The National Stadium in Beijing, 6 August 2011
6th August 2011
Certain rivals follow strange paths in order to find each other once again. Just like when AC Milan lost the Coppa Italia semi-final to Palermo, who then lost to Inter in the final in Rome, thus the Rossoneri, Italian champions, and the Nerazzurri, Coppa Italia winners, met in Beijing for the second ever Milan derby final in history. The first was back in 1977, in the Coppa Italia, and AC Milan won 2-0; the second had the same result, a Rossoneri victory.
Inter were going through a major squad upheaval, but the sale of Eto'o had been delayed, which meant the Cameroonian champion was available for the final against AC Milan. In fact, Gian Piero Gasperini’s Nerazzurri team managed to give the Rossoneri a tough time having taken the lead through Sneijder’s goal. However, AC Milan mounted their comeback with goals from Ibrahimović and Boateng before Inter scored to make it 2-2, but the goal was ruled out. AC Milan celebrated yet another Italian Super Cup triumph in a Chinese stadium that was packed with local Rossoneri fans.
