Coppa Italia preview: Inter vs. AC Milan – Group information, opposition perception, stats and prediction
AC Milan will play Inter for the fifth and ultimate time this season, and this time with a spot within the ultimate of the Coppa Italia at stake.
It’s all to play for within the second leg of the Coppa Italia semi-final after Milan and Inter . Each objectives got here within the second half as Tammy Abraham received the opener with a beautiful flip and end earlier than Hakan Calhanoglu equalised with a strike from vary.
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The Coppa Italia not solely represents a final resort for Milan’s hopes of a Europa League spot, but additionally for Sergio Conceicao to finish his time in one of the simplest ways. He hit out on the media once more after the Atalanta loss, however was a bit extra restrained in .
Sport date: Wednesday, April 23Kick-off time: 21:00 (CET)Venue: San SiroReferee: Daniele Doveri (VAR: Marini)
Group information
The 1-0 loss to Atalanta on Sunday was the tenth league defeat of the season for Milan, a market they’d not hit for the reason that 2019-20 season. It signifies that the staff stay anchored in ninth place and on target for his or her .
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With the European spots now miles away, the ‘different’ route of the Coppa Italia is all that is still. Profitable it might assure a spot within the Europa League, however it’s simpler mentioned than performed with Inter and Bologna forward.
It’s because Milan have been merely terrible . Of the 14 video games performed in opposition to groups increased within the desk (there are nonetheless two to play, the return matches in opposition to Bologna and Roma) Milan have racked up simply factors out of 42 out there.
The one win that they received in that point was in opposition to Inter, but it surely was all the best way again in September beneath Paulo Fonseca. Below Conceicao, the Rossoneri have stored clear sheets in simply 4 out of 24 matches, highlighting one other huge subject.
The coach did present two good bits of stories on the eve of the match: each Kyle Walker and Ruben Loftus-Cheek have been again in full coaching. Though each aren’t near 100%, he confirmed that each will a minimum of be within the squad.
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Thus, the dilemma turns into whether or not to stick with the three-man defence. The 4-0 win with that system in Udine was adopted up by a defeat with out scoring, and utilizing three centre-backs in opposition to an Inter facet that know the formation so properly
Picture by Angel Martinez/Getty Photographs
It appears, although, {that a} three-back might be most well-liked and the defensive unit might be lead by Mike Maignan from between the goalposts. Fikayo Tomori and Matteo Gabbia will retain their locations, however Strahinja Pavlovic might be shifted to the bench, with Conceicao favouring Malick Thiaw.
The midfield duo will stay unchanged as soon as once more, with there not being another appropriate choices, while Theo Hernandez will as soon as once more begin at wing-back. On the suitable, Alex Jimenez is at present anticipated to begin, however Walker may very well be a starter…
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There are not any doubts about Pulisic or Leao’s locations within the entrance line, however Tammy Abraham, who is anticipated to begin, might lose his place to Luka Jovic between now and kick-off, although the Englishman is unquestionably extra seemingly.
Predicted Milan XI (3-4-3): Maignan; Tomori, Gabbia, Thiaw; Jimenez, Fofana, Reijnders, Theo Hernandez; Pulisic, Abraham, Leao.
Extra Tales / The Match
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The opponents
Inter gained the league simply final season, and in our preview earlier than the primary assembly of the present marketing campaign to try to be certain that the get to 21 Scudetti earlier than Milan get to twenty.
The Nerazzurri are literally nonetheless capable of win the treble this season, given they’re high of the league on aim distinction, within the Champions League semi-finals after beating Bayern Munich, and naturally have the possibility to succeed in the Coppa ultimate.
Regardless of the actual fact they may swoop three trophies, some doubts have crept in about current performances. A 2-2 away at Parma from (from 2-0 up) uncovered some flaws, and most lately the Nerazzurri have been crushed 1-0 by Bologna proper on the finish after Riccardo Orsolini’s acrobatic try.
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That allowed Napoli to maneuver stage on factors with them and in the event that they have been to finish on equal factors then it might be a play-off to determine the Scudetto. Napoli do have the better run-in on paper, although Inter have vital expertise in huge moments.
