INTER DISMANTLE JUVE IN SUPERCOPPA
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Many people that woke up Sunday morning to check the
Supercoppa Italiana score between Serie A champions and Coppa Italia runner-ups (as Inter had also won that competition) may just be excused for rubbing their eyes in disbelief.
Inter 4-1 Juventus.
A quick glance down the statistics column didn't help with the incredulous looks. Inter had amassed
64% possession and had an outstanding
17 shots on goal to Juve's 2, outclassing them all over the pitch. Could it be true?
Yes, it could, and it is. It was
Mattia Destro who broke the deadlock after merely 67 seconds, latching onto
Alvaro Pereira's cross with a diving header past
Viviano. Worryingly for Inter fans and Italy fans, though,
Mattia Destro was stretchered off after 34 minutes with a hamstring tear and will miss two months.
On the stroke of halftime, the Nerazzurri struck twice more, with
Coutinho laying on a goal for
Adam Maher in the 40th and scoring himself just 3 minutes later, giving Inter a commanding
3-0 lead at the break. Juventus were in tatters already.
It wouldn't stay that way long, though. Shortly after the break, ex-Real Madrid man
Fabio Coentrao hammered in a free kick from 23 yards, giving Juve a glimmer of hope and a 3-1 scoreline. As time wore on, however, Inter's dominance proved too great, and it was teenager
Raheem Sterling who clipped the ball past
Viviano to seal the win.
New signings
Isco Alcorcon and
Diego Fabbrini made their competitive debuts and did well for Inter, while Bianconeri big name signing
Edinson Cavani failed to make an impact and ex-Inter superstar
Wes Sneijder was given the worst overall match rating for the Old Lady.
It was the Brazilian starlet
Philippe Coutinho who won man of the match, both assisting and scoring for the Nerazzurri. He made only 19 league appearances last term due to injury and will hope to bounce back this year with a strong season.
"This is a message," said Coutinho. "We have shown that we are ready to compete and win this season. The whole side is mentally and physically prepared for anything."