Four reasons you must watch the Supercoppa Italiana 2024/25 🇮🇹 | OneFootball

The Supercoppa Italiana is about to get under way, with Serie A champions Inter competing with rivals Milan, Juventus and Atalanta for the prestigious trophy.

This year's fascinating tournament will be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, at the new state-of-the-art Kingdom Arena.

Here are four reasons why you cannot miss the 2024/25 Supercoppa Italiana.

Inter’s pedigree

📸 Marco Luzzani - 2024 Getty Images

Twenty-time Scudetto winners Inter come into the Supercoppa Italiana as hot favourites, having won the last three consecutive editions of the competition. The Nerazzurri are also the holders of the Serie A title, and are pushing once again to lift multiple trophies come the end of the campaign.

Inter have the ability to put on a show too, with multiple weapons in attack. Marcus Thuram has led the line perfectly this campaign, supported by Argentine star Lautaro Martínez up front.

Free-kick specialist Hakan Çalhanoğlu has a knack for the spectacular, as does Italy star Nicolò Barella, making Inter a very entertaining side to watch.

Proof of that attacking flair came in the 6-0 demolition of the previously in-form Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome in mid-December, with all of the goals coming between the 41st and 90th minute.

The Nerazzurri had scored 40 goals by that point in the season, and only once had they bettered that tally after 16 league fixtures (2020-21 - 41 goals) in the last 70 years.

If that wasn’t enough to make Inter the side to beat in this year’s competition, boss Simone Inzaghi has won the Supercoppa Italiana more than any other coach, as last season’s trophy made him a five-time winner, ahead of Marcello Lippi and Fabio Capello (four each).

Atalanta have finally broken through their glass ceiling

📸 Richard Heathcote - 2024 Getty Images

Since taking over at Atalanta in 2016, Gian Piero Gasperini has revolutionised the club, prioritising youth and revitalising players that had failed at other clubs.

His "us against the world" approach saw the traditionally smaller club finish third in the league on three separate occasions as well as reaching three Coppa Italia finals, but lost all three.

Yet in 2024, Atalanta’s unique outlook on the game paid off when they beat Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen to lift the Europa League trophy, which was finally a just reward for Gasperini’s efforts.

Now the jinx has been removed, it’s easy to see why the side nicknamed La Dea could go on to win more silverware.

Ademola Lookman is Atalanta’s key danger man, his hat-trick in that Europa League final having led his side to victory.

“It was a historical night, not just for me, but also for the club and for the city,” the Nigeria international told reporters after that win. “You dream of stuff like this, achieving these special things.”

In December, the 27-year-old was awarded the African Footballer of the Year award in recognition of his efforts.

Could he add another medal to his collection in Saudi Arabia?

Historic AC Milan on the hunt for more silverware

📸 Marco Luzzani - 2024 Getty Images

This year marks 125 years since AC Milan were founded as Milan Foot-Ball and Cricket Club by English expatriate Herbert Kilpin back in 1899.

That history has seen the Rossoneri become one of the most famous in world football, having won 19 league titles and no less than seven Champions League trophies.

The 125 year anniversary was marked in December, with club legends Marco van Basten, Filippo Inzaghi and Andriy Shevchenko joining Honorary Vice President Franco Baresi as the first inductees into the club’s Hall of Fame.

Such a rich history means that silverware is part of this club’s DNA and Milan will be on the hunt to add to their last Scudetto won under current Saudi Pro League boss Stefano Pioli back in the 2021-22 season.

Look out for USA star Christian Pulisic as Milan’s key man. Since the start of the 2023/24 campaign,the 26-year-old has been involved in 31 goals in all competitions with 19 goals and 12 assists.

Milan’s seven Champions League trophies is matched by the number of Supercoppa Italiana wins too, having lifted the prestigious award in 1988, 1992, 1993, 1994, 2004, 2011 and 2016.

The Old Lady is rising again

📸 Valerio Pennicino - 2024 Getty Images

Juventus enjoyed an unprecedented run of success between 2011 and 2020, winning a record-breaking nine consecutive Serie A titles.

That same period also saw the Bianconeri win five Supercoppa Italiana trophies but – just like in the league – the club have come up short ever since.

Part of the club's winning formula came down to an almost impenetrable backline of Gianluigi Buffon, Giorgio Chiellini, Leonardo Bonucci and Andrea Barzagli, but those iconic players all came to the end of their careers at a similar point in time, leaving Juve with a massive rebuild on their hands.

While it would be remiss to say that the rebuild is now complete, there are promising signs under new boss Thiago Motta.

“Winning is not important, it’s the only thing that counts,” reads the club’s motto, and the Supercoppa Italiana will be the new boss’s first opportunity to deliver some silverware to the club’s bulging trophy room.

A win in Saudi Arabia would go a long way to reassure the club’s board and supporters that Motta really is the right man for the job.

Look out for Kenan Yıldız, a 19-year-old breakout star who has been handed the legendary number 10 shirt that had been worn by the likes of Alessandro Del Piero, Paulo Dybala, Carlos Tevez and Michel Platini.

📸 GIUSEPPE CACACE