Veteran forward Edin Džeko inspired Inter Milan to a 3-0 win over city rival AC Milan and a second straight Italian Super Cup trophy on Wednesday, adding to the Rossoneri바카라s woes.
Džeko scored one goal and also had a role in Federico Dimarco바카라s opener. World Cup winner Lautaro Martínez sealed the result late on as Inter lifted the first trophy of the Italian season at King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
바카라I will be 22 soon,바카라 joked Džeko, who turns 37 in March but is showing little sign of slowing down.
바카라We certainly put in a great performance, the lads really were splendid from the first to the last minute. We really gave everything we had. All of us.바카라
Attention will now turn back to the league, where there will be another Milan derby on Feb. 5.
바카라This can give us an extra push in the league,바카라 Inter coach Simone Inzaghi said. 바카라But tonight we will enjoy this trophy because winning like this, against Milan, in a final, is really wonderful.바카라
The result will increase worries over Milan바카라s start to the year, especially after such a dismal performance. It beat Salernitana in its first match in 2023 but followed that up with two draws in the league and also was eliminated from the Italian Cup.
The defending champion has fallen nine points behind runaway leader Napoli, with Inter and Juventus just a point further back.
바카라It바카라s clear that we바카라re not going through our best period, especially mentally,바카라 Milan coach Stefano Pioli said. 바카라We certainly need to do more and do better.
바카라We바카라ll move forward in the only way we know how: Working better to bring our level back up, because this is a defeat that really hurts us. But the season is still out there waiting for us and we need to get back to playing the way we know how.바카라
The Super Cup is traditionally between the Serie A champion and the Italian Cup winner. Inter won it last year after winning the league, but entered this edition having lifted the Italian Cup last season.
Its defense of the title got off to a great start as it took the lead in the 10th minute. Džeko played a great one-touch layoff to release Nicolò Barella, who rolled the ball across for Dimarco to tap in at the back post.
That seemed to spark Milan into life and Inter goalkeeper André Onana had to pull off an impressive save to deny Rafael Leão.
Džeko got on the scoresheet himself in the 21st minute. He caught the Milan defense napping to race onto a free kick from inside Inter바카라s half and cut inside past Sandro Tonali before placing an angled strike past goalkeeper Ciprian Tătărușanu.
And the Milan defense was at fault again for Inter바카라s third as Martínez shrugged off Fikayo Tomori all too easily before curling in a delicious strike.
