Coaches Chivu and Simeone fielded highly experimental squads for the match. The Spanish side dominated the first half, but Inter found their stride in the second. Despite their comeback, the Nerazzurri ultimately fell 4-2 in the penalty shootout.
Carlos Martin opened the scoring in the first half, with Bisseck leveling for Inter in the second. The friendly match between Atletico Madrid and Inter concluded with a 1-1 draw, played in front of an enthusiastic crowd in Benghazi, Libya. These two teams are set to meet again in the Champions League in Madrid on November 26th. For both coaches, Chivu and Simeone (whose team won the penalty shootout 4-2), this test was crucial to evaluate fringe players and assess the fitness of those returning from injury. However, the game also saw Chivu`s side suffer an injury to Bovo, while Simeone`s team lost Kostis, both players leaving the field worse for wear.
First Half Analysis
Both teams lined up in a 3-5-2 formation, featuring mostly reserve players and few regular starters. Inter`s attack was led by Bonny and Spinaccé. The Nerazzurri had the first shot on goal with Bonny, the former Parma player, but Musso (formerly of Udinese and Atalanta) made a confident save. The remainder of the first half largely favored the Spanish side, who displayed greater energy and troubled Inter`s defense. However, Martinez made two crucial saves to deny Tiago Almada: first blocking a chipped effort and then diving to his right to parry a long-range shot. Atletico Madrid`s superiority, further highlighted by Ruggeri`s shot just over the bar, culminated in Carlos Martin`s opening goal. Receiving the ball from Koke in the box, Martin turned left, then right, evading a weak challenge from Palacios, and slotted the ball past Martinez at the near post with his left foot from an acute angle.
Second Half and Penalty Shootout
Inter showed significant improvement in the second half. Diouf was particularly prominent, and in the 59th minute, Mkhitaryan delivered a corner which Bisseck met with a header, guiding it past two defenders and rendering Musso`s dive futile for the equalizer. Atletico, spurred by the goal, responded with efforts from Ruggeri, whose left-footed volley went just over the bar, and Carlos Gimenéz, whose shot was saved by Martinez. From then on, it was primarily Inter on the offensive, with Diouf narrowly missing a potential go-ahead goal with an angled right-footed shot just wide. Agbonifo (who replaced Bonny) then had a clear opportunity, but his angled shot was bravely blocked by Musso with his left foot as he rushed out. Numerous substitutions subsequently disrupted the flow of the game, leading to a penalty shootout where Atletico emerged victorious with a 4-2 scoreline.
