Coppa Italia: Milan Giants Battle for Supremacy

Inter Milan vs AC Milan

The ongoing tussle for Milan bragging rights continues this week in the Coppa Italia semi-final second leg at the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium.

Following a 0-0 draw in the first leg, Inter and AC Milan will fight it out on Tuesday night for the right to meet either Juventus or Fiorentina in the showcase final. And the Derby di Milano is always one of the biggest matches on the football calendar between two of the elder statesmen of European football.

Inter and Milan were neck and neck in terms of Scudettos won, at 18 each, until Antonio Conte led I Nerazzurri to the 2021 title.

This season Inter are tracking Milan at the top of the Serie A table, two points behind with a game in hand. Both teams come into the match on the back of a comfortable league victory – Inter won 3-1 away to Spezia while Milan beat Genoa 2-0 at the San Siro.

With neither club in Champions League action – no Serie A side made it to the last eight of Europe’s flagship competition – domestic supremacy is all they care about and Tuesday’s clash is one with high stakes.    

The latest Coppa Italia 2022 betting odds back a Juventus triumph, but the winner of this tie may well become favourites for the final.   

Talking Points

Sanchez pushing for a start  

Simone Inzaghi will make his selection for this game with plenty of options up front, following I Nerazzurri’s confident win over Spezia. Top scorer Lautaro Martinez started on the bench, entering the game on 60 minutes, alongside veteran striker Alexis Sanchez, and they both scored to keep their spirited hosts at bay. Midfield general Marcelo Brozovic was also on target as Inter remained in control of their destiny.    

Sanchez has two goals in the competition already and the 33-year-old former Arsenal star could well line up as a wide player alongside Martinez and Edin Dzeko to make up a front three.    

Milan’s wide men pose a serious threat

While the formidable Milan Skriniar dominates the centre of Inter’s defence, the danger from the Rossoneri attack might well come from the wings where the pacey duo of Rafael Leao and Junior Messias seem to be hitting a rich vein of form.

I Rossoneri went into their home game against Genoa under pressure to perform, following two 0-0 draws in the league, and both wide men scored. Leao shone as he made some well-timed and probing runs and rounded off his performance with a smart finish.

Stefano Pioli will probably rely on the experienced Olivier Giroud up front, while Alexis Saelemaekers may have to settle for a place on the bench after a lacklustre showing against Genoa. Meanwhile, Algerian play-maker Ismael Bennacer continues to impress with his intensity and agility; he’s the man who makes Milan tick. 

History

The Derby di Milano is a stellar fixture, first played in 1909 in a match which ended goalless, just like the latest meeting at the beginning of March.

It isn’t always about goals, though. There is an intense rivalry between the two sets of fans who traditionally came from opposite ends of the social scale, I Nerazzurri backed by the wealthy elite and professional classes while AC Milan have had the backing of the working class of the city. 

Inter have had the better of the recent head to head Milan meetings with 27 victories to I Rossoneri’s 23 in all competitions since 1993, but Milan are unbeaten in the last three derbies. Meanwhile, recent form is identical with both clubs registering four wins and two draws from the last six games.  

Inter are unbeaten in nine games while Milan are unbeaten in 13 so either something is going to give, or we’re in for another battle of attrition, waiting for one side to blink.    

Betting Tip 

The Coppa Italia 2022 highlights from the first leg were not the most exciting watch, but there was no lack of tension and I expect a similarly tight affair on Tuesday. 

Inter are marginally odds on to win this second tie at a price of 1.99 while Milan are at SBOTOP odds of 3.50. But it’s very difficult to split these two neighbours in terms of form and quality of the squad.

While Inter have a slight advantage in the race for the Scudetto, it is too close to call. This game will not only hand the bragging rights to the victorious fans, it could also give a psychological edge to the winning team.   

Another goalless draw is at 8.44, while a 1-1 stalemate is priced at 5.60.

 

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