AC Milan vs Inter: Coppa Italia Preview

Setting the Scene

For AC Milan, this two-legged tie presents a chance to salvage what has been a disappointing campaign. Sergio Conceição’s side are drifting in mid-table in Serie A and were dumped out of the Champions League by an under-strength Feyenoord side. However, their cup form has provided some relief — most notably lifting the Supercoppa Italiana earlier this year after a dramatic comeback against Inter in Saudi Arabia.

Milan’s domestic league form remains patchy, and their most recent outing — a 2-1 loss to Napoli — only deepened concerns about their trajectory. The Rossoneri now sit ninth in Serie A, nine points adrift of the top four, and with speculation swirling around Conceição's future, this Coppa Italia semi-final offers an opportunity to restore pride and chase a rare piece of silverware. Milan have won just one Coppa Italia since 1977, with their last triumph coming in 2003.

Inter Milan’s Momentum

By contrast, Inter arrive at this clash full of momentum. Simone Inzaghi’s men returned from the international break with a 2-1 win over Udinese, extending their winning run to five games in all competitions. Sitting comfortably at the top of Serie A and still alive in the Champions League — where they are set to meet Bayern Munich — the Nerazzurri remain in the hunt for a historic treble.

Inter’s path to the semi-final has seen them defeat Udinese and Lazio, with back-up striker Marko Arnautovic scoring in both rounds. The Austrian may once again lead the line as star forward Lautaro Martinez is not expected to feature due to a hamstring issue.

Despite Milan’s recent resurgence in the derby — winning twice this season and drawing the last meeting 1-1 — Inter remain dominant historically, having won six consecutive derbies prior to this season. They are aiming to claim a 10th Coppa Italia crown, and a win on Wednesday would put them in pole position to reach back-to-back finals.

Key Stats & Head-to-Head

• The teams played out a 4-4 thriller in the Supercoppa Italiana earlier this year.
• Inter are unbeaten in their last three Coppa Italia matches against Milan, including a semi-final victory in 2022.
• AC Milan have won just one Coppa Italia in the last 50 years.
• Inter’s Lautaro Martinez is one goal away from becoming only the third player in club history to score 10 goals against Milan.
• Both teams have met in four competitions this season — Serie A, Supercoppa Italiana, and now the Coppa Italia.

Team News

AC Milan:

• Ruben Loftus-Cheek will miss out after undergoing surgery for appendicitis.
• Emerson Royal remains out with injury.
• Yunus Musah is available again after suspension and could feature in midfield.
• Malick Thiaw is recovering from illness and will be assessed.
• Up front, Tammy Abraham and Santiago Gimenez are competing for a starting berth, while Rafael Leão may return to the starting XI.

Inter Milan:

• Lautaro Martinez is unlikely to play due to a hamstring issue.
• Kristjan Asllani is suspended.
• Denzel Dumfries, Piotr Zielinski, and Mehdi Taremi are also unavailable due to injuries.
• Alessandro Bastoni returns from suspension and should slot back into the defence.
• Marko Arnautovic or Joaquin Correa is expected to partner Marcus Thuram in attack.

This first leg at San Siro promises to be another classic installment in the storied rivalry between Milan’s giants. With both clubs eyeing a return to the Coppa Italia final — and pride as much as progress on the line — fans can expect a tightly contested affair under the lights.