Inter-Milan, 3️⃣ reasons why both can reach the final 🔥 | OneFootball

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.

Inter and Milan are up against each other again, for the fifth time this year. The last derby of 2024/25 will decide who among the Nerazzurri and Rossoneri will join Bologna in the Coppa Italia final, provided Empoli doesn't pull off a miracle in the return leg at Dall'Ara (the first leg ended with a 0-3 victory for the Rossoblu).

Never as in the city derbies are the predictions destined to fail and we had confirmation of this in the previous matches of this season: after a year with 6 victories out of 6, Simone Inzaghi's Inter failed to win any of the 4 subsequent derbies. Two draws and two Milan victories, one of which earned them the Supercup.

That's why, then, either club can secure their ticket to the Coppa Italia final.

Why Inter will advance

- First and foremost, the Nerazzurri are the stronger team. Not our words, but based on their performance (and trophies) in recent years. Moreover, the loss to Bologna has hurt a group that doesn't want to lose the second knockout game in a few days;

- The lack of derby victories is a significant motivation for Inzaghi and his team. But if that's not enough, there's also the fact that being eliminated from the Coppa Italia would mean saying goodbye to the Treble, a goal that players, staff and coach have repeatedly stated they want to achieve. Talk about "an extra incentive";

- The home factor will ensure that, tonight, San Siro will be mostly in Nerazzurri colors. The atmosphere could have an impact, albeit a relative one. More than this aspect, the fact that Inter plays with the awareness (and mental freedom) of being in the running on three fronts, while for Milan this is really the last chance to try to save a season that has so far been a failure from every point of view.

Why Milan will advance

- Inter is strong, plays well at times and is in the race for the Treble. But this - paradoxically - could be the first point in favor of Milan. The Nerazzurri's run has drained their energy and increased injuries (Thuram, Zielinski and Dumfries will be out). In addition, the second string players once again showed in Bologna that they are not as good as the starters;

- History shows that Inzaghi has so far failed to find a way to contain the Rossoneri's offense: 4 seasonal derbies, 7 goals scored by Milan, which in Riyadh managed to come back from 0-2 to a 3-2 win by Abraham. Inter struggles against their cousins, and this is a fact;

- For Milan, this is a chance to play in a final again. If so far the season has shown that the rapport between various coaches and the team has never really clicked, it's also true that the derby has a history of its own. So, we expect a Milan far removed from the poor and booed team of recent months. Then there's the Leão factor: often and willingly, when he sees the Nerazzurri, Rafa lights up, like a bull in front of the red of the bullfighter's muleta. This can - and must - be his night too.

📸 Marco Luzzani - 2025 Getty Images