Coppa Italia Is The Derbi Di Milano

AC Milan vs Inter Milan

AC and Inter Milan are about to lock horns again in the Coppa Italia semi-final first leg on Wednesday, and this is a rare chance for the red side of the city to have some fun. 

With Bologna and Empoli in the other semi-final, this is a high stakes clash and one which will lead the winner to believe they have a great chance of capturing some more silverware. Simone Inzaghi’s Inter are three points clear at the top of the Serie A table and are going well in the Champions League. Meanwhile Sergio Conceicao’s Milan have been in something of a slump; but have upped their game against Inter this season, picking up a trophy in Saudi Arabia when they beat their city rivals to win the Supercoppa Italiana in January. 

In fact, this is the third time the two teams have met this season and I Nerazzurri are yet to get the better of I Rossoneri. Will this be fourth time lucky? The Coppa Italia 2025 betting odds certainly think so…but I’m not so sure.

 

Talking Points

Inter’s squad is ready to be tested

I Nerazzurri are in a Serie A title battle with Napoli and are going well in Europe so the treble is on for Inzaghi’s men. But they will go into battle against AC Milan without three of their most influential stars. Wing-back Denzel Dumfries, midfield ace Piotr Zielinski and striker and captain Lautaro Martinez are all sidelined with injury. Add to that the absence of Albanian midfielder Kristjan Asllani through suspension and a groin niggle for striker Mehdi Taremi, and there are five absences which will encourage Rossoneri fans. Defender Alessandro Bastoni is back from a ban and Benjamin Pavard can cover for Dumfries. Henrikh Mkhitaryan may keep his place in midfield while Marcus Thuram will lead the line, possibly alongside veteran striker Marko Arnautovic. The former Bologna man scored in a 2-1 win over Udinese at the weekend and he’ll get plenty of game time over the next few weeks.   

I Nerazzurri have eight league games left to play and they will meet Bayern Munich in the Champions League as well as taking on Milan twice. They are in fine form but Inter will be pushed to the limit between now and May.  

 

Conceicao needs a win

I Rossoneri were still in with an outside chance of making a top four place when they visited Napoli at the weekend but a 2-1 loss has probably seen that ship sailed, with a nine-point gap to make up on fourth-placed Bologna. Out of the Champions League, this competition remains Conceicao’s only chance of picking up another prize to add to the Supercoppa. And while fans at the San Siro are growing steadily more concerned, if they can frustrate Inter for a fourth time this season all will be forgiven…until next season.

After winning two games on the bounce, Sunday’s loss to Napoli was particularly frustrating as I Rossoneri went two goals down within 20 minutes and, despite halving the deficit through Luka Jovic, they missed a golden chance when Santiago Gimenez failed to convert a penalty. Tammy Abraham is likely to start ahead of Gimenez and there could be a place too for Rafael Leao, if Conceicao prefers him to Joao Felix, while Christian Pulisic is sure to lead the team’s creative efforts from just behind the front line. And, in other Coppa Italia 2025 news, another USA star, the hugely promising Yunus Musah, is available for selection after missing the game against Napoli through suspension.              

 

History

Before this season Inter Milan had won their last six meetings with AC Milan, but I Rossoneri have raised their game and fought back this year, winning two and drawing one. Milan’s most memorable night came in Saudi as they roared back from a two-goal deficit as Abraham scored late on to make it 3-2. And Inter would have fallen to a third defeat had Stefan de Vrij not scored a late leveller in the Serie clash.      

In terms of recent form, Inter are unbeaten in eight games and have won five on the bounce and, while Milan have only won two from six, they have been in every one of those games which have all been decided by a single goal.  

 

Betting Tip

Inter are at SBOTOP odds of 2.11 to win this clash with Milan at 2.95 and the draw is priced at 3.24. For an alternative bet, a 1-1 draw is available at 6.3, or 2-3 goals can be backed at 2.00.

Inter are the team in form but AC Milan, with fewer absentees and the knack of winning derbies this season, might just find that extra gear again.

   

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