The lowdown on Bologna v Inter in the Supercoppa Italiana 🇮🇹

The Supercoppa Italiana action continues on Friday from Saudi Arabia with the second semi-final as Bologna take on Inter.

Here is everything you need to know ahead of the intriguing encounter.

Where and when is the game?

Semi-final number two takes place on Friday, December 19.

The game kicks off at 22:00 local time (20:00 CET) and will take place at the King Saud University Stadium in Riyadh, which also plays host to each other game in the mini-.

It has a capacity of just over 26,000 which will be increased in order to be a venue for the 2034 World Cup and is the current home of Al-Nassr.

How did the teams qualify?

In 2023, the Supercoppa Italiana moved away from the traditional format pitting the Scudetto winner against the Coppa Italia winner, pivoting to a four-team format.

Bologna booked their ticket by wining the Coppa Italia in May thanks to Dan Ndoye's loan goal against Milan, while Inter are back in Saudi Arabia as a result of finishing runners-up in Serie A.

One player to watch from each team

Federico Bernardeschi (Bologna)

Opportunities haven't always been easy to come by for the 31-year-old this season upon his return from Toronto as he aims to show he still has the old magic that made him a fan favourite at Fiorentina and Juventus.

Of his 21 starts, most (four of them) have came in the Europa League where he has also done the most damage with three goals in that competition and another impressive cup showing could convince the Felsinei coaching staff that he is worthy of more regular starts.

Piotr Zielinski (Inter)

With Hakan Çalhanoğlu unavailable, the Pole is widely expected to step up and fill the void in midfield against Bologna.

He's had a stop-start time of it so far since making the free transfer move to San Siro but his incredible Serie A Goal of the Month in November against Verona is evidence of the quality he offers.

Who are the coaches?

Vincenzo Italiano (Bologna)

After impressing for three years with his exciting football at Fiorentina, the 48-year-old moved on to Bologna in 2024 after Thiago Motta's exit and won a rare trophy in his first campaign.

This season has been a much more difficult one, if only on a personal note with Italiano suffering from a concerning case of pneumonia in October, although his side are still flying high and currently sixth in Serie A.

Cristian Chivu (Inter)

Just four months after securing his first senior coaching position with Parma, the Romanian has found himself stepping into the shoes of Simone Inzaghi and one of the most high-pressured jobs in world football.

After a few early speed bumps, his team now look to be clicking and sit top of the table in Serie A, while also occupying the top automatic positions in the Champions League table.

Predicted line-ups

Bologna (4-2-3-1): Ravaglia; Holm, Heggem, Lucumí, Miranda; Moro, Pobega; Bernardeschi, Odgaard, Rowe; Castro.

Inter (3-5-2): Sommer; Bisseck, Akanji, Bastoni; Luis Henrique, Barella, Zielinski, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Thuram, Martínez.

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