Lautaro Martinez struck deep into stoppages to give Inter their third consecutive Supercoppa Italiana against 10-man Napoli, as Giovanni Simeone was sent off on the hour mark.
Although this was the first Final Four format, the trophy was decided between the traditional Serie A and Coppa Italia title holders, after Fiorentina and Lazio were disposed of 3-0 in the semi-finals. Alessandro Bastoni was not fully fit and Juan Cuadrado injured, while the Partenopei confirmed the new 3-4-3 formation. Victor Osimhen and Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa were on international duty, Natan, Mathias Olivera and Alex Meret out of action, plus Piotr Zielinski and Mario Rui only fit for the bench so Alessio Zerbin started after his brace as a substitute in the semi-final.
Federico Dimarco’s ferocious volley was deflected inches wide from outside the D, then Pierluigi Gollini smothered a Hakan Calhanoglu strike from distance.
Lautaro Martinez turned a header wide and the Argentina international had the ball in the net on 38 minutes, but only after Marcus Thuram had strayed offside for the assist.
Stefan de Vrij did well to not fall for the Kvicha Kvaratskhelia twists and turns, while Thuram beat Pierluigi Gollini to a through ball only to go wide. Thuram nodded Nicoló Barella’s cross over on the stroke of half-time.
As news came through of Italy legend Gigi Riva’s death just moments before the match, a minute’s silence was held before kick-off for the second half in his honour.
Matteo Politano’s free kick flashed over the bar, but Kvaratskhelia forced the first real Yann Sommer save of the game with a right-foot curler palmed out from the far top corner after Stanislav Lobotka’s pass.
Barella was booked for dissent and, like Calhanoglu, will also be suspended when Inter face Fiorentina in Serie A.
Amir Rrahmani decisively cut out a Darmian pass that would’ve sent Lautaro Martinez clear, with Thuram hitting the rebound at Gollini.
The game changed when Simeone received a second yellow card for the ‘step on foot’ with Francesco Acerbi, reducing Napoli to 10 men. Walter Mazzarri was incensed, as Calhanoglu was fortunate to avoid another card in the first half.
Giovanni Simeone sent off! 🟥
The Napoli man receives his second yellow card and they're down to ten 🤷♂️ pic.twitter.com/Yal3Es01zj
— Viaplay Sports UK (@ViaplaySportsUK) January 22, 2024
Thuram fluffed a huge opportunity to give Inter the lead moments later, scuffing the volley from close range after Benjamin Pavard flicked on the Dimarco cross.
Lautaro Martinez and Calhanoglu blasted a couple of chances over, then a deflected corner hit Thuram to bounce wide at the back post.
Mario Rui fired wide on the counter-attack and Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s chest and half-volley was off target, while Gollini and Mario Rui managed to stop Marko Arnautovic squeezing in from a tight angle.
Jesper Lindstrom failed to catch Sommer off his line with a lob from midfield, but the Inter siege finally paid off when Alexis Sanchez sent Pavard down the right and he pulled back from the by-line for Lautaro Martinez to fire in from six yards. At the goal, Walter Mazzarri walked off down the tunnel.
It HAD to be him! 🤯🇦🇷
Lautaro Martínez nets the winning goal for Inter Milan against Napoli in the EA Sports FC Supercup Final 🏆 pic.twitter.com/hJMvtyWbmi
— Viaplay Sports UK (@ViaplaySportsUK) January 22, 2024
Napoli 0-1 Inter
Lautaro Martinez 91 (I)
Sent off: Simeone 60 (N)
Napoli: Gollini; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Juan Jesus; Mazzocchi (Raspadori 74), Cajuste (Mario Rui 74), Lobotka, Zerbin (Ostigard 58); Politano (Lindstrom 70), Simeone, Kvaratskhelia (Gaetano 70)
Inter: Sommer; Pavard, De Vrij (Carlos Augusto 62), Acerbi; Darmian, Barella (Frattesi 62), Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco (Alexis Sanchez 81); Thuram (Arnautovic 81), Lautaro Martinez (Bisseck 93)
Ref: Rapuano
VAR: Di Paolo