Milan VS Inter: San Siro, Milan
Milan VS Inter Date: Wednesday, April 2
BetXchange Milan VS Inter Odds:
History
The 2024-25 Coppa Italia semi-final draw has thrown up two interesting matches with very different historical significance. On Tuesday, Empoli will host Bologna in the first leg of their tie at the Stadio Carlo Castellani.
It is a story with the possibility of a major upset. Empoli sits 18th in Serie A while Bologna is pushing for the Champions League in 4th, but the match cannot compete with the Milan derby that is taking place in the other semi-final contest.
Serie A leaders Inter are 20 points ahead of ninth-placed Milan in the league. That form will be thrown out the window over this two-legged affair, with Wednesday’s match set to be followed by another at the San Siro on April 23.
In terms of form, this one would be declared a no-contest. Inter has won five on the bounce in all competitions, sliding through to the quarterfinals of the Champions League while extending their lead at the top of the domestic Italian competition.
Milan, meanwhile, has been struggling. They have already been bounced from Europe’s premier competition and are on a run of losing four of their last six matches overall.
Milan
Milan has the top scorer in this Coppa Italia this season, with Englishman Tammy Abraham hitting the back of the net three times so far.
Expect the always dangerous Rafael Leao to be back in the starting lineup, while a pair of players will return from injury to give boss Sergio Conceicao more options for this clash. Malick Thiaw and Yunus Musah both missed the 2-1 defeat at the hands of Napoli over the weekend, but both should be ready to play if called upon for this heavyweight clash.
Conceicao is a man under pressure. He needs his team to get a result to pressure Inter in the second leg.
Inter
Inter has a few fitness doubts, with their main striker unlikely to start against Milan on Wednesday night.
Argentine star Lautaro Martinez was injured against Atalanta before the international break, and he is not yet ready to play a full 90 minutes this week. At least Martinez should be fit enough to make the bench, unlike Denzel Dumfires. Dumfries was injured in the same match and is expected to be sidelined for a couple of weeks.
Expect Joaquin Correa to be the man filling the role of Martinez alongside Frenchman Marcus Thuram.
Other absentees for Inter include the suspended Kristjan Asllani and injured Polish international Piotr Zielinski.
Best Bets
Despite their miserable overall campaign, Milan has had Inter’s number this season. They have won two of the three meetings between the two Milan clubs, while the third was a 1-1 draw.
Inter will have to keep their eye on the prize here and not be distracted by the upcoming massive Champions League clash against Bayern Munich next week.
A single goal has decided Milan’s last six matches, and I like that to continue here. Inter 2-1 is the call.
