Supercoppa Italiana Clash: Inter Milan will kick off their Supercoppa Italiana defense in Riyadh, facing Serie A leaders Atalanta in the first semi-final at Al-Awwal Park. The Nerazzurri have claimed this title for three consecutive seasons and are eager to secure a fourth. Under Simone Inzaghi, Inter have been in excellent form, winning their last eight matches across all competitions. This impressive run has propelled them up the Serie A standings, where they now trail Atalanta and Napoli by just one point, with a game in hand over both top sides.
Inter Milan’s Team News And Expected Lineup Against Atalanta
Simone Inzaghi faces concerns over injuries to key defenders as Inter Milan head to Saudi Arabia. Benjamin Pavard and Francesco Acerbi have been left behind in Milan to recover from their respective issues, while Matteo Darmian has returned from a knee problem but is unlikely to be risked. As a result, Denzel Dumfries is set to start at right wing-back. Federico Dimarco will continue on the left, and the midfield trio of Nicolo Barella, Hakan Calhanoglu, and Henrikh Mkhitaryan is expected to remain unchanged. With Pavard and Acerbi sidelined, Yann Bisseck and Stefan de Vrij will join Alessandro Bastoni in central defense, while Marcus Thuram, Inter’s top scorer, will partner captain Lautaro Martinez up front.
The probable lineup is(3-5-2): Sommer; Bisseck, De Vrij, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Martinez, Thuram.
Atalanta’s Team News And Expected Lineup For Supercoppa Italiana Semi-Final
Atalanta will be without their top scorer, Mateo Retegui, for the Supercoppa Italiana semi-final against Inter Milan in Saudi Arabia, as well as long-term absentee Gianluca Scamacca. Matteo Ruggeri is also available but expected to play only for a short time as he continues to regain full fitness. In defense, Gian Piero Gasperini will rely on regular starters Sead Kolasinac, Odilon Kossounou, and Isak Hien in the back three. Former Inter Milan player Juan Cuadrado is sidelined due to a thigh injury. In attack, Charles De Ketelaere will take Retegui’s place, with Ademola Lookman supporting him in the forward line.
The probable lineup is(3-4-2-1): Carnesecchi; Kossounou, Hien, Kolasinac; Bellanova, De Roon, Ederson, Zappacosta; Samardzic, Lookman; De Ketelaere.
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Key Stats For Supercoppa Italiana Semi-Final
Inter Milan are in excellent form, having secured three consecutive Supercoppa Italiana titles and winning their last four matches across all competitions. Their consistent performance has made them a dominant force in Italian football in recent years. In contrast, Atalanta have remained undefeated in their last 13 Serie A games, showcasing their impressive resilience and form in domestic competition. However, despite their strong performances, Atalanta have yet to claim the Supercoppa Italiana title in their history, making this a significant opportunity for the club to secure their first-ever win in the competition.