Milan Stages Thrilling Comeback to Reach Supercoppa Italiana Final

Milan secured a spot in the Supercoppa Italiana Final with a thrilling comeback victory over Juventus, overturning a deficit in just four minutes.

Sergio Conceicao Makes Triumphant Debut as Milan Manager

Sergio Conceicao's tenure as Milan manager got off to a thrilling start, as his team staged a spectacular comeback to defeat Juventus and advance to the Supercoppa Italiana Final against Inter. Conceicao's debut was made all the more impressive by the fact that Milan was able to overturn a deficit and secure the win with two goals in just four minutes.

Milan's New Era Begins

Conceicao took the reins at Milan following the departure of Paulo Fonseca, who was sacked by the club on Monday. Conceicao's first match in charge took place at the Al-Awwal Park Stadium in Riyadh, where Milan faced off against Juventus in the Supercoppa Italiana semifinals.

Injury Crisis Hits Milan

Conceicao's task was made more challenging by the absence of several key players, including Rafael Leao, Samuel Chukwueze, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, and Alessandro Florenzi, who were all sidelined due to injury. Additionally, Yunus Musah was not at full fitness, forcing Conceicao to adopt a new 4-3-3 formation.

Juventus' Struggles Continue

Juventus has struggled to find consistency this season, with more draws than wins and only one defeat to their name. However, the team was without several key players, including Gleison Bremer, Juan Cabal, and Arek Milik, who are all facing lengthy spells on the sidelines.

Last-Minute Change for Juventus

In a surprising twist, Francisco Conceicao, Sergio Conceicao's son, was originally named in the starting lineup for Juventus but pulled out during the warm-up due to injury. Kenan Yildiz replaced him in the lineup and went on to play a crucial role in the match.

Juventus Takes the Lead

Kenan Yildiz, who was not initially expected to start, gave Juventus the lead with a well-taken goal. Yildiz ran into a large gap down the right flank and received a through ball from Samuel Mbangula before smashing his finish into the near top corner with his right foot.

Youssouf Fofana and Kenan Yildiz Test Milan's Defense

The match saw both teams create scoring opportunities, with Youssouf Fofana firing wide from the edge of the box. Meanwhile, Mike Maignan was forced to make a crucial save, palming away a snapshot from Kenan Yildiz that was heading towards the near post.

Juventus Push for a Second Goal

After the restart, Kenan Yildiz continued to pose a threat, unleashing an angled drive that flashed across the face of goal. The Juventus Number 10 then rolled the ball across for Dusan Vlahovic, who turned the opportunity wide.

Milan Miss a Golden Opportunity

Milan had a chance to equalize on 55 minutes when a corner was flicked on, but Theo Hernandez incredibly ballooned the ball over the bar from 12 yards, despite being unmarked.

Juventus' Defensive Efforts

Federico Gatti made a crucial intervention to stop Alex Jimenez's back-heel flick from sending Christian Pulisic through on goal. However, the Spaniard's efforts were cut short as he went off injured.

Milan Awarded a Penalty

Michele Di Gregorio smothered a strike from Tijjani Reijnders, while Nicolò Savona made a great tackle on Theo Hernandez as he ran onto a long ball from Mike Maignan. However, as the move continued, Manuel Locatelli brought down Pulisic, resulting in a penalty for Milan. Pulisic converted the penalty, despite Di Gregorio getting a hand to it.

Milan's Sudden Resurgence

Milan experienced a sudden surge of energy, and Alvaro Morata's clever move sent Weston McKennie to the ground, prompting a desperate block in the six-yard box. This marked a turning point in the game, as Milan's revitalized performance began to pay dividends.

Juventus' Familiar Collapse

Juve's defense, which has crumbled on numerous occasions this season, began to unravel once again. Within a span of just four minutes, Milan completely turned the game around, leaving Juventus reeling.

Milan's Fortunate Equalizer

Yunus Musah's run down the right flank ended with a cross intended for Tammy Abraham, but the ball struck Federico Gatti and caught goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio off guard at the near post. Di Gregorio had rushed off his line, anticipating the cross, but was surprised by the deflection.

Juventus' Late Attempts

Di Gregorio redeemed himself with a crucial block on Christian Pulisic, who had been sent through on goal by Tammy Abraham's rapid counter-attack. Meanwhile, Teun Koopmeiners' free kick was directed straight at Mike Maignan. In the final moments of the game, Kenan Yildiz's cross was nodded down for Federico Gatti, whose volley sailed wide of the near post, possibly due to a block by Matteo Gabbia.

Milan Advances to the Supercoppa Italiana Final

With this thrilling comeback victory, Milan has secured a spot in the Supercoppa Italiana Final, where they will face Inter on Monday evening. Juventus, on the other hand, will return home, having suffered their second competitive defeat of the season.