Inter and Atalanta renew hostilities on Friday as the two teams lock horns at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza in a mouth-watering Serie A showdown.
After a frustrating 2-2 draw at Genoa on matchday one, Inter raised above Lautaro Martinez’s absence to open their account for the 2024/25 season. Goals from Matteo Darmian and Hakan Calhanoglu on either side of halftime inspired the reigning Scudetto holders to a 2-0 win against Lecce last weekend.
Simone Inzaghi’s side will likely have to do it again without their captain. Inzaghi praised his team for the win, stating they’re not ‘anchored’ to a single player. Despite Martinez’s probable absence, Inter can draw confidence from their formidable recent run against upcoming opposition Atalanta.
They got the better of La Dea home and away in Serie A last season, including a thumping 4-0 victory in this corresponding fixture in February. Visiting Atalanta will be keen to repay Inter the courtesy on Friday, especially after throwing away a lead in a 2-1 defeat at Torino in the previous round.
Mateo Retegui’s opener in Turin was in vain, yet Gian Piero Gasperini can take heart from the Italy international’s scintillating form since arriving from Genoa. The 25-year-old netted a double on his debut to inspire Atalanta to a superb 4-0 triumph at Lecce on the opening weekend, with Marco Brescianini chipping in with another brace.
Match Preview
Inter
The abovementioned win against Luca Gotti’s team marked the eighth time in the last 11 league matches that Inter have scored precisely two goals. They look destined to add to that tally here. Inzaghi’s charges have netted at least twice in five of their six most recent Serie A encounters against Atalanta.
Inter’s free-scoring form in this fixture has laid the foundation for their longest winning streak against the Bergamo outfit in Serie A since December 2001. Not even the bravest punters could bet on Inter to drop the ball this week, considering they only lost one home league match in the entire 2023/24 (W14, D4, L1).
Adding to this sentiment, Inter last lost a home league clash against Atalanta in March 2014. Since then, they’ve emerged victorious from seven of their ten Serie A duels between the teams at Meazza (D3), including the last two in a row by a combined score of 7-2.
Atalanta
As if losing at Torino wasn’t demoralizing enough, Atalanta have officially parted with Teun Koopmeiners in the build-up to this trip. The Dutch midfielder has joined Juventus, leaving Gasperini short of reliable options in the engine room.
Under such circumstances, the likelihood of Atalanta losing back-to-back league games for the first time since March seems increasingly high. Moreover, La Dea relinquished a promising-looking four-match winning away run in Serie A last weekend.
Despite all the negatives, Atalanta could still throw a spectacle at Meazza. Indeed, five of their last seven league outings on hostile turf have featured precisely three goals, highlighting the potential for a goal-glutted contest. Atalanta’s habit of conceding in abundance on this ground only fuels such expectations.
Team News
In addition to Martinez, Inter will be without long-term absentees Stefan de Vrij and Tajon Buchanan. Mehdi Taremi, who delivered an assist in his maiden Serie A start, will probably partner with Marcus Thuram in the front third.
As for Atalanta, Giorgio Scalvini, Rafael Toloi, and Sead Kolasinac are on the sidelines, contributing to Gasperini’s selection headache. Versatile Dutchman Marten de Roon could drop back to fill the void. Gianluca Scamacca is also out. But Raoul Bellanova could make his debut.
Inter vs Atalanta Potential Line-ups
Inter (3-5-2): Yann Sommer; Benjamin Pavard, Francesco Acerbi, Alessandro Bastoni; Matteo Darmian, Nicolo Barella, Hakan Calhanoglu, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Federico Dimarco; Marcus Thuram, Mehdi Taremi.
Atalanta (3-4-2-1): Marco Carnesecchi; Marten de Roon, Isak Hien, Berat Djimsiti; Raoul Bellanova, Ederson, Mario Pasalic, Matteo Ruggeri; Marco Brescianini, Charles De Ketelaere; Mateo Retegui.
Inter vs Atalanta Prediction
No one would dare to write Atalanta off before the kick-off despite all the off-field problems. However, Inter seem in pole position to extend their winning run against Gasperini’s side, even though Inzaghi cannot call upon Martinez.
With Retegui in top form, Atalanta should be good for one here. But Inter should still claim three points, courtesy of sheer firepower.
Prediction: Inter to Win
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