AC Milan staged a remarkable comeback to defeat Juventus 2-1 in the semifinals of the Supercoppa Italiana 2025, held at Al-Awwal Park Stadium, Riyadh.
The match, which took place on January 3, 2025, began with Juventus taking the lead through Kenan Yildiz’s goal at the 21st minute. Yildiz capitalized on Federico Gatti's assist to give the Turin side the advantage early on. Juventus, regarded as favorites going in, controlled the ball effectively but were unable to extend their lead.
AC Milan, under their new coach Sérgio Conceição, sought to regain momentum following the goal. The defending champions found their footing as the game progressed, creating several chances but failing to equalize before halftime.
The turning point came shortly after the restart. Juventus's Manuel Locatelli conceded a penalty for fouling Christian Pulisic, who confidently converted the kick to level the score at 1-1. This sparked life back to Milan, shifting the momentum firmly in their favor.
Just four minutes later, Milan took the lead when Federico Gatti, trying to defend against a cross, inadvertently turned the ball past his own keeper Michele Di Gregorio, marking the 2-1 scoreline. This moment was pivotal, representing not only the game-winner but also the defensive struggles Juventus faced throughout the match.
From then on, Juventus tried to regroup and find the equalizer, yet they struggled to recreate the attacking effectiveness from earlier in the match. Despite some attempts, the Rossoneri's defense held firm, leading them to seal the victory.
This win means AC Milan will face their city rivals, Inter Milan, on January 6, 2025, for the Supercoppa Italiana title. Inter advance to the final after defeating Atalanta 2-0 with goals from Denzel Dumfries earlier last week. The anticipation for the Milan derby final is palpable, as both teams vie for early season silverware.
The match showcased not only the tactical prowess of Conceição's new regime at AC Milan but also highlighted Juventus's inconsistency. Milan’s ability to bounce back from adversity is sure to serve as significant morale boosting as they prepare for the upcoming final against Inter.