Inter leave two big names behind for Supercoppa Italiana | OneFootball

Inter will be without Francesco Acerbi and Benjamin Pavard for the Supercoppa Italiana in Riyadh, but Matteo Darmian is travelling with the squad.

The Nerazzurri are flying out on Monday to Saudi Arabia for the tournament, which is again set out in the Final Four format.

This means that there are semi-final matches before the winners of those two fixtures go head-to-head for the trophy.

Scudetto holders Inter face Coppa Italia runners-up Atalanta on January 2, while Coppa Italia winners Juventus take on Serie A second-place Milan on January 3.

The Final will then be held on Monday January 6.

Inter still short on defenders

MILAN, ITALY – NOVEMBER 26: Benjamin Pavard of FC Internazionale competes with Castello Lukeba of RB Leipzig during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD5 match between FC Internazionale Milano and RB Leipzig at Stadio San Siro on November 26, 2024 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

It had been hoped that Acerbi and Pavard would be at least on the bench for those matches, but Sky Sport Italia report that coach Simone Inzaghi preferred to leave them behind at the Appiano Gentile training ground to find their full fitness after injury.

The aim is to get them ready for the return of Serie A action against Venezia on January 12.

However, Darmian is doing better and will be part of the travelling party going to Riyadh after missing the games against Como and Cagliari.