A Reignited Rivalry: What to Expect from Juventus vs. Milan | OneFootball

Juventus and Milan are titans of the Italian game, and their rivalry stems back over 120 years. Although there’s definitely no love lost between the pair, the recent reignition of their rivalry has emerged due to their proximity in the table. While the teams have had varied fortunes over the last 30 years, both are currently vying for Champions League qualification, slightly adrift from the leading group Napoli, Inter and Atalanta.

Earlier this month, the two teams battled it out in the Supercoppa, with Milan coming out on top and securing a 2-1 win. There wasn’t much to separate them during the game, with possession and shots on target for both teams essentially 50/50. Despite this, the sportsbooks have Juventus as the betting favourites heading into the Serie A clash on January 19th.

Football markets are often subject to change, particularly on the day of the game. Bettors use various betting payment methods to place their wagers, ranging from traditional to more modern digital versions like PayPal sportsbooks; the best of these can be found at WSN. Expect to see betting odds vary as news of potential injuries and squad changes emerge during the game week.

Can Milan Repeat Their Supercoppa Success?

Sergio Conceicao got off to a great start as his new tenure as Milan manager kicked off earlier this month. Still, even with this new manager bounce, Juventus are above Milan in the table, and the bookies seem to think that home advantage should give Juve the edge. Concecaio has been credited with galvanizing The Rossoneri with their star man Rafael Leao, stating the club has a new aura with the Portuguese manager at the helm.

Leao is a polarizing figure due to his inconsistency, but when he’s on top form and one of the best players in Serie A. He was instrumental in the phenomenal Milan comeback in the Supercoppa final against their arch-rivals Inter, ending their run of three consecutive Supercoppa triumphs. A sentiment that former Milan boss Arrigo Sacchi shares.

Football is often a game of momentum. With a new manager in charge, top players finding their form, and an incredible last-minute winner against city rivals in a cup final earlier this month, it was a joyous time for The Rossoneri. If Milan can continue this momentum and ride the wave of Concecaio’s incredible impact, then it wouldn’t be a shock to see them come away from the Allianz Stadium with all three points.

epa11804086 AC Milan’s Ismael Bennacer (L) in action against Juventus’ Manuel Locatelli (R) during the Supercoppa Italiana semi-final match between Juventus FC and AC Milan, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 03 January 2025. EPA-EFE/STR

The Case For Juve

Thiago Motta’s men will have a point to prove when they face off against Milan. They could’ve easily found themselves in the final instead of Milan if it wasn’t for an almost comical deflection. Combine this with the fact that they’ll go into the game with a home advantage, you can see why the bookies have them as a slight favorite.

However, Milan are hot on their heels, and although three points currently separate them, they also have a game in hand. Juventus will be keen to extend this gap, and they have an excellent opportunity to stem the traction that Concecaio is getting at the San Siro.

Some positives for Juve include Kenan Yildiz’s display, which earned him the man of the match honour despite Juventus crashing out of the Supercoppa in Riyadh. The 19-year-old has been grabbing the headlines for the last few months now, and just like Rafael Leao, Kenan has the ability to turn the game on its head with a moment of magic.

Suppose he can link up effectively with some of Juve’s more established stars like Dušan Vlahović, who currently has seven goals so far in this year’s Serie A campaign. In that case, Juventus may have what it takes to derail the formidable start that Concecaio has made as Milan boss.

Match Prediction

It was impossible to separate these teams on paper, and aside from an own goal, the match stats from their Supercoppa semi-final suggest that there really isn’t that much to split them. Juve seemed like they would take command of the game in the first half until it all fell apart in the final 20 minutes.

Milan’s win against Inter, coming back from two goals down, was a phenomenal advertisement for the Serie A. It will also boost their confidence and convince them they can win against Juventus. However, this match could be heading for a draw with so little between them during their game in Riyadh and the sportsbooks barely separating them.

While Concecaio is riding the crest of a wave at the moment, the new manager effect may eventually plateau or run out of momentum. With Juve keen to right the wrongs of Riyadh, they’re likely to even each other out as there is very little separating them on paper, or out on the pitch if the last encounter is an effective yardstick.

Final Thoughts

Although many analysts and experts believe that the two teams will meet head-on, with little to separate them, this doesn’t mean that it’s going to be a dull encounter. It feels like every time Milan have played recently, they have fans on the edge of their seats. While it doesn’t do anything for the blood pressure of Milan fans, casual football fans will be keen to tune in to the Juve game on the 19th.

We’d expect this one to ignite in a similar fashion to their Supercoppa tie. It might not have the same sort of dramatic ending, but we expect it to be one of the standout fixtures in the upcoming Serie A calendar this month.