Inter Milan triumphed in the Italian Super Cup final on Monday, with a last-minute goal by Lautaro Martínez securing a 1-0 victory over Napoli. This win not only earned Inter their first trophy of the season but also reinforced the team’s and Lautaro’s higher aspirations for the ongoing campaign.
The decisive moment came in the first minute of stoppage time, overturning expectations of the match heading to penalties. Napoli, reduced to 10 men after Giovanni Simeone’s dismissal for two quick yellow cards, seemed poised to hold on until Lautaro’s breakthrough. The goal led to ecstatic celebrations, with Lautaro sprinting the length of the field to celebrate with the Inter fans in Riyadh.
This victory marks Inter Milan’s third consecutive Italian Super Cup win, although it’s the first since the competition’s format change. Previously a match between the Serie A champion and the Italian Cup winner, the Super Cup now also includes the runners-up from both tournaments. The final pitted the two winners against each other, with Serie A champion Napoli having defeated Fiorentina and Italian Cup winner Inter having beaten Lazio in their respective semifinals.
Inter Milan’s ambitions extend beyond this triumph, as they have also progressed to the Champions League last 16, facing Atlético Madrid. Lautaro, a World Cup winner with Argentina in 2022, is pursuing the top goal scorer title in Serie A, currently leading with 18 goals in as many appearances.
For Napoli, the Super Cup represented a significant opportunity for silverware, given their current position in the Italian Cup and Serie A. They also face Barcelona in the Champions League. Speculations abound about Napoli’s coaching future, with reports suggesting a meeting with José Mourinho following his dismissal from Roma.
The match itself saw Inter Milan dominating the first half, with a goal by Lautaro disallowed for offside. Napoli’s chances improved post-interval, but the game’s dynamic shifted dramatically with Simeone’s ejection. The final moments saw Inter’s persistent efforts culminate in Lautaro’s goal, assisted by Benjamin Pavard and Alexis Sánchez, leading to a momentous victory for the team.
