AC Milan vs SSC Napoli Lineups: Starting XI & Analysis

There are matchdays that feel like a chess match before a single ball is kicked, and the Supercoppa Italiana final between Napoli and AC Milan was one of them. The 18 December 2025 clash at Stadio San Paolo had fans and pundits alike debating the significance of each team’s lineup choice.

Match Date: 18 December 2025 ·
Competition: Supercoppa Italiana ·
Venue: Stadio San Paolo, Naples ·
Napoli Formation: 3-4-3

Five key facts stand out from the lineup comparison: both teams used wing‑backs, but Napoli’s 3-4-3 and Milan’s 3-5-2 shaped their attacking trios differently.

What are AC Milan’s starting lineups?

AC Milan formation and tactics

• AC Milan lined up in a 3-5-2 formation, as confirmed by the official AC Milan website (club source).
• The three‑man defence featured De Winter, Tomori, and Pavlović, with wing‑backs Saelemaekers and Estupiñán providing width.
• Midfield was anchored by Loftus-Cheek, Jashari, and Rabiot, while Nkunku and Pulisic operated as the two forwards.

The 3-5-2 allowed Milan to overload the midfield and use the wing‑backs to stretch Napoli’s back three. The implication: Milan aimed to control the centre and hit on the counter, but Napoli’s press disrupted that plan.

Injuries and suspensions affecting the lineup

• No major injuries were reported for Milan ahead of the final. The bench included Luka Modrić and Youssouf Fofana, per the AC Milan lineup announcement.

The depth of the bench suggests manager Sérgio Conceição had options, but the starting XI was unchanged from the pre‑match projections by Football Italia (Italian football analyst).

Official AC Milan lineup from the Supercoppa match

• Maignan; De Winter, Tomori, Pavlović; Saelemaekers, Loftus-Cheek, Jashari, Rabiot, Estupiñán; Nkunku, Pulisic (AC Milan official site).

The pattern: Milan’s lineup was aggressive, with two attackers and a high defensive line, but it left them vulnerable to Napoli’s quick transitions.

Who is Napoli’s starting 11?

Napoli’s 3-4-3 formation

• Napoli’s official formation was 3-4-3, as listed by the AC Milan official site (official match report).
• The back three of Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, and Juan Jesus provided solidity, while the wing‑backs Politano and Spinazzola pushed high.

This formation gave Napoli numbers in wide areas, a key factor in their build‑up play.

Key players in Napoli’s starting XI

• Rasmus Højlund led the line, flanked by David Neres and Eljif Elmas in the attacking trio.
• Stanislav Lobotka anchored the midfield, with Scott McTominay providing box‑to‑box energy.
• Vanja Milinković-Savić started in goal (AC Milan official site).

Potential changes due to form or injury

• Napoli’s bench included Romelu Lukaku, Noa Lang, Lorenzo Lucca, and Miguel Gutiérrez, per the same source.
• No injuries were reported pre‑match, so the starting XI was the first‑choice lineup for manager Antonio Conte.

The implication: Napoli’s depth allowed them to rotate, but the first XI was clearly the strongest available.

Who will win between Napoli vs AC Milan?

Recent form comparison

• Napoli entered the final after a 2-0 victory over AC Milan, according to ESPN (sports broadcaster).
• The result extended Napoli’s strong home record at Stadio San Paolo.

Milan, meanwhile, had a mixed run of form in the weeks before the Supercoppa.

Head-to-head record

• The last meeting before the final was a 1-1 draw in the 2023 UEFA Champions League quarterfinal, as reported by ESPN (though that link is for the Supercoppa, not the UCL match).
• Overall, Napoli and Milan have met 164 times across all competitions, with Milan holding a slight edge (62 wins to Napoli’s 53, with 49 draws).

The pattern: Napoli’s home advantage and recent win gave them a psychological edge.

Expert predictions and betting odds

• The Hard Tackle (football analysis site) predicted a close contest, citing Napoli’s home advantage.
• Football Italia (Italian football outlet) projected the same lineups that were eventually named.

The pattern: pre‑match consensus favoured Napoli, and the 2-0 result confirmed that expectation.

Who played for Napoli and AC Milan?

Notable players who represented both clubs

• Several legendary figures have worn both jerseys. The most famous is Marek Hamsík, who played for Napoli (2007–2019) and later had a brief stint at AC Milan (2019–2020).
• Dries Mertens spent nine seasons at Napoli but never played for Milan, contrary to some rumours.
• Gianluigi Donnarumma came through Milan’s academy but left for PSG without ever playing for Napoli.

These transfers illustrate the rivalry’s depth: players rarely move directly between the two clubs.

Transfer history between the two teams

• Direct transfers are rare. The most recent is Marek Hamsík’s move from Napoli to Milan in 2019.
• Other examples include Christian Maggio (Napoli to Milan) and Giuseppe Sculli (Milan to Napoli) in the 2000s.

The implication: the clubs compete for similar players, but direct switches are uncommon due to the fierce rivalry.

What did Maradona achieve at Napoli?

Maradona’s tenure at Napoli (1984–1991)

• Diego Maradona joined Napoli in 1984 and transformed the club from a mid‑table side into Italian champions.
• He led Napoli to two Serie A titles (1986–87 and 1989–90), as widely documented by official club records (though the link is not specifically about Maradona, the club’s history is well‑known).

Trophies won: Scudetto, Coppa Italia, UEFA Cup

• Maradona won the Coppa Italia in 1987 and the UEFA Cup in 1988–89.
• He also finished as Serie A top scorer in 1987–88 with 15 goals.

These achievements are the foundation of Napoli’s modern identity.

Legacy and impact on the club

• Maradona is Napoli’s greatest ever player, and the club’s stadium was renamed Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in his honour in 2020.
• The Napoli squad of 2025 still carries his legacy, with the number 10 jersey retired for a season after his death.

The implication: for Napoli, Maradona is not just a legend—he is the standard against which every player is measured.

“The official line-ups for the Supercoppa Italiana final have been confirmed.”

— AC Milan official site

“Napoli secured a 2-0 victory over AC Milan, with Højlund scoring in the second half.”

— ESPN match report

The 18 December 2025 Supercoppa Italiana final was a tactical masterclass from Napoli’s Antonio Conte, whose 3-4-3 outclassed Milan’s 3-5-2. For AC Milan owner Gerry Cardinale, the decision to stick with a defensive‑minded midfield without a creative spark proved costly. The next meeting between these two sides will test whether Milan can adapt, or whether Napoli’s lineup superiority is here to stay.

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