Benitez Beaten as Madrid Marvel at Super Cup Glory

Inter Milan 0 Atletico Madrid 2

Life after Jose Mourinho will not yield the clean sweep of six trophies in the San Siro’s cabinet in 2010 as his successor presided over a 2-0 defeat, seeing the European Super Cup go to the red half of Madrid. Quique Sanchez Flores’s side won UEFA’s curtain raiser in Monaco with second goals from former Arsenal winger Jose Antonio Reyes and Sergio Aguero.

Though the atmosphere in the Stade Louis II could not be faulted the fixture retained its frustrating feel after a goalless first half largely devoid of action. Though Inter showed glimpses of what they produced last season early on they were very pedestrian this evening and looked lob-sided with Dejan Stankovic joining Argentine pair Javier Zanetti and Esteban Cambiasso in the centre, leaving Samuel Eto’o to provide width. Maicon, the Champions League defender of last season, had an awful performance. He seldom showed his attacking intent and was exposed defensively by Atletico’s captain Simao time and again. UEFA’s forward of the year Diego Milito also had a frustrating night, seeing his ninetieth minute penalty brilliantly saved by David de Gea though in truth it was not the best of spot kicks.

It was Flores’s side that profited from this faltering display and Reyes blasted past Julio Cesar from a tight angle on the hour mark. De Gea had very little to do between the posts and the defensive frailties of last season see to have been put behind. Diego Godin made his debut for Madrid and though he looked a little shaky in places I retain the praise I had for him off his World Cup performances. The same cannot be said for Brazil captain Lucio who must admit responsibility along with compatriot Maicon for the second goal. Simao was allowed to slip a ball across with the latter did nothing to prevent and the former failed to cut out leaving Kun Aguero to tap in.

On tonight’s evidence, Atletico fans should be expecting their side to finish well above last season’s ninth place. As for Inter for me Benitez perhaps needs to freshen it up a little by making a signing or two before the transfer window slams shut on Tuesday and put his own mark on the team.