The Prince of Inter Milan starts with Brother Xiaosa

Chapter 210 Fighting for TIM Cup again

Benitez started with a starting lineup of four, three and three.

Pandev, Eto'o and Coutinho form a three-pointed arrow.

A midfield three of Stankovic, Cambiaso and Nigerian youngster Nwankwo.

Left back Kolarov, right back Maicon, Materazzi and Lucio's center back partner, goalkeeper Cesar.

At Juventus, coach Del Neri, who only took over the Bianconeri coach this summer, implemented a 442 tactic.

The forward duo of Trezeguet and Del Piero advanced.

The four midfielders are Pepe, Sissoko, Lanzafame and Melo.

On the back line, Decelli and Griguera were on the left and right, center backs Chiellini and Barzagli played together, and goalkeeper Manninger.

Buffon had leg surgery after playing in the World Cup, and it is estimated that it will take some time to recover and return.

Leo sat silently on the sidelines watching the game as the game began.

Inter Milan, which basically maintained the lineup that won the Triple Crown last season, naturally had the upper hand after the game started.

Stankovic and Coutinho rushed to shoot from a few dozen meters outside the penalty area. Even if Buffon was not there, they did not pose any threat to Juventus' goal.

Instead, in the seventh minute, Materazzi kicked Del Piero down in front of the penalty area, giving the Bianconeri an excellent free kick opportunity.

Leo heard a scoff from behind him.

I quietly turned around and saw that it was Bonucci.

Inter Milan's young central defender, who was retained by Mourinho last season and was eventually loaned to Bari for a season, returned to the team after ending his loan career.

Inter Milan's central defender position seems to be very adequate, but look at their age.

Materazzi will be thirty-seven in a few days, Cordoba will be thirty-four, and Lucio and Samuel are both over thirty-two.

Although center back is a position that requires experience, there are many veterans who shine in this position.

But after all, Inter Milan has to compete with the top teams in Europe. As they age another year, the physical conditions of these old guys will inevitably decline further.

No one can say whether the status can be guaranteed.

So Bonucci took the initiative to stay at Inter Milan this season without anyone having to say anything, instead of crying and asking for a transfer like before.

Maybe it also has something to do with his regret after "missing" the Triple Crown last season?
  But it cannot be said that Bonucci is wrong in pursuing improvement and wanting more playing time.

If it weren't for his outstanding performance in Bari, he might not have been successfully selected for the Italian national team and won the World Cup with the team.

It is also impossible for Inter Milan to offer him a new contract.

There is no best choice, and every choice has pros and cons.

However, what Bonucci expected, that coach Benitez abandoned the veteran and reused him as a "newcomer" did not happen.

Benitez does not want to live in Mourinho's shadow, but he does not have the courage to overthrow everything and start from scratch.

At least not yet.

Even if he had, Moratti wouldn't be able to let him do whatever he wanted.

So it's okay not to change. Once Benitez wants to make bigger changes, the consequences may be serious.

Leo was in the middle of the situation and did not realize that Inter Milan was actually on the brink of crisis.

Back to the game, Del Piero personally took the free kick on the right side of the penalty area and hit the goal directly, but was blocked by the Nerazzurri's wall.

Inter Milan counterattacked quickly, Eto'o scored the ball in the middle, and Pandev's left-footed shot from the left side of the penalty area was lifted over the crossbar by Manninger with one hand.

Lanzafame made a sudden cross from the right rib. Pepe went forward and surpassed Materazzi. His right-footed shot in front of the small penalty area was blocked by Cesar who fell to the ground!

The forty-five-minute game was coming to an end soon, and Benitez chose to make a substitution.

Leo and Milito came off the bench to replace Nwankwo and Coutinho.

Then Bonucci was also replaced, and Materazzi seemed unhappy when he came off.

In the 32nd minute, Inter Milan counterattacked with continuous passes from the frontcourt and Cambiasso's diagonal pass!
  Leo caught the ball and turned around to get rid of Sissoko, then dribbled laterally to avoid Melo's flying tackle, and shot a curved ball from the edge of the penalty area!

Leo made a wonderful arc with his right foot, and the ball passed Juventus goalkeeper Manninger and went into the lower right corner of the goal!

One to zero!

Inter Milan took the lead!
  After Leo came on the field, Inter Milan's offense became more threatening.

Grigra was intercepted by Eto'o. Pandev countered the offside and got the ball. He ran long distance and broke into the left side of the penalty area and volleyed the defender's leg from a small angle. Manninger fell to the ground and held the far post with his fingertips!
  Leo took a corner kick from the right, and Maicon got rid of the defense and volleyed the ball without stopping on the sideline of the penalty area, but Manninger flew to resolve it!

Maicon just barely replicated the world wave he made against Juventus in the league last season!

Lanzafame's low pass from the left side of the penalty area was destroyed by the Inter Milan defender, and Sissoko's follow-up shot from the front of the penalty area was blocked by Bonucci.

Inter Milan launched a counterattack with a long pass from the backcourt. Leo passed the ball with his left foot from the right side. Eto'o was forced by Chiellini and his shot was unable to be confiscated by Manninger.

Pepe and Grigori were injured and came off the field, and Delneri was replaced by Marco Motta and Marchisio.

