In the Serie A Supercoppa semifinal, Inter Milan lost to Bologna on penalties, extending their 6-year penalty shootout drought and failing to reach the final.
Inter Milan‘s Poor Penalty Performance Ends Supercoppa Final Hopes
Inter Milan’s 6-Year Penalty Shootout Drought: Football fans are familiar with national teams poor at penalties, but club-level underperformers lack a clear stereotype—Inter Milan filled this void on Tuesday night in the Serie A Supercoppa, showing neither the mentality nor quality to excel in a penalty shootout that would have secured their spot in the Serie A Supercoppa final. Bologna offered them chances in this high-stakes Serie A Supercoppa clash, yet Inter ultimately proved unworthy of seizing them.
This is no overstatement for a side aiming to claim the Serie A Supercoppa trophy. Inter’s last penalty shootout win dates back to 2017, a 5-4 victory over third-tier Pordenone after 7 rounds, with Yuto Nagatomo scoring the winner. Since then, they’ve lost crucial shootouts in major competitions, and this latest defeat in the Serie A Supercoppa adds to their growing list of penalty heartbreaks, including against Lazio in the 2019 Coppa Italia and Atletico Madrid in last year’s Champions League, without putting up a fight.
Before the shootout, few Inter players looked confident, with most appearing confused and self-doubts. Lautaro Martínez, long criticized for his penalty struggles, stepped up first and scored impeccably—an act of responsibility worthy of praise. Center-back Stefan de Vrij also found the net with a powerful shot that bounced in off the crossbar, luck aiding his effort.
However, three players failed miserably: Italian internationals Alessandro Bastoni and Nicolò Barella, plus Kristjan Asllani. Bastoni’s shot was weak, while Barella blazed the ball into the stands and awkwardly glanced back, seemingly blaming the turf. Asllani, lacking power, took no run-up and rolled the ball straight to the goalkeeper—clear evidence Inter neglects penalty practice.
Coach Simone Inzaghi confirmed this post-game, a press conference that centered on Inter’s exit from the Serie A Supercoppa: “Penalties are a lottery. What matters is courage and personality, which can’t be trained. I only need players willing to take responsibility.” His words revealed a lack of emphasis on shootout results that could have kept Inter’s Serie A Supercoppa dreams alive. Notably, he substituted cramping Matias Vecino and stopped Pio Esposito from preparing to take a penalty, citing player health concerns—even leaving penalty specialist Hakan Calhanoglu, who was not at his physical best, unused despite one substitution remaining, a decision that drew criticism amid the Serie A Supercoppa elimination.
Inter had already wasted a promising start in this Serie A Supercoppa semifinal, with Marcus Thuram scoring within two minutes to give them an early lead. But their left defense was repeatedly exposed by Bologna’s cutback tactics as the Serie A Supercoppa clash progressed, leading to Malick Thiaw’s illegal handball after Santiago Castro disrupted his balance with physical play, a turning point that shifted momentum in Bologna’s favor.
Bologna’s Focus Shines, Supercoppa Hosting Change Announced
Bologna, the 2024 Coppa Italia winner, proved the more focused side in this Serie A Supercoppa encounter. Their Supercoppa final against Napoli is not the Milan Derby Saudi organizers desired for the Serie A Supercoppa showcase—a frustration publicly voiced by Saudi reporters last year. With poor attendance expected for the upcoming Serie A Supercoppa final, Lega Serie A president has announced Saudi Arabia will no longer host the 2026 Supercoppa, a potential win-win for all parties involved in the organization of the Serie A Supercoppa.
