UEFA Super Cup : Inter Milan vs Atletico Madrid

[Dodomeki]

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Internazionale vs Atlético Madrid

Zanetti wary of Atletico strike duo

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Updated: August 26, 2010, 3:19 PM GMT

Inter Milan will attempt to cap a record-breaking few months by claiming their maiden UEFA Super Cup crown on Friday night, but veteran captain Javier Zanetti is determined not to underestimate the threat posed by opponents Atletico Madrid.

Under the guidance of Jose Mourinho, who has since left for Real Madrid and been replaced by Spaniard Rafael Benitez, Inter last season became the first Italian team to win the treble of Champions League, Serie A and Coppa Italia titles.

Now the Nerazzurri will be looking to add the Super Cup to their list of accolades when they face Europa League winners Atletico in Monaco, although Zanetti knows they will need to have their wits about them - especially with regards the Rojiblancos' prolific strikeforce of Sergio Aguero and Diego Forlan.

"It's a very important final for us. It's the first time Inter are playing for this trophy and we are here to win, but with respect for a strong opponent," said the 37-year-old Zanetti. "We know it won't be easy but we want to continue on this great path. Forlan and Aguero are certainly two of the strongest opponents tomorrow, so they deserve attention."

Atletico, who have never won the UEFA Super Cup either, earned their spot in tomorrow's showpiece at the Stade Louis II by beating Fulham in the Europa League final in May to end a 14-year wait for silverware. Quique Sanchez Flores' side have strengthened well this summer, bringing in Filipe Luis, Diego Godin, Fran Merida and Tiago, whilst also managing to hold on to their most prized assets.

One of those star names, Argentinian striker Aguero, said of tomorrow's game: "Starting the season with a title would be spectacular. "The first official game that we have is a final and you cannot say that every season. We are highly motivated to win the European Super Cup."We know that it's difficult, but we are going to try to do it with every resource that we have. Atletico Madrid are a quality team."

Both Inter and Atletico begin their domestic league campaigns on Monday evening, with Benitez's men away to Bologna and Sanchez Flores' troops hosting Malaga.

 

[Dodomeki]

Atletico Madrid beats Inter Milan 2-0 to win European Super Cup


Atletico Madrid beats Inter Milan 2-0 to win European Super Cup

By Jerome Pugmire (CP)

Atletico de Madrid goalkeeper David De Gea celebrates after his teammate Sergio Aguero, of Argentina, scored during a Super Cup final soccer match between Inter Milan and Atletico de Madrid at the Louis II stadium in Monaco, Friday, Aug 27, 2010. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

MONACO, Monaco — Jose Antonio Reyes and Sergio Aguero scored second-half goals as Atletico Madrid beat Inter Milan 2-0 to win the European Super Cup for the first time Friday. Atletico continued its run of form after winning the Europa League last season. Inter won the Champions League under former coach Jose Mourinho, who has been replaced by former Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez.

"We have the squad to win titles. Today we showed it," Reyes said. "It was a tremendous joy. To score a goal in the final is every player's dream."
Atletico took the lead in the 62nd minute when Inter failed to clear the ball on the edge of the area and it fell to Reyes, who glided past Maicon with a neat touch and drove a shot into the bottom left corner past goalkeeper Julio Cesar

Aguero tapped into an empty net in the 83rd minute. Inter striker Diego Milito's last-minute penalty was superbly saved by Atletico goalkeeper David de Gea. Benitez, who guided Liverpool to its fifth Champions League title in 2005, remained upbeat despite the defeat. "I think we played well, we had three dangerous situations in front of the goal," the Spaniard said, adding that he felt some of his players were tired.

"We were not at the level we needed to be against a team that was physically stronger and very good tactically," he said. Benitez does admit he will have to decide what he needs to change after inheriting Mourinho's team. "Some things we will need to do in the same way as we did before and change the way we do some other things," Benitez said. "It's clear we will need some time, but how long you never know."

Moments before Atletico's opening goal, Cesar had denied Reyes with a brilliant one-handed save low to his right as the former Arsenal forward cut inside down the right side and curled a shot goalward. Milito, Inter's star when it beat Bayern Munich to win the Champions League, saw his shot deflected for a corner as Inter started brightly before gradually losing steam.

Samuel Eto'o, playing in a role out on the left, looked frustrated as he rarely got on the ball, but in the 32nd minute, he jinked past two defenders and hit a low shot which flew just past the right post. Atletico striker Diego Forlan, the star of Uruguay's run to the World Cup semifinals, was well contained by the Inter defence and the Spanish side's most threatening player in the first half was the Argentina forward Aguero.

Roared on by Atletico's noisy fans, Aguero found space in the penalty area moments before the interval, but drove his powerful shot over the crossbar. Atletico got on top in the second half, mainly because Inter failed to contain the pace of Reyes and the clever runs off the ball of Aguero as their defenders still had to keep an eye on the sleek and elusive Forlan.

"We faced a very good team tonight, the best in Europe last season, so we are happy with the result and the performance," Atletico midfielder Fran Merida said. "We dominated the game for the most part and we were strong enough to face them." Inter still might have set up a grandstand finish when Goran Pandev was fouled in the box, but Milito's penalty was tipped around the post by Atletico's 19-year-old goalkeeper De Gea.

Prior to the game, police intervened quickly to prevent a clash between small factions of hooligans from Atletico and Inter. Around 25 Atletico hooligans were waiting outside a shop near Monaco's Stade Louis II stadium when some 30-40 thugs from Inter turned a corner into the road, putting the rivals just yards apart.

