Supercoppa

AC Milan and Inter will renew hostilities on Monday night time as they face one another in a derby to win the Supercoppa Italiana out in Saudi Arabia.

It is going to be the third time that Milan and Inter have confronted one another within the Tremendous Cup closing, with the present file cut up at one win every. The Rossoneri got here from behind , whereas the Nerazzurri ran out 2-0 victors over Atalanta within the different semi-final.

At his , Conceicao spoke about his squad and the situation of some gamers together with Rafael Leao, his relationship with Simone Inzaghi and far more.

Recreation date: Monday, January 6Kick-off time: 20:00 (CET)Venue: Al-Awwal ParkReferee: Simone Sozza (VAR: Marini)

Workforce information

As talked about, the beginning of the Conceicao period was a constructive one, with Milan regardless of going a purpose behind. A Christian Pulisic penalty levelled after Kenan Yildiz’s opener, then Yunus Musah’s cross deflected in off Federico Gatti to finish the fast turnaround.

It’s fairly an odd state of affairs within the sense that the Portuguese’s second sport in cost will give him the prospect to win his first trophy. Not solely that, however his first match noticed him face his son (who was in the end injured), and this one will see him meet the aspect he performed at from 2001 to 2003.

This can be removed from a simple closing not simply due to the extent of the opponent, but in addition as a result of the Rossoneri haven’t had lengthy to work beneath the brand new coach and they’re battling accidents within the ahead division.

The principle information is that the previous Porto boss has not but dominated out Rafael Leao from the sport, with the winger having missed Friday’s semi-final. He ‘definitely doesn’t have 90 minutes’ in his legs, so at finest it might most likely be a spot on the bench.

Extra Tales / The Match

Alessandro Florenzi, Noah Okafor and Samuel Chukwueze all remained in Italy as they proceed their recoveries after fairly main issues, and what meaning is there are usually not many choices on the wings for this one.

Conceicao will preserve his defence unchanged from the win in opposition to Juventus – a rarity for the Rossoneri this season – Mike Maignan will begin in purpose, Emerson Royal at right-back, Fikayo Tomori and Malick Thiaw centrally, with Theo Hernandez at left-back.

The massive change will are available midfield the place Yunus Musah will begin forward of Ismael Bennacer – which might open up adjustments within the sport – he’ll then be joined by Youssouf Fofana and Tijjani Reijnders.

With Leao nonetheless unavailable, regardless of coaching earlier at this time, Alex Jimenez will begin on the left, Christian Pulisic can be on the alternative flank and Alvaro Morata will once more lead the road.

Predicted Milan XI (4-3-3): Maignan; Emerson Royal, Tomori, Thiaw, Theo; Musah, Fofana, Reijnders; Pulisic, Morata, Jimenez.

The opponents

It was Denzel Dumfries who was the star of the present within the different semi-final on the similar venue on Thursday night time. The Dutch wing-back scored twice – together with a rocket of a shot that went in off the bar – as Simone Inzaghi continued his dominance over Gian Piero Gasperini and Atalanta.

The win additionally continued a terrific run for the Nerazzurri, who’ve gained 5 video games in a row with out conceding a purpose for the primary time in over 17 years. That run features a 5-0 win away at Verona and a 6-0 victory in opposition to fellow high-flyers Lazio, so it appears they’ve totally clicked once more.

It has been a case of ‘don’t repair what isn’t damaged’ in relation to Inzaghi’s system and ways. Inter proceed to closely depend on the 3-5-2, although this season Marcus Thuram has taken over the majority of the scoring obligations from captain Lautaro Martinez.

The problem for them is that Thuram just isn’t anticipated to make the sport, and at finest might play a portion off the bench as he continues to battle some muscle fatigue. Not having the Frenchman would undoubtedly be a giant blow.

The opposite are within the rearguard: Francesco Acerbi is sidelined with a hamstring pressure that ought to preserve him out a number of extra days, and Benjamin Pavard can be recovering from a hamstring drawback too.

After the emphatic win in opposition to Atalanta, adjustments are usually not actually anticipated from Simone Inzaghi. Actually, the top coach is just set to make one change as a result of damage.

Yann Sommer; Yann Bisseck, Stefan de Vrij and Alessandro Bastoni will make up the again 4 for the Nerazzurri with Federico Dimarco and Denzel Dumfries because the wing-backs, as common.

In midfield, Hakan Calhanoglu will sit between Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Nicolo Barella. Then, Lautaro Martinez can be joined by Conceicao’s former striker – Mehdi Taremi – with the aforementioned Thuram out.

Predicted Inter XI (3-5-2): Sommer; Bisseck, De Vrij, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Taremi, Lautaro.

Face to face

Milan have confronted Inter 227 occasions of their historical past, with Juventus being the one aspect they’ve performed extra. The blue half of town have the higher file with 88 wins, whereas the crimson aspect have gained 66 and there have been 73 attracts.

This would be the third Supercoppa closing conflict between town rivals. The primary was gained by Milan in 2011 out in China, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Kevin-Prince Boateng responding after Wesley Sneijder’s opener.

