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 remaining, 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)
Crew information
As talked about, the beginning of the Conceicao period was a optimistic one, with Milan regardless of going a aim 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 recreation 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 facet he performed at from 2001 to 2003.
This might be removed from a simple remaining not simply due to the extent of the opponent, but in addition as a result of the Rossoneri haven’t had lengthy to work below 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 could 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 usually are not many choices on the wings for this one.
Conceicao will maintain his defence unchanged from the win towards Juventus – a rarity for the Rossoneri this season – Mike Maignan will begin in aim, 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 may open up modifications within the recreation – he’ll then be joined by Youssouf Fofana and Tijjani Reijnders.
With Leao nonetheless unavailable, regardless of coaching earlier as we speak, Alex Jimenez will begin on the left, Christian Pulisic might 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 identical 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 an ideal run for the Nerazzurri, who’ve gained 5 video games in a row with out conceding a aim for the primary time in over 17 years. That run features a 5-0 win away at Verona and a 6-0 victory towards 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 duties from captain Lautaro Martinez.
The problem for them is that Thuram isn’t anticipated to make the sport, and at finest may play a portion off the bench as he continues to battle some muscle fatigue. Not having the Frenchman would undoubtedly be an enormous blow.
The opposite are within the rearguard: Francesco Acerbi is sidelined with a hamstring pressure that ought to maintain him out a number of extra days, and Benjamin Pavard can also be recovering from a hamstring downside too.
After the emphatic win towards Atalanta, modifications usually are not actually anticipated from Simone Inzaghi. Actually, the pinnacle coach is barely set to make one change as a consequence 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 normal.
In midfield, Hakan Calhanoglu will sit between Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Nicolo Barella. Then, Lautaro Martinez might 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 facet they’ve performed extra. The blue half of the town have the higher file with 88 wins, whereas the crimson facet have gained 66 and there have been 73 attracts.
This would be the third Supercoppa remaining conflict between the 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 newer assembly was in January 2023 in Saudi Arabia, and it was a snug 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 offered maybe the excessive level of Paulo Fonseca’s temporary tenure. Pulisic and Matteo Gabbia scored in every half in a 2-1 win ‘away’ towards the champions, with the centre-back’s aim .
There’s an added little bit of intrigue to this specific remaining: with a win, the Rossoneri would elevate their fiftieth main trophy as a membership, whereas if the Nerazzurri gained then they’d additional shut the hole after a latest 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 group 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 towards Inter throughout all competitions (2-1 in September); the Rossoneri may safe a minimum of 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 remaining 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 may develop into the primary group to win 4 consecutive Italian Tremendous Cup finals; whereas total, moreover the Nerazzurri, the one different group to have gained three consecutive titles within the event 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 towards Atalanta in December, after shedding three of their earlier 5 video games (W2).
➤ Inter have gained their final 5 video games with out conceding a aim in all competitions, whereas solely on one event have they recorded extra wins in a row with out conceding a aim of their historical past; a run of six between November and December 2007 below 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 thus far 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 may develop into the primary coach to safe two victories in his first two matches accountable for 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 group 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 a minimum of 10 objectives in a number of consecutive seasons within the massive 5 European leagues was Clint Dempsey (run of three between 2010-11 and 2012-13, first with Fulham after which with Tottenham).
Ones to observe
Beginning with the ‘dwelling group’, Milan have to be cautious of the wing-backs. In opposition to Atalanta, the sport was gained by Dumfries, however we all know how harmful Dimarco could be on the left facet as properly. Because of this, the Rossoneri have to be cautious when Inter counter, because the menace might be created out broad.
Mehdi Taremi additionally poses an attention-grabbing menace. With Lautaro Martinez struggling and Marcus Thuram injured, the Iranian should carry out to a excessive customary if the Nerazzurri are to get a outcome and towards his former head coach, it might be a narrative ready to be instructed.
The derby might be determined by the best margins, and maybe the chief of this might be Yunus Musah. With Conceicao’s determination to vary formation towards Juventus, Musah was key, and with him concerned from the beginning, we may see a extra fluid recreation for the Rossoneri, if that is so, the American’s involvement might be very important to a outcome. Because of this, Alex Jimenez may be essential.
An enormous a part of tomorrow’s recreation would be the capacity to complete probabilities, and which means that Alvaro Morata must have an enormous recreation. He has not scored for a month, and with options that Milan may within the mercato, he must show his value to Conceicao.
Prediction
Inter’s high quality is there for all to see, and if Milan usually are not at their finest, the Nerazzurri may run away with issues. Contemplating the present state of affairs with the Rossoneri too – accidents, new system and so on. – a recreation towards Inzaghi’s facet may simply be a bit an excessive amount of too quickly for the facet.
Inter 2-0 Milan
