While it was Parma's first appearance in the competition,
AC Milan were making their fourth appearance, having previously contested the
1973,
1989 and
1990 editions.
Parma reached the Super Cup as winners of the 1992–93 European Cup Winners' Cup, having beaten
Royal Antwerp 3–1 in the
final at
Wembley Stadium,
London, while Milan lost 1–0 to
Marseille in the
1993 UEFA Champions League Final at the
Olympiastadion,
Munich, but Marseille's subsequent ban from European football due to match-fixing meant Milan competed in the Super Cup in their place.
Milan and Parma had never played against each other in European competition, but had previously played seven leagues matches against each other, all within four years of both legs of this tie – Milan had won three matches to Parma's two, with the remaining two matches ending in draws. It was Parma's first match in Europe against a fellow Italian side, but Milan had once previously come up against opposition of the same nationality in Europe when they defeated
Sampdoria over two legs (3–1) in the
1990 edition of the Super Cup.