Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the Supercoppa Italiana between Juventus and AC Milan.

Fixtures such as this one normally act as the curtain-raiser to a new season but in Italian football, they have started doing things differently and who can blame them. A trip to Qatar in the week leading up to Christmas seems a lot more attractive - and presumably lucrative - than a game in Italy so here we have it - competitive action less than 48 hours before Christmas Day.

This match is normally played out between the Serie A champions and the winners of the Coppa Italia but given that Juventus won both last season, it means that AC Milan are handed an invite after finishing as runners-up in the cup. That was the highlight of a relatively disappointing season last time around and although they only sit in fifth place during the current campaign, they have the chance to end 2016 on a high.

Anyway, without further ado, let's take a look at the team news coming from Doha...

JUVENTUS XI: Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Rugani, Chiellini, Alex Sandro; Khedira, Marchisio, Sturaro; Pjanic; Mandzukic, Higuain

JUVENTUS SUBSTITUTES: Neto, Audero, Barzagli, Benatia, Evra, Coccolo, Hernanes, Lemina, Asamoah, Cuadrado, Pjaca, Dybala

AC MILAN XI: Donnarumma; Abate, Paletta, Romagnoli, De Sciglio; Kucka, Locatelli, Bertolacci; Suso, Bacca, Bonaventura

AC MILAN SUBSTITUTES: Gabriel, Antonelli, Gomez, Zapata, Honda, Mati Fernandez, Pasalic, Poli, Sosa, Lapadula, Luiz Adriano, Niang

If you thought that Juventus may take the opportunity to rest many of his first-team players, think again. Massimiliano Allegri opts to name a strong team as he looks to win the trophy for the second successive year. However, the likes of Andrea Barzagli, Paulo Dybala and Juan Cuadrado all have to make do with a place on the bench.

AC Milan manager Vincenzo Montella also names many of his usual starting lineup as Milan look to win their first Supercoppa Italiana since 2011. Fans of English football, and more specifically, Liverpool will notice the inclusions of Gabriel Paletta and Suso, who has starred for the San Siro outfit over the last few weeks.

Once again, Juventus are running away with Serie A but in their last meeting with AC Milan, they succumbed to a 1-0 defeat at the San Siro. Manuel Locatelli's goal midway through the second half made all of the difference on that occasion, but since that game, Juventus have gone on to win seven of eight games in the league.

It looks like we will be kicking off a little late. The two sets of players are all having a leisurely chat in the tunnel.

He's had some career...

Buffon will make his 600th appearance for Juve today. 473 league, 12 Coppa, 7 Supercoppa, 108 Europe. 2nd to 600 behind Del Piero (705). — Gracenote Live (@GracenoteLive) 23 December 2016

Milan get us underway in Qatar.

The stadium is only just more than half full but in all fairness, it's more than I was expecting. It appears that AC Milan are the favoured team in the eyes of the crowd.

SHOT! Juventus have started very brightly and a neat move ends with Sturaro being given too much time on the edge of the area. However, his curling effort - which was targeting the top corner - was easily claimed by Donnarumma.

Since that early scare, Milan have looked to get some time on the ball but aside from a poor cross from Abate, they haven't come close to causing any problems for the Juventus defence.

SHOT! Montella can't be pleased with how much time that Juventus are getting when they press forward. Mandzukic receives the ball in a similar position to that of Sturaro but his volley towards the bottom corner is parried away for a corner.

SHOT! Milan look extremely sluggish, both with and without the ball. A corner was only half-cleared to Alex Sandro, who stung the hands of Donnarumma with a 25-yard strike.

SHOT! Donnarumma puts his team int all sorts of trouble by taking too much time with a clearance and Juventus soon win a free kick on the edge of the box after a foul by Paletta. It's Pjanic who ends up taking the set piece but his effort hits the top of the wall and goes out for a corner.

