RIYADH, Dec 23, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Lazio won the Italian Super Cup for a
fifth time on Sunday, defeating Cristiano Ronaldo’s Juventus 3-1 in a game
played in the Saudi Arabia capital of Riyadh.
“We did something magical tonight,” said Lazio coach Simone Inzaghi.
Lazio, the only team to have defeated Juve in Serie A this season, were in
front through Luis Alberto after 16 minutes.
Paulo Dybala levelled just before the break after a shot from Ronaldo was
parried into his path by Lazio’s Albanian goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha.
Despite boasting the attacking talents of Ronaldo, Dybala and Gonzalo
Higuain, it was the Roman side who looked more likely the next to score.
Bosnian international Senad Lulic restored Lazio’s advantage in the 73rd
minute with an impressive volley.
Danilo Cataldi added a third in the fourth minute of stoppage time from a
free kick after Juve’s Uruguayan midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur had been sent
off.
Lazio had already defeated Juve 3-1 at the Stadio Olimpico in Serie A two
weeks ago — until Sunday that was the only defeat suffered by Maurizio Sarri
in his time as coach of the Italian champions.
“We did something magical — to beat Juve twice in two weeks is
incredible,” Inzaghi told Rai Sport.
“I think this was another deserved victory for a strong team that always
believed in our ideas.”
Their Serie A meeting in Rome was a world away from Sunday’s proceedings in
the King Saud University Stadium where women supporters were allowed to
attend.
Ronaldo was the main reason the fans came to watch and Juve obviously took
the occasion on board with their famed black and white shirts sporting Arabic
designs.
“We are sorry we lost a trophy, but we still have many competitions at
stake in the next five months,” said Sarri.
“There is anger but crying over it does not solve the problems.”
Juve are no strangers to Saudi Arabia having won the Super Cup in Jeddah in
January this year, beating AC Milan 1-0.
The Turin giants had been looking to win the trophy for a ninth time.
Juventus will now turn their attentions to defending their Serie A title.
They are currently level at the top of the table with Inter Milan while
Lazio are third, six points off the pace.