Did you know that a glorious world club like AC Milan has only won the Italian Cup five times to date? While the “Rossoneri” has seven European Cup triumphs on the international stage alone, the Coppa Italia has not necessarily turned out to be the favorite competition of the Lombards in recent years and decades. The last title dates from 2003.
In the current season, the team of coach Stefano Pioli has made it to the semi-finals. However, the industry leader from Turin is waiting there, who is striving for the fifth cup victory since 2015 after a year of abstinence. Before the semi-final first leg between AC Milan and Juventus, the betting odds leave no question who the bookmakers see as favorites. Here you will learn how to convert the odds into probability of entry.
Even for the first encounter in which the Milanese enjoy the home advantage, the betting providers consider a success of the “old lady” more likely. This assessment is not really surprising, because while the “Biaconeri” is again involved in the battle for the Scudetto, the gradual demise of the “Il Diavolo” continues seamlessly this season.
At the weekend Ibrahimovic and Co. received a bitter 2: 4 derby defeat against Inter Milan, which stopped the slight upswing of the past few weeks. The Sarri team did not spoil themselves with fame either and suffered a sensational 1: 2 defeat at Hellas Verona.
Nevertheless, the bottom line between AC Milan and Juventus speaks more for a tip on the guests who want to set the course for the final in the first leg.
AC Milan:
The Associazione Calcio Milan is currently miles away from earlier heyday. For some years now, the “Rossoneri” has clearly been lagging behind its own requirements and is losing touch with the national leaders from season to season.
After 23 game days of the current season, the red-blacks only ranked tenth. Only nine matches have been won so far. On the other hand, there are just as many defeats and five points. Even if the qualifications for international business are still within reach, the 2019/2020 game year will probably also be classified as a disappointment at the management level.
The only way to turn a below-average season for the better is Coppa Italia. There, the Pioli team is one of four remaining teams that can hope for silverware.
It’s just annoying that the multiple Champions League winner meets Juventus in the semi-finals. In five of the last eight seasons, the “Rossoneri” overtook the “old lady”. In 2016 and 2018, the final was lost to the eternal rival. In addition, the Lombards only made two final appearances in the last seven semi-finals. From a purely statistical point of view, there are many indications that the “Bianconeri” will progress.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Co. don’t want to surrender to their own fate that easily, because the shape curve showed at least before the 2: 4 defeat at the weekend in the derby at Inter Milan, in which they were even 2: 0 at half time, clearly upwards. Previously, the Pioli team remained unbeaten in seven cross-competition matches in calendar year 2020 and celebrated four wins after regular time and as many “clean sheets” during this period.
It is doubtful whether the Milan defensive, which is still very unstable over long stretches of the season, will be able to keep Cristiano Ronaldo and colleagues away from their own housing on Thursday evening. In any case, we are convinced that the “Rossoneri” will have problems in the first leg in front of their home crowd with a decent starting position for the second leg. Consequently there is an AC Milan vs. Juventus tip on the “old lady” close.
With the exception of Leo Duarte, all actors should be available. Only behind the missions of Davide Calabria, Rade Krunic and Mateo Musacchio are there even smaller question marks. The hopes are of course offensive to old master Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who, however, was only able to score a single goal in nine games against his former club (2004-2006).
Juventus:
Over the past few years, Juventus has been the clear dominator of Italian football. The Scudetto has always been going to Turin since 2012. The “Biaconeri” seemed almost unbeatable at the national level. However, this has changed in the current season. The “old lady” shows human traits.
Coach Maurizio Sarri’s side suffered three losses in Serie A. With Inter Milan (one) and Lazio Rome (two) there are currently two clubs that are less likely to leave the field as losers. As a result, a lot of things currently amount to a three-way battle for the championship. Inter Milan (54 points) and Lazio Rome (53) want to make life as difficult as possible for the series champion from northwestern Italy (54).
Last weekend, it became clear that the black and white are not necessarily in top form when the Champions League round of 16 sensationally drew 1: 2 at Hellas Verona.
It was the second consecutive away defeat and the third of their previous five Serie A games abroad. This may also be one of the reasons why relatively high odds are offered on Juve between AC Milan and Juventus on Thursday. Another could be that the bookmakers assume that the Sarri team will not take an excessive risk away, especially since the semi-final second leg takes place in front of their own fans in early March.
Because the “Biaconeri” will run again on three tracks from the end of February and will also be on the program in the premier-class English week, Cristiano Ronaldo and Co. will want to take advantage of the hour. In the first leg in San Siro, the cornerstone for the final To move in. Incidentally, it would be the fifth title game in the past six years. In the semifinals, “La Vecchia Signora” only had to cut sail in two out of nine cases this millennium.
The Ibrahimovic counterpart on the Juve side is of course CR7. The now 35-year-old Portuguese is still in great shape. In Verona, the world footballer scored at least one goal in succession in the tenth Serie A game.
The league record is currently eleven games in a row with one or more goals scored. The superstar wants to set this against Brescia on Sunday.
