Inter reign supreme in Italy: Serie A champions complete the double with Cup trophy!

The football master of Italy is Inter. The best, the strongest, the most influential, the most resourceful… however you want to put it, in every aspect they are simply — the best. Over the last six years, they have won nine trophies.

All the other teams combined have won eight during that same period. Such a balance of power can only be described as domination, closely tied to the club’s business policy, player recruitment, and faith in the sporting project of Beppe Marotta.

Not even the departure of a trophy-winning coach like Simone Inzaghi prevented the Nerazzurri from continuing their harvest of silverware, even though many in Italy and beyond believed that Cristian Chivu was not up to the challenge.

The Romanian proved everyone wrong. Although there can be debate about the level of competition he faced, the former defender finished his debut season on the bench of the famous club with a domestic double.

After winning Serie A, he also gifted the fans the Coppa Italia, defeating Lazio 2–0 in the final at the Olimpico. Inter’s victory could be described as routine, because Maurizio Sarri’s side was never truly competitive, even though they saw the final as their salvation for the season and a chance to qualify for the Europa League (having finished only ninth in the league).

The difference in quality was so evident that the Roman stadium seemed more likely to collapse than Lazio to pull off an upset. Even though it is never easy in football to beat the same opponent twice in a row, Inter managed to do it in two different competitions within just four days.

Adam Marusic “took care” of Inter’s opening goal. It is fair to say that Adam is a Lazio legend with more than 350 appearances, but in the final he scored — an own goal.

After a superb corner by Federico Dimarco, Marusic, trying to clear the ball from the six-yard box following Marcus Thuram’s attempt, headed it into Eduardo Mota’s net. That goal signaled the beginning of Lazio’s collapse.

Sarri’s full-backs sealed their team’s fate this Wednesday, because the left-back, Nuno Tavares, seemed to “forget” to show up at the start of the final. Several mistakes by the Portuguese defender early in the match went unpunished, but about ten minutes before halftime he allowed Denzel Dumfries to rob him of the ball and charge alone toward Lazio’s goal. The Dutchman only had to square the ball to Lautaro Martinez, leaving the Argentine with the easy part of the job.

Everyone in the stadium, except the Lazio supporters, knew the match was essentially over. Especially considering the difference in quality and the fact that Chivu’s side had recently won at the same venue in Serie A as well.

Inter dictated the tempo, controlled possession, and ruled the pitch. Lazio’s only major chance before halftime fell to Isaksen, but the Dane failed to convert, allowing Inter to head into the break comfortably.

At the start of the second half, Nuno Tavares could have completely buried Lazio; Dumfries nearly capitalized on another of his mistakes, but Motta denied him. At the other end, in one of Lazio’s rare attacks, Inter goalkeeper Josef Martinez stood out by stopping Dia’s effort.

Noslin also had a few interesting moments, but Sarri’s side fundamentally looked lost. Substitute Luis Henrique could have finished them off, and once Mkhitaryan took control of the ball, it became clear the trophy was heading to Milan.

Inter were not even rattled by the incident involving Dimarco and Pedro. In the end, this will simply be another trophy added to Inter’s cabinet, following the Serie A title they recently secured.

COPPA ITALIA FINAL

Wednesday

Lazio - Inter 0-2 (0-2)

/Marusic 14 og, Lautaro 35/