AC Milan Inter prediction 2023-01-18

AC Milan vs Inter prediction: ITALY: Super Cup betting tips on match 2023-01-17 19:00.
The Milan derby, known as The Derby della Madonnina, sees AC Milan and Inter Milan face off in the Italian Super Cup (SC) for only the second time (AC Milan: W1), although this will be their first meeting in Saudi Arabia, adding a new dimension to this historic rivalry. Milan are chasing a hat-trick having won their last two SC appearances as reigning Serie A (SA) champions, but Inter arriving as the current SC holders perhaps complicates that quest.

After following up an early Coppa Italia exit at the hands of Torino with a 2-2 draw against Lecce in which they trailed 2-0 at the break, Milan might feel now is not the ideal time to jet off to Saudi Arabia having struggled to get going following the World Cup (W1, D2, L1). But if anything is going to kick them back into gear, a game against their fiercest rivals should do the trick, just as it did back in September’s 3-2 league victory over Inter.

Inter have extra incentive to replicate last season’s SC victory though, as doing so would equal AC Milan's seven competition wins, but they’ll likely have their work cut out as the reigning Coppa Italia champions have won only one of the last five H2Hs (D2, L2). However, they did warm up for this match with a better result than their rivals, narrowly edging out Verona 1-0 to extend their unbeaten run to six games (W5, D1).

There are concerns though, and manager Simone Inzaghi has lamented the packed fixture list that has left his squad a little fatigued. Inzaghi insists his side “must keep taking it one game at a time and hope to get more players back to full fitness so we have options”, but ahead of what is 234th edition of one of the world’s most-played derbies, Inzaghi’s players will likely be chomping at the bit to get out there and play.

Players to watch: Quick off the mark, Rafael Leão has scored Milan’s first goal of the game in three of their last five fixtures. A man for the big moments, Lautaro Martínez has netted in each of Inter’s last three matches, twice before the 25th minute, and scored a penalty in last year’s SC final.

Hot stat: There’s been an average of one goal per game between the 80th minute and the end of regular time across the last five SCs.