Inter Milan secured a 2-0 victory over Atalanta in their Italian Super Cup semi-final clash at the Parc des Princes on Thursday.
Inter defender Denzel Dumfries netted both goals in the 49th and 61st minutes, leading his team to victory.
The Nerazzurri have advanced to the final, where they will face the winner of tomorrow’s Juventus vs. Milan match, which will determine their opponent in the final.
Inter nearly took the lead within the first 30 seconds when Thuram made a run down the right, passing to Lautaro. Lautaro’s initial shot was blocked, and the ball rebounded to him. He then passed to Mkhitaryan, whose shot was deflected out for the first corner.
In the 10th minute, Lautaro missed a golden opportunity when Hakan delivered a free-kick to the far post. Lautaro, unmarked and in front of goal, took a shot that was brilliantly saved by goalkeeper Karnesecki, who turned it into a corner.
From the ensuing corner, Inter defender Besik rose to meet the cross, but his header went over the crossbar.
Atalanta’s first real threat came in the 16th minute. A cross from the left reached Scalvini after Bastoni failed to clear it with his head. Scalvini, unchallenged in front of Inter’s goal, sent a weak header straight into the arms of goalkeeper Andre Onana.
Carnesecchi was called into action once again, denying Inter a golden opportunity after a quick counterattack. Lautaro received the ball and fired a powerful shot from outside the box, which the goalkeeper saved. Dimarco was quick to follow up with another shot, but Carnesecchi reacted superbly to turn it into a corner in the 21st minute.
Lautaro then squandered another chance from the corner when the ball fell to him, but he sent a low, creeping shot well wide of the goal.
Lautaro continued to miss chances, and in the 30th minute, Thuram provided a perfect pass for Lautaro at the edge of the box. However, the Argentine striker hit the ball with one touch, sending it high over the crossbar.
In the 42nd minute, Inter full-back Dumfries also missed a clear one-on-one opportunity. Lautaro set him up perfectly, allowing him to face the goalkeeper, but Dumfries lost his balance under pressure from Ruggeri and failed to convert.
Inter coach Simone Inzaghi made his first substitution at the start of the second half, replacing Thuram with Mehdi Taremi.
In the 49th minute, Dumfries broke the deadlock, scoring after a corner kick. Besik’s header found Dumfries inside the six-yard box, and the Dutchman executed a brilliant scissors kick, sending the ball into the net.
Gasperini, who had started with an unexpected formation, responded by bringing on Ederson, De Ketelaar, and Lookman in search of an equalizer after falling behind.
Dumfries continued to shine, doubling Inter’s lead in the 61st minute with a sensational strike. Following a quick counter-attack and a series of passes, the ball reached Dumfries, who unleashed a rocket-like shot that hit the crossbar and found the net.
Lautaro, however, continued to struggle, missing yet another golden opportunity when a ball fell to him in front of an open goal, but his shot was saved by the goalkeeper.
Atalanta quickly responded and thought they had pulled one back in the 72nd minute through Ederson. After multiple attempts were cleared by the defence, the ball reached Ederson, whose shot was deflected by Dimarco. However, VAR ruled out the goal for offside.
Inter then focused on defending their lead and relying on counterattacks. Atalanta had three chances in two minutes. First, Brescianini’s shot was tipped over the crossbar for a corner.
From the ensuing corner, Demesetti met the cross with a powerful header, but Sommer made an excellent save. The rebound fell to Lookman, who headed the ball again, but Sommer was again equal to it, producing a fantastic save.
Lautaro had another opportunity to seal the win after intercepting a ball in defence, but with only four Inter players against the goalkeeper, he weakly shot wide of the goal. In the end, the match concluded with Inter securing their place in the final.