The more moderen assembly was in January 2023 in Saudi Arabia, and it was a cushty Inter victory. Federico Dimarco and Edin Dzeko scored within the first half, then Lautaro Martinez sealed the trophy within the second 45.

Milan and Inter have already met within the league this season, and it supplied maybe the excessive level of Paulo Fonseca’s transient tenure. Pulisic and Matteo Gabbia scored in every half in a 2-1 win ‘away’ in opposition to the champions, with the centre-back’s purpose .

There’s an added little bit of intrigue to this explicit closing: with a win, the Rossoneri would carry their fiftieth main trophy as a membership, whereas if the Nerazzurri gained then they’d additional shut the hole after a current surge in silverware.

Key details and stats

➤ Inter and Milan face off for the third time within the Italian Tremendous Cup; within the earlier two encounters, every staff has gained as soon as (2-1 for the Rossoneri within the 2011 version and 3-0 for the Nerazzurri within the 2022 version).

➤ Milan gained the final match in opposition to Inter throughout all competitions (2-1 in September); the Rossoneri might safe no less than two consecutive victories over the Nerazzurri for the primary time since between November 2010 and August 2011 (run of three, the final of which was additionally a 2-1 win within the Italian Tremendous Cup).

➤ Inter and Milan will every compete of their thirteenth Italian Tremendous Cup closing of their historical past, solely Juventus has extra (17). As well as, solely Juventus (9) has gained this trophy extra occasions than the Nerazzurri (8) and the Rossoneri (7).

➤ Inter might develop into the primary staff to win 4 consecutive Italian Tremendous Cup finals; whereas general, apart from the Nerazzurri, the one different staff to have gained three consecutive titles within the match is their opponent, Milan (3 between 1992 and 1994).

➤ Milan are unbeaten in 12 of their final 13 matches throughout all competitions (W8 D4), with their solely defeat being in opposition to Atalanta in December, after dropping three of their earlier 5 video games (W2).

➤ Inter have gained their final 5 video games with out conceding a purpose in all competitions, whereas solely on one event have they recorded extra wins in a row with out conceding a purpose of their historical past; a run of six between November and December 2007 beneath Roberto Mancini.

Extra Tales / Options

➤ With a win on this match, Simone Inzaghi (6) would equal Helenio Herrera and Roberto Mancini among the many most profitable coaches in Inter’s historical past (each with 7 titles) because the institution of the single-round Serie A (since 1929-30); the Piacenza-born coach has to date gained six trophies with the Nerazzurri: one Serie A title (2023-24), two Coppa Italia titles (2021-22 and 2022-23), and three Italian Tremendous Cups (2021, 2022, and 2023).

➤ Sérgio Conceição gained his first match as Milan coach (2-1 vs Juventus); the Portuguese supervisor might develop into the primary coach to safe two victories in his first two matches in command of the Rossoneri throughout all competitions since Filippo Inzaghi in August/ September 2014 (each in Serie A).

➤ Denzel Dumfries has scored 5 objectives in 22 appearances throughout all competitions, with the defender by no means scoring extra in a single season with Inter (5 objectives in 45 matches additionally in 2021-22); nevertheless, Milan (9) are the staff he has confronted most frequently with out ever scoring since becoming a member of Inter in 2021-22.

➤ Christian Pulisic (9 objectives in 21 appearances) is near reaching double figures for the second consecutive season with Milan throughout all competitions (15 objectives in 50 matches in 2023-24). Certainly, the final American participant to attain no less than 10 objectives in a number of consecutive seasons within the large 5 European leagues was Clint Dempsey (run of three between 2010-11 and 2012-13, first with Fulham after which with Tottenham).

Ones to look at

Beginning with the ‘dwelling staff’, Milan should be cautious of the wing-backs. Towards Atalanta, the sport was gained by Dumfries, however we all know how harmful Dimarco may be on the left aspect as nicely. For that reason, the Rossoneri should be cautious when Inter counter, because the risk can be created out large.

Mehdi Taremi additionally poses an fascinating risk. With Lautaro Martinez struggling and Marcus Thuram injured, the Iranian should carry out to a excessive commonplace if the Nerazzurri are to get a end result and in opposition to his former head coach, it may very well be a narrative ready to be informed.

The derby may very well be determined by the best margins, and maybe the chief of this may very well be Yunus Musah. With Conceicao’s choice to vary formation in opposition to Juventus, Musah was key, and with him concerned from the beginning, we might see a extra fluid sport for the Rossoneri, if so, the American’s involvement can be very important to a end result. For that reason, Alex Jimenez may be essential.

A giant a part of tomorrow’s sport would be the means to complete possibilities, and which means Alvaro Morata must have a giant sport. He has not scored for a month, and with recommendations that Milan might within the mercato, he must show his price to Conceicao.

Prediction

Inter’s high quality is there for all to see, and if Milan are usually not at their finest, the Nerazzurri might run away with issues. Contemplating the present state of affairs with the Rossoneri too – accidents, new system and so forth. – a sport in opposition to Inzaghi’s aspect may simply be just a little an excessive amount of too quickly for the aspect.

Inter 2-0 Milan