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Drama and disputes. That’s what remained, along with the final score, after the match between Inter and Atalanta in Riyadh. The Italian Super Cup kicked off with an exciting game - particularly in the second half - but questions arose over the number of empty seats in the 25,000-capacity stadium. Many fans on social media expressed their disappointment at the half-empty stands. However, the real controversies happened on the pitch, with Gian Piero Gasperini openly criticizing some key refereeing decisions during the post-match interviews.
The first half was uneventful, with the only notable moments being missed chances - three for Inter and one for Atalanta, courtesy of Scalvini. Gasperini’s experimental lineup was also noteworthy, as he kept key players like Lookman, Ederson, and De Ketelaere on the bench. The 0-0 scoreline at halftime left some hope for Atalanta, but everything changed after Dumfries' opening goal early in the second half.
“There were three mistakes in a single play,” Gasperini fumed after the match, referring to Inter’s first goal. First, he claimed the corner that led to the goal shouldn’t have been awarded, as Bisseck was the last to touch the ball before it went out. Second, Dumfries allegedly shoved Scalvini in the build-up, but both the referee and VAR deemed it a minor contact. Lastly, De Vrij appeared to obstruct goalkeeper Carnesecchi’s view at the moment of the shot. However, VAR and the referee concluded that the defender’s position did not interfere with the keeper's sightline. Shortly after, Dumfries scored again to secure Inter’s 2-0 lead and effectively seal the match.
Another key moment came when Ederson’s goal, which could have made it 2-1, was disallowed. After a prolonged attacking sequence from Atalanta, the Brazilian midfielder unleashed a powerful shot into the net. But just as the celebrations began, referee Chiffi, after consulting VAR, ruled out the goal due to an offside position by De Ketelaere during an earlier deflection.
In the end, it was Inter who celebrated their place in the final, awaiting the winner of Juventus vs. Milan. Atalanta, meanwhile, will take a brief break before resuming their Serie A campaign.
