Italian football is set to kick off the 2025 season with the Supercoppa Italiana semifinal taking place at the King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The match will feature Inter Milan, the reigning Serie A champions, against Atalanta, the finalists who lost to Juventus in the latest Coppa Italia.
This year's Supercoppa Italiana operates on a 'final four' basis for the second consecutive year, with the final on January 6 determining the champion. Both teams are approaching the match with strong intentions — Inter are aiming for their fourth consecutive title under the management of Simone Inzaghi, who has previously secured five Supercoppa trophies throughout his career.
The match is scheduled to kick off on Thursday, January 2, at 20:00 local time, heightening anticipation among fans eager to see the clash of these two scoring teams.
Inter Milan, coming off the back of two consecutive Supercoppa triumphs, looks set to field their best side, missing stars like Francesco Acerbi and Benjamin Pavard due to injury. The expected lineup has Inter opting for a 3-5-2 formation, featuring goalkeeping ace Yann Sommer, with defenders Stefan de Vrij and Alessandro Bastoni solidifying the back line. The midfield trio will see Nicolo Barella, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, and Hakan Calhanoglu creating play, whilst Lautaro Martinez partners with Marcus Thuram up front.
The formation is presumed to face little challenge from Atalanta, who, under Gian Piero Gasperini, are yet to find their rhythm against the Inter squad. Key players including Mateo Retegui are ruled out due to injury, creating gaps within the squad. Atalanta aims to change their fortune against Inter, having suffered six defeats and only managed two draws against them over the last eight meetings. The team will likely lineup with either 3-4-1-2 or 3-4-2-1 formations, featuring Carnesecchi, Kossounou, Hien, and Kolasinac anchoring the defense, supported by midfielders Ederson and de Roon, and attackers Lookman and De Ketelaere challenging Inter’s defense.
Gasperini's squad is particularly motivated, seeking to capture their first trophy of the new year, especially following recent strong performances. They will be reliant on their ability to quickly adapt and leverage the pace of fresher faces like Lookman, who could exploit the Inter defense.
Predictive odds suggest it could be anybody's match, even with Inter’s dominating record against Atalanta. Stakes are high, with access to the final hanging on the line, and it’s expected both teams will be conservatively tactical. Notably, bookmakers' odds on Under 2.5 goals, perhaps reflecting the anticipated showdown, have shown competitive pricing.
Overall, the upcoming semifinal shapes to be intense with everything to play for. The victor will not only claim supremacy but also streak their way toward lifting the first cup of the season, setting the tone for what promises to be another exciting year of Italian football.