In an all-Serie A match last week, Inter Milan secured a commanding 2-0 victory, displaying their dominance on the field. As they prepare for their “home” football match at the shared San Siro Stadium, Inter Milan can expect the overwhelming support of their fans. The winner of this match will face either Manchester City or defending champions Real Madrid in the final, which will take place in Istanbul, Turkey on June 10. It is noteworthy that this year’s final will mark the return of a Milan-based team after a 13-year absence and the first time an Italian team has reached the final since Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan triumphed in 2010. Currently occupying the third position in the league table, Inter Milan has showcased an impressive performance this season, exemplified by their recent 4-2 victory over Sassuolo. They aim to replicate their success in the upcoming fixture.
Inter Milan’s team news reveals that Milan Skriniar is the only player absent due to injury. On the other hand, AC Milan comes into the game after a disappointing 2-0 defeat against relegation-battling Spezia, adding complexity to their pursuit of a top-four finish. Despite the loss, some key players, including Simon Kjaer, Fikayo Tomori, Theo Hernandez, Sandro Tonali, and Brahim Diaz, featured in the match. Notably, Rafael Leao is expected to make a return to the team after training with the squad, with manager Pioli confirming his starting position if he completes training successfully. However, Ismael Bennacer will miss the rest of the season due to upcoming knee surgery, while Rade Krunic and Junior Messias, who missed the previous game due to minor issues, are expected to be available. Additionally, Alessandro Florenzi is also in contention to play. Latest reports suggest that Mike Maignan will start as the goalkeeper, supported by Davide Calabria and Theo Hernandez as full-backs. A change in the center-back position is anticipated, with Malick Thiaw partnering with Tomori in the defense. Krunic and Tonali are likely to form the midfield duo, with Messias competing for the right-wing position against Alexis Saelemaekers.
Heading into the game, Inter Milan holds the advantage, both in terms of the aggregate lead and their recent performance, having scored four goals against Sassuolo. Manager Simone Inzaghi emphasizes that the Nerazzurri have no intention of solely defending their lead but aim to score a goal that could secure their victory. Milan Skriniar remains the only definite absence for Inter Milan due to his ongoing recovery from back surgery. There is some concern over Joaquin Correa’s availability, but Inzaghi remains hopeful that he will be fit enough to be included on the bench. The midfield trio is expected to consist of Nicolo Barella, Hakan Calhanoglu, and Henrikh Mkhitaryan, while Marcelo Brozovic may start as a substitute. Despite Romelu Lukaku’s strong performance in the league, Inzaghi is likely to stick with Edin Dzeko and Lautaro Martinez as the frontline duo, considering the problems they posed in the previous match.