The Milan Derby tonight in Riyadh carries triple significance: a first trophy of the season, a prize of 11 million euros, and the ever-important bragging rights. On one side, Inter is in top form, riding a streak of five consecutive wins without conceding a goal. On the other, Milan, under new coach Sérgio Conceição, is buoyed by a win over Juventus—albeit one more a product of luck than dominance. As fans might paraphrase Napoleon, they prefer lucky coaches to skilled ones. Inter and Milan have a rich history in the Italian Super Cup, with the Nerazzurri claiming the trophy eight times and the Rossoneri seven. Only Juventus, with nine titles, has been more successful. The two clubs have faced each other twice in the Super Cup final. Milan won 2-1 in 2011 in Beijing, while Inter triumphed 3-0 two years ago in Riyadh. Judging by form, results, and available players, Inter, led by Simone Inzaghi—who has won the Super Cup five times, including the last three with Inter—is the clear favorite. A victory tonight would make Inter the first club to win four consecutive Super Cups.The best goals from our past finals 🔙⚽️#ForzaInter #InterMilan #DerbyMilano pic.twitter.com/ApId3Njhgf— Inter ⭐⭐ (@Inter_en) January 6, 2025 For Milan to surprise tonight, Inter must be at their worst, and Milan at their best. Inter’s supremacy was evident in the Super Cup semifinals, where they dominated Atalanta and could have scored several more goals had Lautaro Martínez been more clinical. Milan, on the other hand, was largely invisible against Juventus, relying on a naive penalty conceded by Locatelli and a fair bit of luck to progress. Inter arrives in Riyadh with five consecutive clean-sheet victories. Their previous derby defeat is seen more as an anomaly than a reflection of the teams’ relative strengths. The continued season has reinforced Inter’s superiority.Dumfries’ double dagger launches Inter to Supercoppa finalSimone Inzaghi is managing a few absences, including Pavard and Acerbi, while Marcus Thuram, despite being on the bench, is unlikely to feature. The Nerazzurri coach is prioritizing player fitness for a grueling three-month stretch across Serie A, the Champions League, and the Coppa Italia. Mehdi Taremi will replace Thuram in the starting XI. Lautaro Martínez, under pressure after missing several chances against Atalanta, will be key. The Argentine has a track record of scoring in Super Cup finals but has managed just one goal in the last two months. Inter’s strength lies in their collective performance, with players like Bastoni, Dimarco, and Barella—lifelong Nerazzurri fans—expected to lead the charge emotionally and tactically. For Milan, injuries to Chukwueze, Okafor, and Florenzi limit their options, and Rafael Leão is expected to start on the bench, likely coming on in the second half. The midfield trio of Fofana, Reijnders, and Pulisic has been pivotal, though veterans like Theo Hernández and Leão have yet to recapture their previous form.Brave Rossoneri come from behind to schedule city derby in Supercoppa finalSérgio Conceição, who has a tense history with Inzaghi stemming from a Champions League clash two years ago, has the opportunity to make history. A win tonight would make him the first foreign coach since Nils Liedholm to claim a trophy with Milan, 45 years after Liedholm’s Scudetto. The stakes are high, with the winner earning 11 million, including a bonus for a friendly match against the Saudi Super Cup champion. The runner-up will take home 6.7 million. In case of a draw after 90 minutes, there will be no extra time—penalties will decide the winner.ITALY SUPER CUPSemifinalsThursday Inter – Atalanta 2-0 (0-0)/Dumfries 49, 61/Friday Juventus – Milan 1-2 (1-0)/Yildiz 21 – Pulisic 71 pen, Gatti 76 og/FinalMondayMon 20:00: (1.85) Inter (3.70) Milan (4.70)***odds are subject to change***
