MILAN – Inter started the new season in the best possible way with a 4-0 victory over Cittadella in the 3rd round of the Coppa Italia. Their next game will come on 4 December against Trapani in the 4th round.
For his San Siro debut, Walter Mazzarri chose a three-man defence consisting of Campagnaro, Ranocchia and Juan Jesus. Cambiasso, Guarin and Alvarez were in midfield with Jonathan and Nagatomo on the flanks, while Palacio and Icardi got the nod in attack.
Upon entering the stadium, president Massimo Moratti witnessed the fans in the lower tier rise to their feet in a warm round of applause.
The two teams approached the game holding nothing back, despite the sweltering heat. On 18 minutes Inter took the lead through Jonathan as he headed home Guarin’s teasing cross. On the half-hour mark came the second, a penalty: Pecorini took down Palacio in the box, receiving a red card in the process, and the Argentine stepped up to the spot to calmly slot the ball into the bottom corner. Despite playing a man down, Cittadella were looking to make their presence felt up front, but they were forced to deal with Handanovic who was giving nothing away. Inter came close to a 3rd but the first half ended 2-0.
At the beginning of the second half Jonathan nearly grabbed his second goal. But it wasn’t long before Palacio took care of it in the 59th minute when the Argentine coolly tucked away Guarin’s long-distance assist. Three minutes later the Nerazzurri’s 4th goal arrived; after a corner kick Ranocchia controlled the ball and beat Di Gennaro. With all of the substitutions having been made, Icardi came off as a precautionary measure after having taken a knock, leaving the teams to play 10-v-10. Then on 90 minutes, with no injury time added, the ref whistled for full time.
Inter triumphed over Cittadella 4-0 and await their next Coppa Italia match against Trapani on 4 December in the 4th round of the competition.
Inter 4-0 Cittadella (HT: 2-0)
Scorers: Jonathan 18, Palacio 30 (pen), 59, Ranocchia 63.
Inter: 1 Handanovic; 14 Campagnaro (Pereira 65), 23 Ranocchia, 5 Juan Jesus; 2 Jonathan, 13 Guarin (Kovacic 60), 19 Cambiasso, 11 Alvarez, 55 Nagatomo; 8 Palacio (Belfodil 60), 9 Icardi.
Unused subs: 12 Castellazzi, 30 Carrizo, 6 Andreolli, 16 Mudingayi, 17 Kuzmanovic, 20 Obi, 35 Rolando, 41 Duncan, 47 Capello.
Coach: Walter Mazzarri.
Cittadella: 22 Di Gennaro; 2 Pecorini, 6 Coly, 5 Pellizzer, 24 Marino; 7 Di Roberto (Busellato 79), 23 Paolucci, 8 La Camera, 10 Lora (Perez 54); 14 Dumitru, 11 Minesso (Sosa 80).
Unused subs: 1 Pierobon, 3 Gasparetto, 9 Montini, 12 Maggiotto, 17 Antonello, 18 Dalla Costa, 20 Campello, 25 Rizzon, 26 De Leidi.
Coach: Claudio Foscarini.
Referee: Massimiliano Irrati (Pistoia).
Booked: Pellizzer 36, Pereira 75, Juan Jesus 84.
Sent off: Pecorini 30.
Added time: 1 + 0 minutes.
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HIGHLIGHTS INTER-CITTADELLA TIM CUP 4-0
