Inter vs AC Milan | Tactical Analysis | Supercoppa Italiana 2025

Inter vs AC Milan face off in Riyadh for the Supercoppa Italiana final in what promises to be a high-stakes Derby della Madonnina. With Simone Inzaghi sticking to his typical system and Sergio Conceição shaking things up in just his second game in charge, the stage is set for an epic clash. Can Inter’s consistency prevail, or will Milan’s youthful flair and tactical changes or the new manager’s shock steal the spotlight?

Lineups and Formations: Inter vs AC Milan

Inter Milan Starting XI (3-5-2):

• Goalkeeper: Sommer
• Defenders: Bastoni, De Vrij, Bisseck
• Midfielders: Dimarco, Mkhitaryan, Calhanoglu, Barella, Dumfries
• Strikers: Taremi, Lautaro Martinez

Key Note: Simone Inzaghi has largely stuck to his typical lineup, with Taremi replacing Thuram in the front two. The width is expected to come from Dumfries and Dimarco on the flanks while Barella will have his usual free role to help and create spaces for his teammates.

AC Milan Starting XI (4-3-3):

• Goalkeeper: Maignan
• Defenders: Hernandez, Thiaw, Tomori, Emerson Royal
• Midfielders: Reijnders, Fofana, Musah
• Forwards: Pulisic, Morata, Jimenez

Key Note: Sergio Conceição is leading AC Milan for only his second game. His debut saw a crucial win against Juventus in the Supercoppa semi-final. AC Milan will most probably be looking to stay compact in defense and take advantage of spaces that Inter will leave behind with players like Pulisic, Reijnders and Hernandez. The 4-3-3 system provides great opportunities to react defensively and offensively when needed.

Key Player Updates:

• Leão: Back from injury but starts on the bench.
• Jimenez: The 19-year-old winger replaces Leão in the starting XI.
• Jovic and Loftus-Cheek: Also returning from injury, both start on the bench.
• Tomori: Regains his starting position under Conceição, replacing Gabbia, though this may change in Serie A games.

First Half Analysis: Inter vs AC Milan

Inter Milan’s Possession and Tactics

The first half saw a highly competitive, tactical battle with both teams looking to impose their style of play. Inter dominated possession slightly with 55%, but they struggled to break through AC Milan’s high press. Milan’s aggressive pressing forced Inter into mistakes, limiting their usual build-up play from the back. Dumfries, in particular, was given a lot of space on the right, but Milan’s pressure stifled the flow of passes from the defense to the midfield.

Despite some promising chances, including Taremi’s header and a beautiful save from Maignan off Dimarco’s shot, Inter couldn’t fully capitalize. Martinez’s goal just before the break was a key moment, showing Inter’s clinical nature when they managed to break the Milan press out of a standard situation. Mkhitaryan’s run on the left, passing it to Taremi just on the edge of the box who plays it to Martinez, who was well positioned in the box. He cut out Hernandez and Thiaw with a fake shot and finished in with a shot near the first post.

AC Milan’s Pressing and Attacking Play

AC Milan, on the other hand, maintained a more compact, organized structure, looking to stretch Inter’s defense with Pulisic and Jimenez wide, while Musah and Reijnders pushed forward into the channels. Their attacking play was fluid, with Reijnders in particular having a couple of strong moments, including his brilliant dribble and a shot narrowly missing the target. However, despite having more entries into the final third (27 vs 18), they couldn’t turn their pressure into goals. Milan’s pressing game, though effective in preventing Inter from building up how they like to, lacked the cutting edge needed to find the back of the net.

Key Stats at Half-Time:

• Possession: 55% (Inter) vs 25% (Milan)
• xG: 0.41 (Inter) vs 0.64 (Milan)
• Shots on Target: 2 (Inter) vs 1 (Milan)
• Touches in the Penalty Area: 6 (Inter) vs 7 (Milan)
• Final Third Entries: 18 (Inter) vs 27 (Milan)

Both teams have had their moments, but Inter’s clinical finish from Martinez might prove decisive unless Milan can sharpen their final ball in the second half. With Leão and other bench players potentially coming on, Milan may look to add more attacking intensity.

