Atletico Madrid stun Inter to capture Super Cup

Atletico Madrid defeated Champions League winners Inter 2-0 at the Stade Louis II in Monaco last night to lift the European Super Cup, delivering an early-season body blow to coach Rafael Benitez.

After a disappointing first half, Europa League winners Atletico opened the scoring in the 62nd minute through Jose Antonio Reyes with Sergio Aguero grabbing the second eight minutes from the final whistle.

Benitez, who has taken over from Jose Mourinho in the Inter hot seat, then endured the further misery of seeing Diego Milito’s 90th-minute penalty saved by goalkeeper David de Gea.

In a poor first 45 minutes, when neither de Gea nor his Inter Brazilian counterpart Julio Cesar had a shot to save, Aguero was unlucky to have a penalty appeal turned down.

At the other end, Wesley Sneijder and Samuel Eto’o were both off target.

Reyes gave notice of the danger he posed in the 58th minute when he curled in a goal-bound shot which was well-saved by Cesar.

But Reyes was celebrating just four minutes later when he took the ball past Maicon before beating Cesar at his near post.

Aguero then had a shot cleared off the line by Inter’s Romanian international Cristian Chivu before Diego Forlan saw two efforts stopped by Cesar.

The Argentine striker scored the second goal of the night after being set-up by Simao.

Inter’s misery was complete when Milito had his penalty saved by Atletico goalkeeper de Gea after Goran Pandev had been fouled in the box.