AC Milan and Inter face off again at San Siro today for the first leg in their fourth derby of the season, but this time it’s in the Coppa Italia.
Kick-off is at 7 p.m. Moroccan time (GMT), and fans can catch the action live on AD Sports Premium
Milan’s season has been poor, but they have had the upper hand in derby games, winning two and drawing one. They clinched the Supercoppa Italiana with a stoppage-time goal, adding their 50th trophy.
Sergio Conceicao is expected to leave at the end of the season but could still secure two trophies in six months. However, facing this strong Inter side twice will be tough.
Sunday’s 2-1 loss to Napoli crushed their hopes of a Champions League or even Europa League spot. Winning the Coppa Italia is now their best shot at securing European football.
Milan reached the semi-finals after a 6-1 win over Sassuolo and a 3-1 victory over Roma.
Before the Napoli match, injuries hit— Ruben Loftus-Cheek needed appendix surgery, Rafael Leao had muscle discomfort, and Malick Thiaw was ill.
Leao played 45 minutes and was fit, while Thiaw recovered. Yunus Musah returns from suspension, leaving only Loftus-Cheek and Emerson Royal sidelined.
Conceicao is expected to start Tammy Abraham up front, with Leao on the left, Alex Jimenez on the right, and Christian Pulisic playing centrally. Tijjani Reijnders will partner Youssouf Fofana in midfield, with Malick Thiaw and Matteo Gabbia in defence. Kyle Walker and Theo Hernandez will be the full-backs, with Mike Maignan in goal.
Inter have dominated Serie A and remain in all competitions, including the Champions League and Club World Cup.
They knocked out Udinese 2-0 in the Coppa Italia last 16 and beat Lazio by the same scoreline in February. They have been at the top of the league for five rounds and have been on an unbeaten run since mid-February.
Simone Inzaghi’s 3-5-2 system remains unchanged, with Marcus Thuram taking over goal-scoring duties from Lautaro Martinez.
However, Inter are missing key players. Kristjan Asllani is suspended, while Denzel Dumfries, Piotr Zielinski, and Lautaro Martinez are injured. Martinez has a hamstring strain, and Mehdi Taremi is also out. Either Marko Arnautovic or Joaquin Correa will start up front with Thuram.
Yann Sommer will be in goal, with Yann Bissek, Francesco Acerbi, and Alessandro Bastoni in defence. Nicola Zalewski and Federico Dimarco will play as wing-backs, while Nicolo Barella, Hakan Calhanoglu, and Henrikh Mkhitaryan control the midfield.
Milan: Maignan; Walker, Gabbia, Thiaw, Theo Hernandez; Fofana, Reijnders; Jimenez, Reijnders, Leao; Abraham.
Inter: Sommer; Bisseck, Acerbi, Bastoni; Zalewski, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Thuram, Arnautovic.
This is the 227th Milan derby. Inter have 85 wins, Milan 73, and there have been 68 draws.
Inter won six derbies in a row, including one that sealed their 20th league title. But Milan are fighting back — another win would make it three in four derbies for them. Last time, Milan were set to win before Stefan De Vrij’s late equalizer.
Inter remain the favorites, but with injuries and fixture congestion, Milan have a chance to make it a close contest.