Simone Inzaghi’s facet have been meant to play on Saturday after the second leg in opposition to Roma – a staff unbeaten within the league in 2025 – so there was one eye on conserving power for that. Nonetheless, Pope Francis’ funeral being on that day means it has been moved, they usually can go all-in for this.
Alessandro Bastoni and Henrikh Mkhitaryan have picked up suspensions however these solely apply within the league. By way of harm information, Denzel Dumfries and Piotr Zielinski are undoubtedly out, whereas Marcus Thuram is a powerful doubt.
There is just one change anticipated within the defence from the weekend’s loss, and which means that Yann Sommer will in all probability return to the bench, permitting Josep Martinez to play. Forward of him, Pavard and Acerbi will stay alongside Bastoni to type the trio more likely to begin.
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Henrikh Mkhitaryan ought to companion Hakan Calhanoglu and Nicolo Barella, regardless of ideas that Davide Frattesi might begin. While Federico Dimarco and Matteo Darmian are more likely to play on the flanks from the off.
With Marcus Thuram’s harm, it appears possible that Correa will lead the road alongside his fellow Argentine Lautaro Martinez.
Predicted Inter XI (3-5-2): Martinez; Pavard, Acerbi, Bastoni; Darmian, Frattesi, Calhanoglu, Barella, Dimarco; Correa, Martinez.
Milan and Inter have confronted one another 227 occasions of their historical past, with 73 wins for the Rossoneri, 85 for Inter and 69 attracts. After a streak of six wins in a row for the blue facet of town, although, it has been a unique story this season.
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The Diavolo haven’t been crushed in any of the 4 video games this season with a 2-1 win within the first league assembly adopted up by a 3-2 Supercoppa Italiana ultimate win after which two 1-1 attracts within the return league recreation and cup semi-final first leg.
As talked about, it was Abraham who received the aim for Milan within the first leg, having scored the winner within the Supercoppa ultimate. Calhanoglu in the meantime, scored in opposition to his former facet, to tie issues up.
Key info and stats
➤ The 244th derby will happen at San Siro and the 2 groups will compete for the twenty ninth time within the Coppa Italia, with a document of 10 wins for Milan, 9 for Inter and 9 attracts, the final one 1-1 within the first leg.
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➤ The 2 groups have eight earlier conferences within the knockout part of the Coppa Italia earlier than the ultimate and each have superior to the following spherical on 4 events (the latest in favour of the Nerazzurri in 2021/22, within the semi-final).
➤ That is the fifth time {that a} Milan derby might be performed in a cup semi-final, after the earlier ones within the Coppa Italia in 1984/85 and 2021/22 and people within the UEFA Champions League in 2002/03 and 2022/23: after Milan had progressed on the primary two events, it was Inter who prevailed within the two most up-to-date ones.
Ones to look at
Little must be mentioned about Lautaro, frustratingly, and the Argentine has the flexibility to flip the sport on its head instantly. If Inter are to undergo, it is vitally possible that he may have a giant say.
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Then, Benjamin Pavard is one other to look at. The Frenchman has been a participant repeatedly known as upon by Simone Inzaghi this yr, and he might be tasked with stopping Leao and Theo Hernandez, which he definitely can do.
Rafael Leao of AC Milan celebrates with Theo Hernandez
Perhaps a cop out, however the first space to focus on for Milan is the left facet. If the Rossoneri are to succeed in the ultimate, Thiaw, Theo and Leao might be pivotal. Every has the flexibility to determine the sport, however, they’re all vulnerable to errors, and only one may very well be sufficient for Inter.
Then, the striker wants an enormous recreation. For Tammy, if he is ready to carry out in opposition to Inter once more, it might sway the membership in favour of his everlasting arrival, while Luka Jovic wants performances to spice up his summer time possibilities. It’s unlikely that Santiago Gimenez begins, but when he does, little must be mentioned in regards to the affect he must have.
Prediction
We now have seen late drama in each Derby della Madonnina this season, and this recreation will in all probability have some extra. With the best way the Coppa Italia works, further time wouldn’t be a shock in any respect, even when the document of this isn’t nice traditionally. Contemplating what’s at stake for Milan and Conceicao, it might simply go of their favour.
Inter 1-2 (AET) Milan