A draw with AS Roma (1:1) in their final match of 2024 led to a managerial change for AC Milan—Sérgio Conceição will prepare them for the Super Cup clash against Juventus. The Turin side, being more cohesive, are expected to have the edge in the race to the final, but the Portuguese manager will look to make his mark in his debut.
In the 18th round of Serie A, Juventus shared the points with Fiorentina (2:2)—they remain unbeaten in the tournament but have already gathered 11 draws. They are the best in the league for xGA (13.69), and they share the lead for actual goals conceded with Inter Milan and Fiorentina (all on 15). In 18 matches, Juventus have recorded nine total under 2.5 outcomes—they find it much more comfortable to counter.
Despite their recent unimpressive run, Milan have been solid defensively under Paulo Fonseca, conceding just 17 in 17 matches. Against Roma, they utilised defensive player Álex Jiménez on the attacking flank—under Sérgio Conceição, they will continue to bolster their backline, especially with Rafael Leão currently injured. AC Milan remain in Serie A's top four for xG (31.36) but have underscored by over five goals (26).
In mid-November, Juventus and Milan played out a goalless draw in Serie A (0:0)—this marked their seventh consecutive encounter with a total under 2.5. In Riyadh, these top competitors are expected to partake in a tightly contested match with few goals.
