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Inter Milan vs AC Milan: Coppa Italia Preview
The iconic Derby della Madonnina returns for one final time this season with all to play for, as AC Milan and Inter Milan meet at San Siro to decide who progresses to next month’s Coppa Italia final. Locked at 1-1 after a tightly contested first leg, Wednesday’s clash promises to deliver a dramatic conclusion to a five-match head-to-head series between the city rivals in 2024.
by Berba
Milan and Inter come into this semi-final second leg off the back of weekend defeats in Serie A. For Inter, a last-minute loss away to Bologna saw their lead at the top of the league wiped out, while Milan fell 1-0 to Atalanta at home, further complicating their bid for European qualification via the league table.
The Rossoneri, now sitting ninth in Serie A, may need to win the Coppa Italia to ensure continental football next season. For Inter, the domestic cup forms part of a potential treble push alongside the Scudetto and the Champions League, with a semi-final tie against Barcelona looming.
First Leg Recap
In a tense and high-quality first leg, Milan took the lead through Tammy Abraham before former Rossoneri midfielder Hakan Çalhanoğlu struck back for Inter with a trademark long-range finish. Goalkeeper Mike Maignan starred for Milan with a string of key saves to preserve parity heading into the second leg.
That result extended Inter’s winless streak against Milan to four matches in all competitions (D2, L2) — a run not seen since the early 2000s. However, they have had the upper hand in recent Coppa Italia encounters, knocking Milan out at this stage twice in the last four seasons.
Head-to-Head Stats
- Milan have not beaten Inter in the Coppa Italia since 2017.
- Inter won six consecutive derbies between January 2023 and April 2024 before Milan halted the streak this season.
- The last six meetings between the two sides have seen both teams score.
- Inter have lifted the Coppa Italia twice in the past three seasons; Milan have not won the trophy since 2003.
Team News
AC Milan
- Injuries: Kyle Walker (elbow), Emerson Royal (undisclosed).
- Available: Santiago Gimenez has returned to fitness and featured off the bench at the weekend.
- Expected Changes: Sergio Conceição is likely to stick with a 3-4-3, featuring Tammy Abraham or Luka Jovic up front, flanked by Christian Pulisic and Rafael Leão. Alex Jimenez could retain his place at wing-back.
Inter Milan
- Injuries: Denzel Dumfries and Piotr Zielinski remain sidelined.
- Doubtful: Marcus Thuram (knock) — his involvement is uncertain.
- Suspensions: Alessandro Bastoni and Henrikh Mkhitaryan are suspended domestically but available for the cup.
- Expected Changes: Joaquin Correa may start again alongside Lautaro Martínez, though Marko Arnautovic and Mehdi Taremi are also options.
Players to Watch
- Tammy Abraham (AC Milan): Scored in the first leg and has delivered in recent derby meetings, including a brace against Roma in the quarter-finals.
- Hakan Çalhanoğlu (Inter): Scored the equaliser in the first leg — his third goal against former side Milan — and remains a key creative force.
With a place in the Coppa Italia final — and for Milan, potentially European football — on the line, this latest edition of the Milan derby carries even more weight. Both teams have endured blips in league form, but derby day rarely follows the script.