starting lineup for the Final.
Simone Inzaghi is already without the defensive duo Francesco Acerbi and Benjamin Pavard, meaning he might have to continue using the likes of Yann Bisseck and Stefan de Vrij for concerted periods. At the same time, Alessandro Bastoni has made himself undroppable for what he brings to the team. Inzaghi will also persist with Nicolo Barella, Hakan Calhanoglu, and Henrikh Mkhitaryan in his midfield setup.
Dumfries is a sure presence on the right wing following his brace in the semi-final, while Federico Dimarco will assume the left wing-back role. Lautaro Martinez will be available to start alongside Taremi. At the same time, the injury to Thuram does deplete the attacking options off the bench, although Marko Arnautovic is an option for Inzaghi to consider.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Sommer; Bisseck, De Vrij, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mhkitaryan, Dimarco; Martinez, Taremi
AC Milan
Sergio Conceicao made a few surprising calls for the semi-final, such as recalling Fikayo Tomori, starting with Ismael Bennacer in his midfield and bringing Christian Pulisic into his attacking setup. All those decisions paid dividends, as Milan proved they were better than Juventus in that clash and booked their place in the final.
Those three players could once again feature for AC Milan in the final, and Bennacer will partner Youssouf Fofana in the middle of the park, while Fikayo Tomori teams up with Malick Thiaw to shore up the backline. Emerson Royal and Theo Hernandez are the best-placed options in the full-back roles.
The presence of Bennacer allows Conceicao to use Tijjani Reijnders in an advanced position, and that might be the case for the final. There is further good news with Rafael Leao’s fitness, as the Portuguese attacker could feature as a substitute and gain some minutes following his recent layoff.
Pulisic will play on the right side, while Alex Jimenez seems settled on the left wing in place of Leao at the moment. Alvaro Morata will lead the line instead of Tammy Abraham, which was also the case in the semi-final.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Emerson, Tomori, Thiaw, Hernandez; Fofana, Bennacer; Pulisic, Reijnders, Jimenez; Morata
Key Stats
- Inter Milan could lift their fourth consecutive Supercoppa Italiana trophy if they beat Milan in the Final.
- A reigning Serie A champion has won more than two-thirds of the 36 Supercoppa Italian Finals.
- Inter Milan and AC Milan have faced each other twice before in a Supercoppa Italiana Final, with one victory each.
- AC Milan have already beaten Inter Milan away from home this season.
Player to Watch
Lautaro Martinez
Last season, it was Martinez who got the eventual winner for Inter Milan to lift their third consecutive Supercoppa Italiana, and this time around, the onus is back on the skipper to deliver. The absence of Marcus Thuram will be a blow for Simone Inzaghi, meaning the Argentine will have to take on more responsibility in the attacking third.
That is not to say Martinez is having a bad season, but he needs a big push and a top display that could re-galvanise his charges to become the protagonist for Inter. A game-changing showing against arch-rivals AC Milan in this tie could go a long way from instilling that confidence in the Argentine, and all eyes will be on the Inter Milan skipper ahead of this Finale.
Prediction
Inter Milan 2-1 AC Milan
AC Milan might come into this clash with a level of confidence after their stellar victory over Juventus, as well as their win over Inter Milan earlier in the season. However, they will come up against a different Nerazzurri side compared to the one they faced at the end of August, which may prove tricky for Sergio Conceicao.
Simone Inzaghi will want his side to lift the trophy not only for its importance but the boost it can give his players ahead of a crucial second half of the season. Inter Milan are well equipped to get a win over their arch-rivals, as the Nerazzurri are expected to pip their local rivals by a small scoreline.
