Stevan Jovetic and Mauro Icardi scored as Inter defeated Athletic Bilbao 2-0 in a friendly.
The Nerazzurri continue pre-season preparations at the Stadio Tardini in Parma, now sadly only used for Serie D games following the Ducali’s bankruptcy. Mateo Kovacic was named in the trequartista role, but pulled out during the warm-up, so Fredy Guarin played there instead. Hernanes and Geoffrey Kondogbia were injured, Xherdan Shaqiri, Danilo D’Ambrosio and Marco Andreolli transfer-listed.
Stevan Jovetic and Mauro Icardi scored as Inter defeated Athletic Bilbao 2-0 in a friendly.
The Nerazzurri continue pre-season preparations at the Stadio Tardini in Parma, now sadly only used for Serie D games following the Ducali’s bankruptcy. Mateo Kovacic was named in the trequartista role, but pulled out during the warm-up, so Fredy Guarin played there instead. Hernanes and Geoffrey Kondogbia were injured, Xherdan Shaqiri, Danilo D’Ambrosio and Marco Andreolli transfer-listed.
Stevan Jovetic got his first start and drilled wide early on, then in quick succession his header was palmed off the line and follow-up deflected for a corner.
Inevitably, the Montenegro international broke the deadlock with a splendid goal. Teenager Assane Gnoukouri dribbled into the box down the left and pulled back for Jovetic to blast under the crossbar from 12 yards.
Jo-Jo curled another wide and was comfortably the most impressive player of the first half. Guillermo threatened from a corner after the restart, Undabarrena blasted over, while Brozovic wasted two good opportunities.
Mauro Icardi had penalty appeals, then there was a chaotic move in which Palacio, Manaj and the Argentine got in each others’ way.
Gnoukouri’s strike was parried and an Andrea Ranocchia header captured. Athletic Bilbao should’ve equalised, but Sabin Merino somehow nodded off target from point-blank range following a Ranocchia error.
Just as it seemed as if Inter’s problems finding the net would continue, Icardi scored with a twisting header on Yuto Nagatomo’s cross from the right.
Inter 2-0 Athletic Bilbao
Scorers: Jovetic 27 (I), Icardi 84 (I)
Inter: Handanovic (Carrizo 67); Santon (Ranocchia 46), Murillo (Manaj 67), Miranda (Nagatomo 61), Juan Jesus; Guarin (Palacio 46), Medel (Dimarco 61), Gnoukouri; Kovacic; Jovetic (Montoya 61), Icardi
Athletic Bilbao: Iraizoz, Bóveda, Aurtenetxe, Etxeita (Iriondo 46), Gurpegui, Elustondo, Undabarrena, Ibai, Unai López (Galarreta 78), Lekue, Guillermo