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Derby Showdown: AC Milan hosts Inter Milan in the first leg of the Coppa Italia semi-final at San Siro.
Starting Lineups Confirmed: Milan starts Abraham and Jimenez; Inter opts for Correa and Thuram upfront, with De Vrij in defence and Martinez in goal.
Notable Absences: Milan's Musah is out with fever; Inter's Asllani is suspended.
Historical Context: This is the 9th Coppa Italia knockout meeting between the rivals (4 wins each). Milan (25) and Inter (30) have numerous semi-final appearances, trailing only Juventus (36).
Statistical Anomaly: Inter has the lowest shot average (5.5/game) but the highest conversion rate (36%) among Serie A teams in this Coppa Italia edition; Milan is second at 32%.
Why this matters: A spot in the Coppa Italia final against Bologna is up for grabs, adding another layer of intensity to the historic rivalry. Inter also keeps hopes of a potential 'Triplete' alive.
Tonight's clash at San Siro marks the ninth time these Milanese giants face off in a Coppa Italia knockout tie, with the historical record perfectly balanced at four qualifications each. This season has already seen tense encounters: a late Gabbia goal gave Milan a 2-1 Serie A win, followed by a 1-1 draw secured by a late De Vrij equalizer. Milan also staged a remarkable comeback from 0-2 down to win 3-2 in the Supercoppa final in Riyadh.
Managerial decisions are key. Milan's Conceição opts for Abraham upfront and deploys Alex Jimenez on the right, covering for the absence of Musah (fever). Inter's Inzaghi starts Correa alongside Thuram in attack, resting Lautaro Martinez initially, and chooses the experienced De Vrij over Acerbi in central defence. Bisseck gets the nod over Pavard on the right side of the back three, while Martinez starts in goal over Sommer.
Statistically, Inter presents an interesting profile in this competition. Despite averaging only 5.5 shots per game (the lowest among Serie A teams in this edition), they boast the highest conversion rate at 36%. Milan follows closely with a 32% conversion rate, suggesting both teams can be clinical when chances arise.
The winner of this tie will face Bologna in the final, after they secured their place by defeating Empoli 3-0, ending a 51-year wait for a final appearance.
Q: When and where is the match being played?
A: The first leg of the Coppa Italia semi-final between Milan and Inter takes place at San Siro on April 2nd, 2025, with kick-off at 21:00.
Q: Who is the referee?
A: Michael Fabbri is the referee, assisted by Preti and Baccini, with Ayroldi as the fourth official. Abisso and Di Bello are on VAR duty.
Q: When is the return leg?
A: The second leg will be played on Wednesday, April 23rd, 2025.
Q: Where can I watch the match?
A: The match is broadcast on Canale 5 and streamed via sportmediaset.it and Mediaset Infinity. Gazzetta.it provides live text updates.
High Stakes Derby: Expect a passionate and closely contested match typical of the Milan derby, with the added pressure of a cup semi-final.
Tactical Adjustments: Note the lineup choices, particularly Inter's attacking pair (Correa/Thuram) and Milan's forced change with Jimenez starting.
Efficiency vs. Volume: Watch if Inter's clinical finishing continues or if Milan can generate more clear-cut opportunities.
Path to Final: The winner over two legs will be favored against Bologna in the final.
The Milan derby always brings passion and unpredictability. Who do you think has the edge in this first leg? Will Inter's attacking efficiency overcome Milan's home advantage?
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Source 1: LIVE Milan-Inter: alle 21 la semifinale di Coppa Italia | Diretta | Gazzetta.it target="_blank"
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