Inter ???? Atalanta: what you need to know about the Supercoppa match ????????

This article was translated into French by artificial intelligence. You can read the original version in ???????????????????????????? here.

The 2024/25 Supercoppa Italiana begins this January 2, with Serie A champions Inter taking on Europa League winners Atalanta in Riyadh.

Here’s everything you need to know before this tempting encounter.

Where and when is the match taking place?

The first semi-final of the Supercoppa Italiana 2024/25 takes place on Thursday January 2, 2025.

The match starts at 8 p.m. and will be held at the brand new Kingdom Arena, just like the other semi-final and the final.

This 30,000-seat stadium in Riyadh opened in October 2023 and is also the home of Saudi Pro League team Al-Hilal. It holds two Guinness World Records: that of the largest indoor football stadium in the world and that of the largest capacity for an indoor indoor stadium.

How did the two teams qualify?

???? Marco Luzzani – 2024 Getty Images

In 2023, the Supercoppa Italiana abandoned the traditional format pitting the winner of the Scudetto against the winner of the Coppa Italia, to adopt a four-team format.

This sees the top two from Serie A take on the Coppa Italia runners-up, which is interesting as they are the top four from last season’s Serie A.

Inter qualified by winning the league championship, while Atalanta were beaten in the Coppa Italia final.

A player to watch from every team

???? PIERO CRUCIATTI – AFP or licensees

Other players in the team may receive the praise, but the full-back is arguably the one causing the most sensation for the Nerazzurri.

He is vital to Simone Inzaghi’s system, both defensively and offensively, cementing his status as one of the best attacking players in the league, with three goals and three assists so far this season in Serie A.

Dimarco is a strong ally for Lautaro Martínez and Marcus Thuram in the penalty area.

Charles De Ketelaere (Atalanta)

Image of the article:Inter ???? Atalanta: what you need to know about the Supercoppa match ????????

???? MARCO BERTORELLO – AFP or licensees

There is stiff competition to be the strong man in Atalanta’s attack, given the performances of the recently crowned African Player of the Year, Ademola Lookman, and Mateo Retegui.

However, the Belgian justified La Dea’s gamble of paying Milan their high price and has returned them with sensational performances this season, both at home and in Europe.

The playmaker has found a second wind in Bergamo and is living up to all the hype that surrounded him upon his arrival in Italy.

Who are the coaches?

???? Marco Luzzani – 2024 Getty Images

After winning the Scudetto last season, Inzaghi has now won everything domestically at the Giuseppe Meazza since arriving from Lazio in 2021, including this tournament three times.

In fact, he has won the Supercoppa every season with the Nerazzurri and, in addition to his victories with Lazio, he is aiming for the title for the sixth time on the bench.

He even came close to leading them to victory in the Champions League, but was narrowly beaten by Manchester City in 2023.

Gian Piero Gasperini (Atalanta)

???? Marco Luzzani – 2024 Getty Images

Formerly of Inter for a brief but unsuccessful spell, Gasperini has since firmly established himself as the best manager in Atalanta’s history.

With his patented 3-4-3 system, he captured the imagination of supporters across the world with his exciting attacking style of play that brought so much joy and success to Bergamo.

As well as leading the Orobici, who often fluctuated between the top two divisions before his arrival, to the latter stages of the Champions League, his greatest glory came in Dublin in May when he orchestrated the thrashing of Bayer Leverkusen to offer victory in the Europa League.

Memorable meeting

Both league clashes in the 2022/23 season ended in dramatic 3-2 wins for Inter, which was instrumental in helping them leapfrog their Lombardy rivals for a place in the top four.