AC Milan staged a remarkable comeback against Juventus, defeating them 2-1 to secure their spot in the Supercoppa Italiana final, slated for January 6 against Inter. After a first half where Juventus appeared to be the stronger side, taking the lead through Kenan Yildiz, the second half turned the tide dramatically for the Rossoneri.
The match, held at Al-Awwal Park in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, began with Juventus displaying dominance early on. Yildiz, playing his first Supercoppa match, scored with a powerful shot following an assist from Samuel Mbangula, giving the Bianconeri the lead at the 21st minute, which was unexpected yet exhilarating.
Despite their underwhelming performance initially, Milan managed to find their rhythm after the break. The pivotal moment came when Christian Pulisic was brought down inside the area by Manuel Locatelli. The referee quickly pointed to the penalty spot, allowing Pulisic to step up and equalize at the 71st minute with a well-placed shot past Juventus keeper Michele Di Gregorio.
Just four minutes later, the scenario worsened for Juventus as Federico Gatti inadvertently deflected Yunus Musah's cross, resulting in an unfortunate own goal. This twist sealed the fate for Juventus, who until then seemed to have the match under control, having created multiple opportunities to extend their lead.
From there, the momentum shifted entirely to Milan. The Rossoneri surged forward, emboldened by their newfound advantage, and threatened to extend their lead even more as they capitalized on the palpable panic within the Juventus ranks. Defensive lapses from Juventus were evident as they struggled to recover from the latest setback.
While Milan was buoyed by their goals, Juventus tried hard to level the scores again. Thiago Motta's side pushed forward, desperate to salvage their chance at advancing to the final, but they were unable to convert their chances. A late effort from Gatti almost redeemed his earlier mistake, but Matteo Gabbia intervened perfectly to deny the Juventus defender’s attempt.
Despite the loss, there were moments of brilliance from Juventus, particularly from Yildiz and Vlahovic, who created multiple chances. Yet, their inability to capitalize during key moments of the match proved to be their undoing. Motta expressed frustration at his team’s failure to close out the match, remarking, "We were well positioned for so long, but we have to realize matches can change very quickly."
On the contrary, Milan and their coach, Sergio Conceição, celebrated the victory as it marked his debut on the Rossoneri bench. Conceição stated, "This victory means everything for us. The players showed heart and resilience, and it’s this spirit we need as we head to the final against Inter."
The stage is now set for the final clash between AC Milan and Inter Milan—a titanic battle anticipated eagerly by fans, especially after the Rossoneri have already bested their local rivals earlier this season. Milan will be seeking redemption from the previous season's defeat against Inter, who claimed the Supercoppa title.
Moving forward, Juventus faces questions of consistency and mental fortitude as this defeat marks their first of the season against Italian teams. With their Supercoppa aspirations thwarted once again, Juve will need to regroup and reassess their strategy as they look to bounce back from this setback.
With anticipation building for the Italian derby, it remains to be seen if AC Milan can carry their momentum forward to clinch the Supercoppa title, or if Inter will defend their championship. One thing is certain: the stakes have never been higher as these storied clubs prepare to collide once again.