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Salah, Mane and Mahrez in running for African Player of Year award

Salah, Mane and Mahrez in running for African Player of Year award

RIYADH: Lazio beat Juventus 3-1 on Sunday to win the Italian Super Cup for a fifth time at the King Saud University Stadium in the Saudi capital Riyadh.

“We did something magical — to beat Juve twice in two weeks is incredible,” Inzaghi told Rai Sport.

“I think this was another deserved victory for a strong team that always believed in our ideas.”

Lazio, the only team to have defeated Juve in Serie A this season, were in front through Luis Alberto after 16 minutes.

Paulo Dybala levelled just before the break after a shot from Ronaldo was parried into his path by Lazio’s Albanian goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha.

Lazio’s players celebrate after winning the Supercoppa Italiana final football match against Juventus  at the King Saud University Stadium in  Riyadh on Sunday. (AFP) 

Despite boasting the attacking talents of Ronaldo, Dybala and Gonzalo Higuain, it was the Roman side who looked more likely the next to score.

Bosnian international Senad Lulic restored Lazio’s advantage in the 73rd minute with an impressive volley.

Danilo Cataldi added a third in the fourth minute of stoppage time from a free kick after Juve’s Uruguayan midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur had been sent off.

It was the second time in three years that Lazio had beaten Juventus in the Super Cup. The capital side had also won 3-1 when the two clubs met in Serie A two weeks ago in what was Maurizio Sarri’s only previous defeat as Juventus coach.

The Italian league has a contract with Saudi Arabia to play three Super Cups in the country over five years and — just like last year — the match went ahead.

Ronaldo was the main reason the fans came to watch and Juve obviously took the occasion on board with their famed black and white shirts sporting Arabic designs.

Juve are no strangers to Saudi Arabia having won the Super Cup in Jeddah in January this year, beating AC Milan 1-0.

The Turin giants had been looking to win the trophy for a ninth time.

Juventus will now turn their attentions to defending their Serie A title.

They are currently level at the top of the table with Inter Milan while Lazio are third, six points off the pace.

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