It had been coming. Moments after Donnarumma pulled off an excellent save to deny Sturaro inside the penalty area, Juve taken the lead from the resulting corner which was volleyed into the net from eight yards by Chiellini.

CHANCE! That's much better from Milan, who come within inches of an immediate reply. Suso has been quiet in this game but a tremendous inswinging cross from the former Liverpool winger evades everyone and just misses the far post.

Milan are persisting with crossing from wide areas but it's going to take a special ball into the box to get the better of these Juventus defenders. They look as solid as ever. That said, Milan have had more of the last few minutes. Juventus are perhaps having a breather.

There have already been 13 fouls in this match. So much for this game being considered a glorified friendly.

SUBSTITUTION! It appears that Sandro has sustained an injury so he is going to be replaced by Patrice Evra. It's the most notable thing to happen on the last 10 minutes.

CHANCE! That has to go down as a chance for Milan. A brilliant cross from the left should find Kucka but somehow, he fails to make any connect with the ball and it goes out for a goal kick. His look says it all.

Slowly but surely, Milan have been building a head of steam and they get what they deserve as Bonaventura equalises for the San Siro outfit. A beautiful cross from Suso finds the run of the midfielder, who is able to flick the ball into the far corner with his head. Buffon had no chance.

Moments after the goal, Bonaventura was caught by a stray elbow by Lichtsteiner, who has already been booked in this game. However, it was missed by the official when the right-back should probably be heading back to the dressing room.

Milan remain on the front foot as we approach half time. It's been quiet the turnaround because Juventus could have been at least two goals to the good in the early stages of this game. Milan seem to want the trophy more than their opponents. There will be two minutes of added-on time.

The half-time whistle goes in Doha and we reach the break with this game very finely poised. Juventus bossed the opening 20 minutes but since then, Milan have improved and ended the half on the front foot.

Don't worry, we haven't left you. There just appears to be no urgency with this second half getting underway. The players are only just making their way back out onto the pitch.

We are finally back underway.

It's been a relatively quiet start to the second half. I think everyone must have over-indulged on the half-time refreshments. It would explain the lengthy break.

It's Juventus who are looking to make some headway now. Neither team did much chasing of the ball in the first half but Juventus are looking to keep Milan in their own final third. They are unable to force the mistake, however.

Back come Milan, who are looking to get Suso back into the game. His trickery and crossing keeps Juventus on the defensive but it's not happening often enough.

WOODWORK! Milan hit the bar! After a shot from Suso was blocked, the former Liverpool man curled the ball in from the right and Romagnoli's header was diverted onto the crossbar. He came under no pressure from a defender so he should really be scoring from there.

SAVE! Things are really hotting up now. Higuain plays the ball to Khedira around 40 yards from goal and after advancing forward, he unleashes a swerving effort which forces Donnarumma into an excellent one-handed save.

All of Milan's attacks are coming down the right flank. Evra is being made to look everyone of his 35 years. As of yet, though, Milan are not taking advantage.

SUBSTITUTION! Juventus make their second change of the match and it's a positive one. Pjanic has been replaced by Paulo Dybala, who will now form a three-man attack with Mandzukic and Higuain. Still no movement from Milan.

Since that change, Juventus have definitely showed a lot more attacking intent and they are able to win a free kick on th left flank. It's Dybala who swings the ball in and although the delivery is good, Milan do an effective job in dealing with the threat.

Milan are defending for their lives now. Higuain just tip-toed his way through the Milan defence before drilling a low pass across the six-yard box. There was no-one there to apply the finishing touches, however, and Milan cleared.

SUBSTITUTION! Finally, Milan make their first alteration as Chelsea loanee Mario Pasalic comes on in place of Locatelli.

SHOT! What a strike from Dybala. After receiving the ball around 30 yards out, the attacker wastes no time in driving the ball towards the bottom corner but his strike goes no more than a yard wide of the target. Donnarumma looked beaten there.

SUBSTITUTION! Lemina is the next player to be introduced by Juventus, with Sturaro making way. He's had a good game so probably doesn't deserve to be hooked at this stage.

