AC MILAN v INTER, SUPERCOPPA ITALIANA: KEYS TO THE MATCH

Being involved in a final is unique, deciding one even more so. Every player in AC Milan v Inter will be aiming to take centre stage in such a special derby. Here's our pre-match briefing, as we take a look at what could prove key in the Supercoppa Italiana showdown on Wednesday 18 January at the King Fahd Stadium in Riyadh.

MOMENTS OF THE MATCH
The degree to which the players and team as a whole have experience of finals is undoubtedly important when it comes to game management. There's a psychological component involved, and this comes into play when dealing with the moments of the match: managing a lead, reacting to unexpected events, remaining calm even when extra time or penalties loom. AC Milan are experiencing a difficult spell, one which began with Roma's late equaliser and continued as they struggled in Lecce. Inter, who beat Hellas Verona at home last time out, are perhaps more at ease right now, even if they haven't done particularly well on the road. The stakes are high because there's a trophy on offer, the first of the season. Then, there are the repercussions that winning or not winning could have in the immediate future as the teams battle it out in the upper echelons of the league. Motivation certainly won't be lacking, but it'll have to be handled with care.

KEEPING IT TIGHT AT THE BACK
In straight knockout games, there's no room for error, as AC Milan found out in the Coppa Italia. Defending well and better than the opposition is certainly essential; it's one of the first things you need to get right if you want to taste victory. It's not just the defenders who need to do this – although they're the most important players in their own box – but the team as a whole. When out of possession, attention needs to be paid to marking and pressing effectively. When on the ball, players are required to avoid giving it away easily. A special mention for the goalkeepers, too: through their saves and with the possibility of penalties, they'll play a vital role. The Rossoneri, who haven't kept a clean sheet since November, have conceded 20 goals in the league so far. It’s a worse number for the Nerazzurri, who have shipped 24 in 18 games. From the numbers, and also recalling the 3-2 derby scoreline in September, it's clear that there are frailties to correct and doing so would be highly beneficial, at least for a night.

STRIKERS AND THE LEFT FLANK
Giroud (nine goals in 2022/23) was the hero of the derby that, with hindsight, was key to AC Milan's Scudetto triumph, while he also found the net in the league earlier on this campaign, too. He’s yet to score in 2023, but he did provide a fine assist for Calabria's equaliser at the Via del Mare. Both Martínez (eleven goals this season) and Džeko (ten) have also enjoyed goalscoring success in the derby. They're strong, complete and unpredictable strikers and are the real engine of Inzaghi's side, as the start of this new year has shown. Giroud, meanwhile, is more of an important cog in the collective Rossoneri machine. They're players who come up with solutions and decide matters. A huge amount will depend on them and the service they receive: Leão and Dimarco down the respective left flanks are seemingly the most likely to provide them with the support required.

Match KITS, clothing, accessories, gift ideas and much more: visit the AC Milan online Store!