Inter appear to have finally reclaimed their rightful place among Europe’s elite sides this season, but the coming week will be crucial in determining their real standing.
With a UEFA Champions League (UCL) semi-final and a Serie A title dogfight with SSC Napoli on the cards, they began with the small task of this second leg against Milan, one which they began on top and apparently in fine fettle.
Matteo Darmian dragged wide of the far post after a marauding run down the right, before Federico Dimarco’s similar forward surge on the other side resulted in the full-back smashing against Mike Maignan’s crossbar.
The hosts’ best opening of the half looked to have fallen to the right man, but Lautaro Martinez’s first touch after Medhi Taremi’s header down wasn’t good enough, and resulted in the Argentine poking over the bar.
Despite their distinct lack of chances, Milan had contested the midfield well, and so it was perhaps no surprise to see them punish their city rivals’ wastefulness with a San Siro silencer on 36 minutes.
Tijjani Reijnders’ work in the build-up was excellent, teeing up Alex Jimenez to send in a cross for Jovic, who rose high to bullet his header past Josep Martinez.
Inter had responded well to draw 1-1 after going behind in the first leg, but Milan had clearly learnt their lesson.
It took them just four minutes of the second half to double their lead, with Jovic poking in his second from close range after Theo Hernandez’s corner ricocheted off Nicolo Barella.
Wholesale changes from Simone Inzaghi followed, but his side still didn’t have enough about them to change the score, even with Stefan de Vrij’s powerful header being kept out smartly by Maignan.
And their efforts to respond proved to be in vain as Sérgio Conceição’s men wrapped things up with a third before the final whistle.
A rapid move saw Rafael Leao send through Reijnders, who slotted under the goalkeeper to ensure his team’s place in the final.
Either Empoli or – more likely – Bologna await the Rossoneri at the Stadio Olimpico as they look to lift this trophy for the first time since 2003 and add to their Supercoppa Italiana glory amid an otherwise dismal campaign. For Inter, a second successive defeat hopefully isn’t a sign of things to come, with matches against in-form AS Roma and UCL favourites Barcelona awaiting them.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Luka Jovic (AC Milan)