As the Supercoppa Italiana returns to Saudi Arabia, all eyes will be on Sérgio Conceição as he takes charge of AC Milan for the first time in a high-stakes encounter against Juventus. The Portuguese manager’s debut comes under extraordinary circumstances, facing not only a formidable opponent but also his son, Francisco Conceição, who plays for Juventus.
Juventus, the most successful side in the competition’s history with nine titles, are eager to reclaim glory after missing out on the past two editions. Despite an unbeaten Serie A campaign in 2024/25, the Bianconeri ended the calendar year in sixth place, plagued by an inability to convert draws into wins. Their 14-game unbeaten streak (W5, D9) underscores their resilience, though their recent 2-2 draw with Fiorentina highlighted their vulnerability, letting a lead slip twice.
The Old Lady can take solace in their history against Milan in the Supercoppa, having last defeated them 1-0 in the 2019 edition. However, their inability to taste victory in their last three Serie A clashes against the Rossoneri (D2, L1) adds an intriguing layer to this encounter.
AC Milan, meanwhile, arrive in Riyadh under the shadow of recent managerial upheaval. Sérgio Conceição replaces Paulo Fonseca, dismissed after a disappointing 1-1 draw with Roma. Despite suffering just one defeat in their last 12 outings (W7, D4), Milan’s form has been inconsistent, scoring two or more goals only once in their last five matches. For Milan, victory here would bring their Supercoppa tally to eight titles, equalling their city rivals Inter.
Adding to the drama, the father-son dynamic promises a fascinating subplot. Juventus forward Francisco Conceição has proven himself as a super-sub, scoring all three of his goals this season late in matches. Milan, on the other hand, will rely heavily on Tijjani Reijnders, who has opened the scoring in their last two games and netted five times in seven appearances.
History suggests a tight affair, with five of the last six head-to-head meetings producing fewer than 1.5 goals, including three 0-0 draws. Both teams will need to overcome these low-scoring trends to seize the silverware.
As Sérgio Conceição embarks on his Milan journey against a Juventus side brimming with resilience, the stage is set for a captivating clash of tactical wits and personal stakes. Will Milan’s new coach rise to the occasion, or will Juventus add another chapter to their Supercoppa legacy?
