Inter Milan advanced to the Italian Super Cup final after a commanding 2-0 victory over Atalanta in Riyadh on Thursday. Denzel Dumfries was the hero of the night, scoring both goals in the second half to secure the win.
The match, held at a packed stadium in the Saudi Arabian capital, saw Inter aiming to clinch the Super Cup for the fourth consecutive time. They will face the winner of the clash between Juventus and AC Milan for the title.
Inter’s manager, Simone Inzaghi, opted for his strongest lineup, while Atalanta’s Gian Piero Gasperini made surprising choices in his squad selection. Missing top scorer Mateo Retegui due to injury, Gasperini left key players Ademola Lookman and Charles De Ketelaere on the bench.
The first half ended without goals, largely thanks to Atalanta’s goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi, who made remarkable saves to deny Lautaro Martinez and Federico Dimarco. Inter dominated possession but couldn’t find the breakthrough.
Atalanta had a promising opportunity when Inter defender Alessandro Bastoni’s misdirected header gave Giorgio Scalvini a chance, but his effort was saved by Inter’s keeper Yann Sommer.
After the interval, Inter intensified their attack and were rewarded when Dumfries controlled the ball in the six-yard box and executed an acrobatic overhead kick to open the scoring. The Dutch wing-back’s goal energized the team and the fans.
Atalanta responded by bringing on Lookman, De Ketelaere, and Ederson, seeking to turn the tide. However, Inter struck again on the counterattack. Federico Dimarco’s cross-field pass bypassed Mehdi Taremi but found Dumfries, who unleashed a powerful first-time shot that soared past Carnesecchi and into the net off the crossbar.
“We know how difficult it is against Atalanta; they give us few spaces,” Inter’s defender Alessandro Bastoni told SportMediaset. “In these situations, individual talent must shine, and today Denzel did just this.”
Martinez had a chance to extend the lead further but was once again denied by the impressive Carnesecchi.
Inter Milan’s victory sets up an exciting Super Cup final as they look to continue their dominance in the competition. The match in Riyadh also highlights the increasing role of international venues in hosting major European football events, bringing the excitement of the game to fans across Asia.
Reference(s):
Dumfries' double fires Inter to Super Cup final with win over Atalanta
cgtn.com
