Rafael Benitez had hoped to step out of the shadow of Jose Mourinho’s legacy at Inter Milan by lifting two trophies before Serie A had even kicked off but found himself haunted by his past.
Despite last weekend’s Italian Super Cup win over Roma, the eclipse of the previous treble-winning campaign will continue to linger as the European champions were humbled by Atletico Madrid, courtesy of Jose Antonio Reyes and a late Kun Aguero strike.
The highly-charged atmosphere inside the Stade Louis II was reflected in the tempo of the game despite both sides lacking a cutting edge in front of goal.
Wesley Sneijder attempted to draw first blood in the opening stages but blasted his half-volley, from the narrowest of angles, high over David de Gea’s crossbar.
Throughout the first half Inter breached Atleti’s defence with ease but failed to take full advantage, with Esteban Cambiasso, Diego Milito and Samuel Eto’o all guilty of squandering chances.
Sneijder was an integral part of the Holland side that reached the World Cup final and transferred his international exploits back to club level by becoming the architect of the majority of Inter’s attacks.
But it was Reyes who fired the Europa League holders into the lead on 62 minutes with a left-footed effort that Julio Cesar was powerless to stop, which resulted in manic celebrations beneath the stadium’s famous nine arches which were accompanied by an assault of flares landing on the running track.
Champions League holders have endured a recent history of defeats in UEFA’s traditional curtain-raiser and Aguero ensured that the Atleti fans who had travelled to this French principality could lay claim to extending this theme in the 83rd minute, courtesy of one of Benitez’s ghosts.
Simao silenced Anfield in 2006 when Benfica ended Liverpool’s defence Champions League and it was his break down the left-hand side that provided Aguero with the simplest of finishes, slotting the ball into an empty net after Julio Cesar had committed himself to thwarting to the winger.
Benitez's misery was further compounded when Diego Milito struck a poor penalty in stoppage time which De Gea saved with ease.
For the third time in four months, Quique Sanchez Flores got the better of his compatriot and whilst his side will relish the start of their new La Liga campaign on Monday, in addition to a relatively kind Europa League draw, Benitez will head back to the drawing board with Mourinho’s shadow still hanging over him.
INTER MILAN (4-3-2-1): Julio Cesar, Maicon, Samuel, Lucio, Chivu, Stankovic (Pandev 68), Zanetti, Cambiasso, Eto'o, Sneijder (Coutinho 78), Milito. Subs (not used): Castelazzi, Cordoba, Mariga, Materazzzi, Biabiany.
ATLETICO MADRID (4-1-3-2): de Gea, Ujfalusi, Perea, Godin, Dominguez, Assuncao, Reyes (Merida 69), Raul Garcia, Simao (Camacho 90+1), Aguero, Forlan (Jurado 82). Subs (not used): Robles, Antonio Lopez, Mario Suarez, Merida, Diego.
GOALS: Reyes (62), Aguero (83)
BOOKINGS: Simao, Raul Garcia
ATTENDANCE: 17,265
REFEREE: Massimo Busacca (Switzerland)
MATCH STATS
POSSESSION: Inter Milan 52% Atletico Madrid 48%
SHOTS: Inter Milan 11 Atletico Madrid 12
ON TARGET: Inter Milan 2 Atletico Madrid 7
FREE KICKS: Inter Milan 2 Atletico Madrid 1
CORNERS: Inter Milan 9 Atletico Madrid 4
OFFSIDES: Inter Milan 5 Atletico Madrid 1
FOULS: Inter Milan 12 Atletico Madrid 21
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liverpoolian, greece around 1 year, 5 months ago