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A counter-attacking Colchoneros side got the better of Inter at the Stade Louis II to lift the 2010 UEFA Super Cup.

José Antonio Reyes and Sergio Aguero got their names on the scoresheet in the second half as Atletico made their chances count in European football’s curtain raiser.

With time running out Diego Milito had a penalty kick saved by David De Gea.

Rafael Benitez made one change from the starting XI that won us the Champions League and the Italian Super Cup, bringing in Dejan Stankovic for Goran Pandev.

Quique Sanchez Flores also made a single switch from the team that beat Fulham to win the inaugural Europa League, summer signing Diego Godin replacing Antonio Lopez at the centre of defence.

An evenly-balanced first half saw Samuel head over and Eto’o fire narrowly wide before two good chances for Aguero – one inches off target and the other well wide.

It was more Spain than Italy in the second half as Atletico found more space on the break, and Reyes broke the deadlock on 62 minutes. He combined swiftly with Aguero and rounded Maicon before firing past Julio Cesar at his near post.

Inter reverted to their Champions League-winning lineup with Pandev on for Stankovic and the Macedonian fired against the bar after De Gea had thwarted Milito, but the flag had already been raised for offside.

Another change was needed and Benitez handed brought on Coutinho for Sneijder.

The 18-year-old Brazilian barely had time to settle on his competitive debut when Aguero doubled Atletico’s lead from close range, slotting Simao’s cross over the line.

Inter were presented with a chance to reduce the arrears in the closing minutes after Raul Garcia brought down Pandev in the area, but Milito’s spot-kick was saved by De Gea.

Javier Zanetti led out the Nerazzurri against Atletico Madrid at the Stade Louis II, fifteen years to the day after his Inter debut. “A defeat was going to come sooner or later, and it came in a game where Atletico Madrid did better than us,” admitted the Inter skipper after his team’s UEFA Super Cup loss.

“We’re not looking for excuses. We played well, but we lost the game. It happens sometimes. We’re at the start so we can’t be at one hundred percent yet. It was very evenly-balanced final tonight, but Reyes’ goal opened the match up.”

Stankovic for Pandev was Rafa Benitez’s only change from the team that won the Italian Super Cup last weekend, but Zanetti insisted: “We’re not looking for excuses, the new system has nothing to do with it. The boss was confident and so were us players. It’s natural that a new coach brings in new ideas, and we have to follow him. But now we’re looking ahead to the championship and the other games with our heads held high.”

After Inter’s Serie A opener against Bologna next Monday, Zanetti will travel to South America after earning a recall to the Argentina national team. “I’m very happy because it’s not easy to regain your place in the national team at thirty-seven, especially in a great team like Argentina,” he said.

Inter 0-2 Atletico Madrid (HT: 0-0)

Scorers: Reyes 62, Aguero 83.

Inter: 1 Julio Cesar; 13 Maicon, 6 Lucio, 25 Samuel, 26 Chivu; 5 Stankovic (27 Pandev 68), 19 Cambiasso, 4 Zanetti; 10 Sneijder (29 Coutinho 79), 9 Eto’o; 22 Milito.
Subs not used: 12 Castellazzi, 2 Cordoba, 17 Mariga, 23 Materazzi, 88 Biabiany.
Coach: Rafael Benitez.

Atletico Madrid: 13 De Gea; 17 Ujfalusi, 15 Godin, 21 Perea, 18 Dominguez; 19 Reyes (11 Merida 69), 12 Assuncao, 8 Raul Garcia, 20 Simao (6 Camacho 90+2); 7 Forlan (9 Jurado 82), 10 Aguero.
Subs not used: 38 Robles, 3 A.Lopez, 4 Suarez, 22 Diego Costa.
Coach: Quique Sanchez Flores.

Referee: Massimo Busacca (Switzerland).

Booked: Simao 85, Raul Garcia 89, Samuel 90+2.

Att.: 18,500.