As the semi-final of the Italian Super Cup approaches, the rivalry between Simone Inzaghi (Inter) and Gian Piero Gasperini (Atalanta) resurfaces.
More than a simple tactical opposition, their tumultuous relationship has its roots in notable clashes, notably the 2019 Italian Cup final.
A past peppered with tensions
On May 15, 2019, Inzaghi's Lazio beat Gasperini's Atalanta 2-0 at the Olimpico, winning their 7th Italian Cup. However, this match is remembered more for a controversial refereeing decision. A blatant handball from Bastos, on a shot from De Roon, was not punished, depriving Atalanta of a penalty and a possible expulsion of the defender.
Furious, Gasperini denounced this “unacceptable error”. For its part, Lazio celebrated, but tensions rose internally. In the middle of the festivities, Claudio Lotito, president of Lazio, allegedly whispered something to Inzaghi, triggering a strong reaction from the coach.
Confrontations Always Electric
The altercations did not stop there. In 2017, during a Lazio-Atalanta match, the two coaches were expelled after heated exchanges. Then, in 2020-2021, a 3-1 victory for Lazio in Bergamo reignited tensions. Gasperini, provocative, had attracted the wrath of Twitter fans, who had harassed him after obtaining his telephone number.
-A Slightly Calmed Climate?
If recent years have seen a certain calming down, the rivalry remains alive, fueled by the recent successes of Inzaghi, now at Inter, against Atalanta. For Gasperini, these confrontations are an opportunity to revive the dynamic of his team and, why not, to erase certain painful memories.
A Duel with Multiple Stakes
Beyond this personal rivalry, this Super Cup semi-final, played on Arab soil, is of capital importance. A victory would not only allow them to reach the final but also to gain a psychological advantage in the fight for the Scudetto.
The Inzaghi-Gasperini duel therefore promises a confrontation as exciting on the field as off it. Their shared history, made of tensions and controversies, only adds to the suspense of a match already loaded with stakes.
The editorial staff
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