Atletico thugs, some who smashed wooden crates and ripped off pieces to use as weapons, rushed into the road as they were beckoned on by their counterparts. A handful of police formed a line to push the Atletico hooligans back before further reinforcements helped contain the Inter hooligans, some of whom were waving belts.
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Lineups:

Inter Milan: Julio Cesar, Maicon, Walter Samuel, Lucio, Cristian Chivu, Dejan Stankovic (Goran Pandev, 69), Javier Zanetti, Esteban Cambiasso, Wesley Sneijder (Coutinho, 78), Diego Milito, Samuel Eto'o.

Atletico Madrid: David de Gea, Tomas Ujfalusi, Luis Perea, Diego Godin, Alvaro Dominguez, Paulo Assuncao, Jose Antonio Reyes (Fran Merida, 70), Raul Garcia, Simao (Ignacio Camacho, 90), Sergio Aguero, Diego Forlan (Jose Manuel Jurado, 82).

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[Wayne Piew]

So the Fat Spanish Waiter,
with his "Midas" touch
will once again destroy a big club within 5 years.

 

[Dodomeki]

So the Fat Spanish Waiter,
with his "Midas" touch
will once again destroy a big club within 5 years.

Haha.. of all coaches they chose to get that fat waiter.

Even though Diego Forlan did not score, Equalisation must have betted on him and team to win.

 

[jw5]

That clown was quoted as saying that "changing Mourinho's ways will take some time".
I guess winning the Italian serie A and Champions league final are not good enough, perhaps he wants to finish runner up.
Bloody fool.

 

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Atletico Madrid team line up during the UEFA Super Cup match between Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid at Louis II Stadium on August 27, 2010 in Monaco, Monaco.​

 

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Team of Inter Milan line up for a team photo during the UEFA Super Cup between Inter and Atletico Madrid at Louis II Stadium on August 27, 2010 in Monaco, Monaco.​

 

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Former referee Pierluigi Collina walks down the players' tunnel during the UEFA Super Cup match between Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid at Louis II Stadium on August 27, 2010 in Monaco, Monaco.​

 

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Referee Massimo Busacca of Switzerland in action during the UEFA Super Cup match between Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid at Louis II Stadium on August 27, 2010 in Monaco, Monaco.​

 

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Jose Antonio Reyes (r) of Atletico scores the opening goal during the UEFA Super Cup match between Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid at Louis II Stadium on August 27, 2010 in Monaco, Monaco.

Inter Milan goalkeeper Julio Cesar is beaten at his near post to concede the opening goal scored by Jose Antonio Reyes (out of frame) during the UEFA Super Cup match between Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid at Louis II Stadium on August 27, 2010 in Monaco, Monaco.​

 

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Atletico Madrid's midfielder Jose Antonio Reyes from Spain, reacts after scoring against Inter Milan's Brazilian defender Douglas Sisenando Maicon, during their UEFA Super Cup final soccer match, at the Louis II stadium , in Monaco, Friday, Aug. 27, 2010.

Celebrates of Jose Antonio Reyes of Atletico Madrid after the first goal during the UEFA Super Cup between Inter and Atletico Madrid at Louis II Stadium on August 27, 2010 in Monaco, Monaco.​

 

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Sergio Aguero (2nd l) of Atletico taps the ball in to score his sides second goal during the UEFA Super Cup match between Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid at Louis II Stadium on August 27, 2010 in Monaco, Monaco.​

 

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Atletico de Madrid goalkeeper David De Gea celebrates after his teammate Jose Reyes scored the first goal.

Atletico de Madrid goalkeeper David De Gea celebrates after his teammate Sergio Aguero, of Argentina, scored during a Super Cup final soccer match between Inter Milan and Atletico de Madrid at the Louis II stadium in Monaco, Friday, Aug 27, 2010.​

 

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Sergio Aguero of Atletico celebrates with team mate Simao after scoring his team's second goal.

Sergio Aguero of Madrid celebrates after the second goal during the UEFA Super Cup between Inter and Atletico Madrid at Louis II Stadium on August 27, 2010 in Monaco, Monaco.​

 

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Atletico Madrid players celebrate their 2-0 victory at the close of the UEFA Super Cup between Inter and Atletico Madrid at Louis II Stadium on August 27, 2010 in Monaco, Monaco.

Prince Albert II of Monaco (L) stands alongside UEFA President Michel Platini after the UEFA Super Cup match between Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid at Louis II Stadium on August 27, 2010 in Monaco, Monaco.
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Rafael Benitez the Inter coach shakes hands with fans after collecting his losers medal after his sides 0-2 defeat during the UEFA Super Cup match between Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid at Louis II Stadium on August 27, 2010 in Monaco, Monaco.

Atletico Madrid captain Antonio Lopez lifts the Super Cup after Atletico's 2-0 win of the UEFA Super Cup match between Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid at Louis II Stadium on August 27, 2010 in Monaco, Monaco.​

 

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Diego Forlan of Atletico Madrid hugs the Super Cup after his sides 2-0 victory during the UEFA Super Cup match between Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid at Louis II Stadium on August 27, 2010 in Monaco, Monaco.​

 

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Atletico Madrid's Sergio Aguero and his son lifts the European Super Cup soccer trophy after defeating Inter Milan at Louis II stadium in Monaco, August 27, 2010.​

 

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Atletico Madrid's players celebrate after winning the UEFA Super Cup football match Inter Milan vs Club Atletico Madrid, on August 27, 2010 at the Louis II stadium in Monaco. Madrid won 2 to 0.​