As the highly anticipated Derby della Madonnina approaches, Inter Milan and AC Milan are set to clash in the Supercoppa Italiana on Monday. This match not only carries the weight of local rivalry but also the significance of silverware, with Inter aiming for their fourth consecutive title and Milan looking to equal their rivals with eight Supercoppa wins.
This final marks only the fourth meeting between the two Milanese giants in a cup final, following previous encounters in the Coppa Italia and two Supercoppas. The first Supercoppa derby took place in August 2011, where AC Milan emerged victorious with a 2-1 win. In contrast, Inter triumphed in their last Supercoppa meeting in Saudi Arabia two years ago, winning decisively with a 3-0 scoreline.
The stakes are high as both teams reconvene in Riyadh, with Inter having secured their spot in this four-team format by winning Serie A last season. They demonstrated their prowess by defeating Atalanta BC 2-0 in the semi-finals, thanks to a standout performance from Denzel Dumfries, who scored both goals.
Inter Milan enter this match on an impressive run of form, having won five consecutive league matches while averaging over three goals per game. Their recent success has positioned them well for a potential unprecedented quadruple in 2025, as they also aim to progress in the Coppa Italia and Champions League while defending their Scudetto title.
Head coach Simone Inzaghi is on the verge of achieving his tenth trophy as a manager. With four Supercoppas already to his name—two with Lazio and two with Inter—victory on Monday would see him surpass legendary coaches like Marcello Lippi and Fabio Capello for the most titles in this competition.
In contrast, AC Milan have faced challenges since their last league victory over Inter in September. Following that match, which ended a lengthy losing streak against their rivals, Milan have struggled to maintain consistency and currently finds themselves trailing Inter by 13 points in the Serie A standings. This prompted the club to part ways with Paulo Fonseca shortly after Christmas.
New manager Sergio Conceição made a promising start by guiding his team past Juventus in the semi-finals. After a lackluster first half, Milan rallied to win 2-1, showcasing resilience that they will need against their city rivals.
Team News
For Inter Milan, top scorer Marcus Thuram is a significant doubt due to a thigh injury sustained during the semi-final against Atalanta. If he is unable to play, Mehdi Taremi is likely to step into the starting lineup alongside Lautaro Martinez, with Joaquin Correa and Marko Arnautovic also vying for attacking roles. Additionally, defensive stalwarts Benjamin Pavard and Francesco Acerbi will be absent from this match.
On the other hand, AC Milan’s squad shows signs of recovery under Conceição’s leadership. The coach’s first starting XI featured notable changes that could carry into this final. Fikayo Tomori returns to bolster defense after being sidelined previously, while Ismael Bennacer makes his first start after an extended injury layoff. Christian Pulisic’s return from injury was pivotal against Juventus as he scored an equalizer from the penalty spot.
Rafael Leao’s fitness remains uncertain; however, he may contribute from the bench if deemed fit. In attack, Conceição faces decisions regarding partnerships between Tammy Abraham and Alvaro Morata following their second-half performance against Juventus.
Expected Starting XIs
Inter Milan: Sommer; Bisseck, De Vrij, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Correa, Martinez
AC Milan: Maignan; Emerson, Tomori, Thiaw, Hernandez; Fofana, Bennacer; Pulisic, Reijnders, Jimenez; Morata
Match Prediction
Given Inter’s superior form and depth compared to AC Milan’s current struggles, predictions lean towards a narrow victory for the Nerazzurri. The additional day of rest could prove crucial as they prepare for this high-stakes encounter. Expect a closely contested match that highlights both teams’ strengths and weaknesses.
Prediction: Inter Milan 2 – 1 AC Milan
