AC Milan overcame Juventus with a 2-1 victory on January 3, 2025, to advance to the Supercoppa Italiana final, where they will meet city rivals Inter Milan. The match took place at the King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and featured both teams showcasing their talents amid significant anticipation.
Juventus started strong, with Turkish forward Kenan Yildiz netting the opener, expertly finishing off a pass from Samuel Umberto. Their early lead instilled confidence, but AC Milan displayed resilience and determination throughout the match.
Christian Pulisic sparked the comeback for AC Milan, successfully converting a penalty kick at the 71st minute, with the penalty awarded due to a foul committed inside the box. Just mere minutes later, the match swung decisively when Juventus defender Federico Gatti inadvertently scored an own goal, handing AC Milan the lead and sealing their win.
The victory sets the stage for an intriguing final against Inter Milan, who recently triumphed over Atalanta. Fans from both clubs are eagerly anticipating what promises to be another thrilling installment of their storied rivalry.
Adding to the narrative is former AC Milan player Carlos Bacca, who reminisced about his time with the club and reflected on their previous Supercoppa encounter with Juventus, which took place on December 23, 2016, where Milan also emerged victorious. "That night in Doha remains the pinnacle of my AC Milan Journey. We showed incredible spirit against strong opponents, and winning was truly amazing," Bacca told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
Bacca spoke highly of his former teammates, including Manuel Locatelli, underscoring the connections he maintains with them. He commented, "Manuel was young then, but his talent was evident. He proved his worth at Juventus and continues to be influential for the national team."
With anticipation building for the final, Bacca expressed confidence, stating, "Milan needs to show their best performance if they are to progress to the final," indicating the challenges the team will face even as they celebrate this latest victory.
Before the semifinal match, Juventus captain Danilo was confirmed to be leaving the team, with coach Thiago Motta stating, "Danilo is leaving the team. This is the best decision for both the player and the club." This announcement adds another layer of intrigue to the upcoming final as both teams reshape their lineups.
Fans of AC Milan hope to carry forward the momentum from this semifinal victory as they prepare for the challenge posed by Inter Milan, who have dominated the Supercoppa scene recently. The stakes could not be higher with both teams vying for not just glory but also pride as they represent their storied clubs.
With the final approaching, the world of football is abuzz with excitement, and all eyes will be on Riyadh as these two titans of Italian football battle it out once more on the grand stage.