Leo made a gorgeous dribbling 360 degrees and broke through. Marchisio, who had just come on as a substitute, tackled him from behind.

But Leo was fine, Marchisio pulled him up.

"After all, we are also teammates of the national team, so why are we so cruel?" Marchisio just smiled and said nothing.

Okay, then you can't blame me for not showing mercy later.

The game entered stoppage time, Inter Milan still led 1-0 for the time being, and Juventus went all out to attack.

Melo stole the ball in the backcourt and passed it to Marchisio, and the Italian midfielder took the ball and advanced along the middle.

"There's no need to hold grudges so much, right?"

Before Marchisio even took two steps, he was intercepted by Leo with a clean tackle.

Since he first played for Leo for a while, Leo stopped caring about the offensive organization and just stared at Marchisio to prevent him from feeling comfortable.

After stealing the ball, Leo deliberately dribbled the ball past Marchisio and asked with a smile:
  "Ah? What did you say?"

At this time, the referee just blew the whistle for the end of the game. Leo kicked the ball away, turned around and gave Marchisio a hug.

"Are you not angry? I was just teasing you."

Marchisio smiled bitterly. This kid Leo seemed to have a good and sunny personality, but in fact he held grudges ruthlessly.

You said that if I mess with someone, I have to mess with Leo. I will pay attention next time.

When they were in the Italian national team, Leo and Marchisio were teammates who worked well together.

But when we return to the club, each plays a different role in the midfield, so a bit of confrontation is normal.

The two smiled at each other.

In the first game of the TIM Cup, Inter Milan defeated Juventus 1-0, and after a short break, the second game also started.

Juventus faced AC Milan, and Del Neri replaced five starters.

The goalkeeper was replaced by Storari from Manninger, Lello Taglie replaced Barzagli, Marchisio replaced Sissoko, and the offensive line was replaced by Diego's partner Amauri.

For AC Milan, Ronaldinho and Pirlo are both playing for the first time. They have not played in the previous warm-up matches this summer.

Captain Ambrosini returned from injury, and youngster Odumadi continued to get opportunities to perform.

Pato and Thiago Silva missed this event because they participated in the warm-up match of the Brazilian national team.

The newly appointed head coach Allegri also arranged a four-three-three formation, with Ronaldinho, Borriello and Odumadi forming a trident.

The three midfielders are Gattuso, Pirlo and Ambrosini.

Left back Antonini, right back Abate, Nesta and Bonera partnered as center back and goalkeeper Amelia.

Inter Milan players were watching the game from the stands and watching the game.

Juventus, who had lost to Inter Milan before, actually had the upper hand in this game with AC Milan.

Amauri received a cross from the left and his header in the middle of the penalty area was confiscated by Milan goalkeeper Amelia!
  In the fifth minute, Diego took a free kick from the right, and Amauri headed in front of the goal again!

It's a pity that it was slightly higher than the goal crossbar.

Three minutes later, Marco Motta made a pass from the right. Amauri nodded the ball in front of him, but Lello Talia followed up and missed the ball.

However, Juventus's attack still scared the Rossoneri's defense into a cold sweat.

After a vicious foul, Melo received a yellow card and was replaced by Sissoko.

In the 15th minute, Diego cut into the left side of the penalty area and volleyed with his right foot, but Amelia held it out of the near post with one hand!
  Diego then passed a diagonal free kick from the right, Amauri headed the ball from the center, and Lanzafame's close range shot from the right missed the far post!
  Amauri broke through and passed from the right. Diego stopped the ball at the penalty area line, turned around and volleyed hard, but Amelia blocked it!

The Bianconeri once formed a siege on AC Milan!

It's just that he didn't score a goal for a long time, but his opponent seized the opportunity!
  In the 23rd minute, Odumadi broke through and scored the ball in the middle. Ronaldinho received the ball from the left and dribbled into the penalty area!
  Then Ronaldinho caught up with Juventus defender Chiellini before he touched the ball, and shot a small-angle curve ball with his right foot that hit the inside of the post and bounced into the net!

One to zero!

AC Milan took the lead in breaking the deadlock on the field!

But they didn't feel complacent for long. Five minutes later, Lanzafame sent a cross from the right!

Diego got the ball in the middle and broke through Nesta, then shot with his right foot and scored!

One to one! Juventus equalized the score!

Pepe made a diagonal pass from the right, and Diego's header from the center was confiscated by Amelia.

Then Ambrosini's long shot also missed the goal.

The two teams gradually became more and more angry on the court, especially in the midfield where they started a fierce physical battle.

Lanzafame and Antonini pushed each other and almost caused a conflict. Then Lanzafame was replaced by Trezeguet and Ferrero replaced Marchisio.

But neither team was able to create any good scoring opportunities in the subsequent games.

At the end of the game, the attacking cores of both teams scored one goal each, and Diego and Ronaldinho were tied.

In the end, Juventus and AC Milan also tied one to one!
  The two teams made slight adjustments and the game entered a penalty shootout according to the rules.

Ronaldinho was the first to play and scored instantly. Trezeguet, Borriello, Diego, Pirlo and Nesta also made easy hits one after another.

But Amelia performed bravely and saved Pepe and Amauri's penalty kicks one after another, helping AC Milan beat Juventus 4-2 on penalty kicks!
  (End of this chapter)