Inter will always be a weaker team without Romelu Lukaku up front, a report in the Italian media argued following last night’s 2-1 defeat to Juventus.

The Nerazzurri had to do without the Belgian for their Coppa Italia semi-final first leg at San Siro as he was suspended.

As per Wednesday’s print edition of Gazzetta dello Sport, Inter missed Lukaku’s ability to stretch opposition defences against the Biaconeri but also his fighting spirit, his strength and his generosity.

Lautaro Martinez had given Antonio Conte’s side an early lead but two first-half strikes from Cristiano Ronaldo, one from the penalty spot, ensured victory for Juve ahead of next week’s return fixture.

Inter were criticised by the Milanese publication for failing to show enough aggression, spirit or concentration against Andrea Pirlo’s men.

Alessandro Bastoni’s performance was highlighted as evidence of this, with the Italian centre-back at fault along with Samir Handanovic for Ronaldo’s second goal.

The defeat comes just a matter of weeks after Inter beat Juve comfortably in the league but Gazzetta argued that in order to take the place of Juventus as the best team in Italy, it was blatantly obvious that beating them once was not enough.

Inter were told by the paper that a team must know how to do it again and above all want to do it again.