Inter Milan secured a spot in Italian Supper Cup finals with a 2-0 victory over Atalanta in Riyadh, thanks to a second-half brace from Denzel Dumfries. Simone Inzaghi’s side, aiming for their fourth consecutive Super Cup title, fielded their strongest lineup, while Atalanta, missing key striker Mateo Retegui due to injury, left Ademola Lookman and Charles De Ketelaere on the bench. Inter will face the winner of Friday’s semifinal between Juventus and AC Milan in Monday’s final.
First-Half Stalemate Highlighted By Goalkeeping Heroics
The first-half ended goalless, largely due to Atalanta goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi’s impressive saves. He first denied Lautaro Martínez with a reflex stop from close range before executing a remarkable double save, blocking Martínez’s powerful shot and then recovering swiftly to thwart Federico Dimarco’s rebound effort. Atalanta’s best opportunity came from a defensive error by Inter’s Alessandro Bastoni, whose poor clearance allowed Giorgio Scalvini a close-range header, but his effort went straight at Inter keeper Yann Sommer.
Dumfries Shines As Inter Seal Victory Amid Late Drama
Inter Milan took control early in second-half, with Denzel Dumfries opening the scoring through a brilliant overhead strike following a corner. Despite Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini introducing Ademola Lookman, Charles De Ketelaere, and Éderson, Dumfries struck again on the counter, finishing a crossfield pass with a thunderous shot off the crossbar. Lautaro Martínez missed chances to extend the lead, while Yann Sommer’s double save in added time preserved the clean sheet. Atalanta’s Ederson had a goal ruled out for offside, and Gasperini admitted his initial lineup may have been costly against a formidable Inter side.
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Juventus And AC Milan Set For Semi-Final Clash In Saudi Arabia
Last season’s Italian Cup winners, Juventus, are set to take on AC Milan on Friday in the second semi-final of the four-team Super Cup tournament, which is being held in Saudi Arabia for the third consecutive year. The highly anticipated match not only pits two of Italy’s footballing giants against each other but also marks a significant moment for AC Milan, as new head coach Sergio Conceição makes his debut. Conceição, who was appointed earlier this week to succeed Paulo Fonseca, will look to make an immediate impact as Milan aim to secure a spot in the final.