SHOT! Dybala has been excellent since his introduction and his quick-thinking helps him get another shot on goal but on this occasion, it was dealt with by Donnarumma.

CHANCE! Milan should be ahead! They've offered very little over the last 10 minutes but another superb delivery from Suso finds the head of Bacca, who heads the ball into the ground before seeing Buffon pull off an instinctive save from close range.

Out of nowhere, Milan have started to take control of this match. They've spent much of the second half on the defensive but they are now pushing Juventus back. Suso is being provided with the ball at every given opportunity.

It's looking like extra-time in Doha. I'm not sure that either team would have wanted it, but unless we get another gial, that's what we are going to get.

There will be three minutes of added-on time.

CHANCE! It's probably unfair to call this a chance but we have to after his movement created the opening. Suso's cross found Bacca at the far post but the ball was just above him and he couldn't get the cleanest contact on his header.

That's the end of normal time in Doha. We are going to have 30 minutes of extra time in an attempt to find a winner.

We are back underway in the Middle East.

CHANCE! How has Bacca not scored here?! Buffon pulled off a tremendous save to stop a shot from finding the far corner but the ball fell to Bacca, who tried to control the ball from eight yards out when all he had to do was tap home the rebound.

It's been all Milan since the start of extra time. I'm not sure if Juventus are shattered or Milan are simply playing that well but there is only one team who are going to net a second goal at the moment.

Since my last comment, it has been all Juventus - typical! They appear to have found a second wind but they can't find a final ball which is going to hurt Milan. There's a lot more space becoming available in the centre of the pitch but can anyone exploit it before the end of extra time?

SUBSTITUTIONS! Abate, who has just suffered from cramp, and Bacca are being replaced by Antonelli and Lapadula. Double change from Milan.

There will be one minute of added-on time.

We are back underway. Will be find a winner in these final 15 minutes?

SHOT! This is greedy from Higuain but at least he forced a save from Donnarumma. The Argentine was eased out to an acute angle but he still fired an effort on goal which was stopped at the near post.

SHOT! Pasalic tries to get himself into the action with am ambitious attempt inside the penalty area but he cannot get enough curl on the ball and it drifts harmlessly wide of the post.

DISALLOWED GOAL! Juventus think they have a goal when Evra finishes calmly into the far corner but the left-back is a couple of yards offside.

Just five minutes to go now. Both teams are still showing enough ambition to make a winning goal not all that of a surprise but that said, I'd be surprised if we are not heading to penalties.

CHANCE! What a miss from Dybala! There's no doubting that Juventus should be ahead. Evra did well down the left before crossing for the substitute but despite being just 10 yards, he blazed the ball high into the stands. If that is on target, he probably scores.

It's all Juventus in these closing stages but I think that might be it as far as goalscoring opportunities are concerned.

After 120 minutes of action, we still can't find a winner. It will be soon be time for penalties.

We are having a few technical difficulties at Sports Mole but we are 1-1 after two penalties. Marchisio and Bonaventura have scored but Mandzukic and Lapadula have missed.

It's now 2-2 after three penalties. Both Higuain and Kucka have found the back of the net.

Higuain sends Donnarumma the wrong way and we are now at 3-2. Suso to take the next one for Milan...

Suso scores! His run-up is very stop-start but he sends the ball down the middle after Buffon had dived.

Dybala misses! Donnarumma pulls off a sensational save to his left! Milan will win if they score their next kick...

Pasalic fires the ball into the top corner and AC Milan have won the Supercoppa Italiana!

That turned out to be a dramatic game, didn't it? Both Juventus and Milan had chances to win it in normal time but it ended up being the misses from 12 yards from Mandzukic and Dybala that proved costly for the defending champions.

That will be all from Sports Mole for this match. Thank you for joining us today for what seems like hours! We got a good game to show for it though so there can't be too many complaints. Goodbye for now.