Full-Time Analysis: Inter vs AC Milan

Tactical Overview

Inter vs AC Milan provided an exciting encounter in the Supercoppa Italiana final, with both teams adopting contrasting strategies throughout the game. Inter had the upper hand in possession, controlling 56% of the ball, while Milan relied on their high-pressing game and quick transitions. Milan’s pressing in the first half disrupted Inter’s usual build-up play, forcing them to make quick passes and mistakes under pressure. However, Inter adapted in the second half, pushing higher up the field after tactical changes, but Milan’s counterattacks and clinical finishing allowed them to seize the victory.

Milan’s High Pressing

Milan’s pressing throughout the match, especially in the second half, was crucial to their comeback. Inter struggled with Milan’s high press, particularly in the first half when they were forced to play the ball quickly or clear it. The midfielders Musah and Reijnders were instrumental in applying pressure and intercepting passes. This high-intensity pressing limited Inter’s usual build-up from the back, and once Milan regained possession, they swiftly moved into the attacking third.

Inter’s Defensive Adjustments

Inter started the game with a more controlled possession strategy, looking to build from the back and utilizing their wingbacks. However, after Milan’s pressing forced them into errors, Inter made adjustments. Bisseck pushed higher in the midfield, moving forward to support Dumfries on the right flank. This allowed Dumfries to push higher and almost play as a winger, but it also left space behind, which Milan exploited as the game went on. Inter’s defense, led by Bastoni and De Vrij, struggled to cope with Milan’s wide play and pace in attack combined with their player switching positions in attack.

Key Players

Theo Hernandez was a standout performer for Milan, providing a key assist and being a constant threat down the left flank. His powerful run and assist for Pulisic’s goal highlighted his ability to break through defenses and provide key passes. Hernandez’s free-kick goal was also a pivotal moment, showing his technical quality.

Christian Pulisic was another key player for Milan, scoring the equalizer in the 80th minute. His composure in front of goal was crucial, and his link-up play with Hernandez and Leao was a major threat for Inter’s defense. Pulisic’s movement and finishing proved to be key in breaking down Inter’s defense. The pass leading to the assist of Abraham’s goal, into the right channel where Leão showed up was of world class.

Rafael Leao was also important to Milan’s attacking play, adding pace and creativity. Leao’s runs in behind Inter’s defense and his dribbling skills were key factors in Milan’s success. His assist for Abraham’s goal was a perfect example of his ability to break through defensive lines and create chances. Leao was a constant threat, and his energy in the second half made a big difference as Milan was looking to equalize and ultimately win.

Statistical Breakdown: Inter vs AC Milan

• Possession: Inter (56%) had more possession, but Milan’s pressing forced them into mistakes, leading to more turnovers and counterattacking opportunities.
• xG: Milan’s higher xG of 3.01 (compared to Inter’s 1.86) shows that Milan created more high-quality chances. Their clinical finishing was the difference, particularly in the second half.
• Shots on Target: Both teams had 8 shots on target, demonstrating their attacking intent, ability to create opportunities and the intensity of the game.
• Touches in the Penalty Area: Both teams had 24 touches inside the box, indicating that both sides were aggressive in attack.
• Final Third Entries: Milan had 57 final third entries compared to 36 from Inter. This shows that Milan was more effective at getting into dangerous areas, especially in the second half.

Conclusion

The Inter vs AC Milan Supercoppa Italiana final was one not to forget. Milan’s tactical approach, particularly their high pressing and counterattacks, proved to be decisive in their Supercoppa Italiana victory. Despite Inter’s possession dominance, Milan’s defensive work, combined with clinical finishing from Hernandez, Pulisic, and Abraham, ensured they came from behind to win. Inter’s inability to deal with Milan’s pressing in the second half ultimately led to their downfall. The changes in the second half, especially the substitutions and tactical shifts, allowed Milan to exploit the spaces left by Inter’s defensive line.

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