AC Milan vs Inter Milan Predictions: Giroud tipped to score in San Siro draw

The Milan rivals take a break from their engrossing Serie A title battle as they switch focus to the eagerly anticipated first leg of their Coppa Italia semi-final, with AC Milan the hosts at the San Siro on Tuesday night (8pm)...

The Serie A title battle is proving to be an enthralling affair. Napoli top the table on goal difference ahead of AC Milan, however defending champions Inter are two points behind with a game in hand, with Juventus a further five points adrift.

The Coppa Italia takes centre stage this week, and first up on Tuesday night football fans are treated to the Derby della Madonnina.

AC Milan have not lifted the trophy since all the way back in 2003 when they were managed by Carlo Ancelotti, something incumbent Stefano Pioli will be bidding to change with his side buoyed by their 4-0 demolition of Lazio in the previous round.

Inter are also without a Coppa Italia trophy in a prolonged period of time, with their last triumph coming under the leadership of Leonardo Araújo over a decade ago in 2011. I Nerazzurri beat Jose Mourinho’s Roma in the quarter-finals, although they head into the first-leg in patchy form, having won just two of their last 10 matches in 90 minutes, and are without a win in four.

Despite this, Inter have been installed as the 5/4 favourites to win the first-leg - note that the away goals rule is still applicable - while AC are a best-priced 53/20 to come out on top in their home fixture, with a draw available at 12/5.

The second-leg won't take place until the start of April, while the winner of this semi-final tie will face either Juventus or Fiorentina in May's grand final.

Here at BettingOdds.com we hate to sit on the fence, but in this circumstance the draw does stand-out at 12/5 with bet365.

Make no mistake about it, given their respective trophy droughts in the Coppa Italia both clubs will be determined to make it through to the final in May. Yet given that they'll do battle over the course of two-legs, neither side will want to give much away in this opening encounter, so we could well see a cagey, albeit hard-fought, clash at the San Siro.

Milan have drawn their last two games, dropping valuable points in the Scudetto title race, and have also drawn 11 of their 17 Coppa Italia semi-final first legs.

Meanwhile, form has deserted Inter who have failed to win any of their last four matches; their worst winless run since Simone Inzaghi replaced Antonio Conte back in the summer.

A 1-1 draw can be backed at 29/5 (SBK), while a goalless draw could be the way to go at 11/1 with the same bookmaker.

Former Arsenal and Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud is the joint-top goalscorer in this season's Coppa Italia with three goals in two games.

The Frenchman scored the equaliser in the eventual 3-1 win over Genoa and followed this up with a first-half brace in the 4-0 battering of Lazio.

Leading the line in the absence of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Giroud is in fine form in 2022 with six goals in 10 appearances, two of which came in the recent 2-1 victory over Inter in the league.

Giroud is no stranger to winning domestic cups, having won four FA Cups and featured in six finals in England, and we fancy him to continue his scoring streak in the Coppa Italia. The 35-year-old is priced at 23/10 with BetVictor to get on the scoresheet once again tonight, while he can be backed at 13/2 (UniBet) to open the scoring at the San Siro.