Inter Milan fall on penalties against Bologna and miss first Seasonal target

Inter Milan exit the Supercoppa Italiana as Bologna advance: the analysis from FcInter1908

The Supercoppa Italiana returns to its traditional roots: the trophy will be contested by the Serie A champions Napoli and the Coppa Italia winners Bologna.

The so-called “intruders”, AC Milan and Inter Milan, have been eliminated. Both clubs were present in Saudi Arabia only thanks to the new tournament format, which increased the number of participants, a point openly recalled by Chivu during his press conference. Perhaps, in the end, they are not even too unhappy about heading back to Italy earlier than expected.

For Inter Milan, taking the lead after just one minute was not enough. What seemed like a match immediately going downhill instead ended with a penalty shootout defeat that cannot and should not be underestimated, regardless of the competition in which it occurred. And not only because it represents the seventh loss of the season.

Penalties again: a repeating and worrying pattern

For the third consecutive time, Inter Milan have been eliminated on penalties. It previously happened against Atlético Madrid in the round of 16 of the 2023/24 Champions League and against Lazio in the quarter-finals of the 2018/19 Coppa Italia.

Overall, the numbers are far from encouraging: 10 defeats and 9 victories in penalty shootouts. 

What stands out most from the night in Riyadh is the nature of the missed spot-kicks by Bastoni, Barella and Bonny: weak, inaccurate and lacking conviction. 

A textbook example of how penalties should not be taken, something better suited for coaching manuals in youth academies.

And one question inevitably arises: why substitute Zieliński, the designated penalty taker, just minutes before the end of regulation time?

It matters little that public opinion often labels the Supercoppa as a “minor trophy”. Winning breeds winning. That has always been true, whether it is a league title, a Champions League, or a local amateur tournament.

Even more so when you are coming off a season that ended with no silverware and closed in the worst possible way, with the humiliating 5–0 defeat in Munich. 

At this moment, Inter Milan are not in a position to decide what to win and when.

Without going too far back in time, the Nerazzurri returned to the top of Italian football, and later European football, by winning the Coppa Italia in 2005 under Mancini. Not the most prestigious competition, but the first of 22 trophies lifted over the last 20 years.

Chivu spoke of this Supercoppa as a “gift” when asked about participation. Fine. Gifts are meant to be opened, without being overly picky. Whether it is Christmas or not.