Milan are the reigning Supercoppa champions. In January, they lifted the trophy in Riyadh amidst a very turbulent season. However, that was an entirely different team. Different manager and staff, and only nine players remain from that team. So in a way, they come into this match more like the other teams, even if the trophy sits in Casa Milan. Napoli, on the other hand, come to Riyadh as the reigning Serie A champions, and unlike Milan, they have the same manager and much the same team as lifted that trophy in May. So this match is not only a semifinal to see which team plays for the next trophy on Monday, but it is also a test for authentic champions.
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| Remember that Milan team of... January? |
Conte's Napoli will also likely want to seek revenge for their 2-1 loss to 10 man Milan in September. More recently, though, they also lost 1-0 to Udinese away on Sunday, also losing their top of the table position. For that match Conte lined up a 3-4-3 with: Vanja Milinković-Savić; Beukema, Rrahamani, Buongiorno; Di Lorenzo, Elmas, McTominay, Spinazzola; Neres, Højlund, and Noa Lang. This week, he recovered Lukaku from injury, however he is unlikely to play much if at all in this match if any. Conte will still be missing Dr Bruyne, Zambo Anguissa, Gilmour, and Meret to injuries.
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| The Napoli team who won the league in May. |
Speaking of injuries, there is definitive news about Santi Gimenez, who is scheduled to have surgery on his ankle the same day as the semifinal and is expected to be out an additional six weeks. Gabbia will miss this one after hyperextending his knee in Sunday's draw with Sassuolo, and Leão is still unlikely to be match fit, either, though he was called up to travel with the team. Fofana has returned to training with the team, but is unlikely to start, so Loftus-Cheek will likely start in his place..
Allegri has also called up five additional Milan Futuro and Primavera players: Duțu, Vladimirov, Sala, Maximilian Ibrahimović, and Primavera's Borsani, who scored on Sunday for Futuro. It is widely reported that Allegri will rest Modrić and start Jashari, and for some inexplicable reason, push the in form Bartesaghi to the bench for Estupiñan. If you'll recall, Estupiñan was sent off last time we faced Napoli, leaving the team on ten men.
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| Will Estupiñan redeem himself vs. Napoli? Or leave his team hanging again? |
This match is completely sold out, whereas there are still 10,000 tickets left for Inter vs. Bologna (Al Awwal Park seats approximatley 26,000.) Obviously, because no one knows or cares who Bologna are, and Inter... well, they're Inter. The human rights optional Saudis have made it very clear that this spectacle they are spending millions to host is meant to be the big teams. Which is why Milan's matches are always well attended.
And let's be clear, this one is also interesting because it sees Conte vs. Allegri once again, one of the interesting matchups between two of the best Italian managers in the game today. Allegri obviously won the most recent battle, but Conte has won the most matches they have faced off. Milan are obviously playing for the money. Each team automatically receives €2.4 million, while the second place team receives €6.7 million, and the winner will take home €9.5 million all the way up to a possible €11 million.
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| These guys have a long history, and Allegri has not been on the right side of it very often. |
So who earns the chance to play for the exorbitant amounts of cash available in the final? Both teams come into the match with injuries and disappointing matches over the weekend. With a specific set of guidelines for the Supercoppa, some punishments can actually affect the league, too. So it is Conte vs. Allegri, Napoli vs. Milan, Serie A titleholders vs. Supercoppa titleholders. At the end of 90 minute (or after penalties,) we'll know which team will fight for the trophy on Monday to demonstrate they are the authentic champions.