Chivu and Simeone field very experimental teams. The Spaniards are better in the first half, but the Nerazzurri come back in the second half before losing 4-2 on penalties

Carlos Martin scores in the first half. Bisseck equalizes in the second half. The friendly match between Atletico Madrid and Inter ends 1-1 in Benghazi, Libya, in front of an enthusiastic crowd. The two teams will face each other again in the Champions League in Madrid on November 26. However, for both Chivu and Simeone, who won 4-2 on penalties, the test was important to assess the reserves and gauge the fitness of players returning from injury. Although, in the end, Chivu was disappointed by the injuries to Bovo and Kostis, who both came off the pitch battered and bruised.

It was 3-5-2 against 3-5-2, with few starters and many reserves in both teams. Bonny and Spinaccé made up Inter’s attack. The Nerazzurri were the first to shoot with the former Parma player, but Musso (formerly of Udinese and Atalanta) made a confident save. The rest of the first half favors the Spaniards, who have more energy and ensnare the Nerazzurri. However, Martinez denies Tiago Almada on two occasions: the first time by blocking his chip shot, the second by diving to his right to save a shot from outside the box. Madrid’s superiority, also confirmed by Ruggeri’s shot that went just over the bar, was evident in Carlos Martin’s goal, who received the ball from Koke in the box. He turned left and then right, evading Palacios’ weak challenge and slotting the ball past Martinez at the near post from a tight angle.

Second half—  Inter came out stronger in the second half. Diouf was in evidence and Mkhitaryan took a corner (59′) which Bisseck headed home, evading two opponents and rendering Musso’s dive futile. Atletico shook themselves and went on the attack, first with Ruggeri’s left-footed volley just over the bar, then with Carlos Gimenéz: Martinez saved. Then it was all Inter, who came close to taking the lead with an angled right-footed shot from Diouf that went just wide, and a chance for Agbonifo (replacing Bonny), who found himself alone but saw his shot saved by Musso’s left foot. The many substitutions ended up watering down the final stages of the game. It went to penalties, which rewarded Atletico 4-2.