Stadio Giuseppe Meazza forms the backdrop for a blockbuster Serie A showdown between runaway leaders Inter and top-four hopefuls Atalanta. Wednesday’s encounter in Lombardy could determine the outcome of the Scudetto race and put Nerazzurri in cruising control ahead of the final stretch.
Inter made a piece of history at Stadio Via del Mare on Sunday with an overwhelming 4-0 triumph against Lecce. It was the first time since 1947 that they’ve won three consecutive league matches while scoring 4+ goals on each occasion, highlighting the unparalleled quality of Simone Inzaghi’s high-flying side.
On top of that, talismanic forward Lautaro Martinez sealed his most prolific campaign in Serie A since swapping Racing Club for Inter in 2018. Scoring on either side of halftime saw the Argentine forward take his seasonal tally in the Italian top flight to 22 goals, maintaining his seven-goal lead on second-placed Dusan Vlahovic.
Having won all ten competitive matches since the turn of 2024, including a 4-0 rout of basement boys Salernitana in their last home league outing, Inter will be out to reach another flattering milestone. Visiting Atalanta take this trip at risk of losing four successive league encounters against Nerazzurri for the first time since a run of six between 1997 and 2001.
Gian Piero Gasperini’s side can draw confidence from avoiding defeat at this venue just days ago. Teun Koopmeiners’ first-half penalty salvaged a 1-1 draw for La Dea against Inter’s bitter rivals Milan on Sunday, even though their performance at San Siro flattered to deceive.
Nonetheless, that result extended Atalana’s near-perfect competitive record since Christmas (W8, D2). Sat two points adrift of fourth-placed Bologna ahead of the kick-off, the Bergamo outfit could break into the Champions League qualification spots with an unlikely win. But Inter will be eager to prevent that from happening.
Match Preview
Inter
With nine points separating Inter from runners-up Juventus, beating Atalanta would probably seal the deal for the 19-time Serie A winners. As Inzaghi’s men gallop toward a second star on their shirts, confidence is bursting at the seams amidst one of the club’s most dominant league campaigns in history.
Free-scoring Inter have averaged an eye-watering 2.5 goals per game this Serie A campaign and are the only side in the Italian elite division to smash a 60-goal landmark (63). However, Inzaghi’s attacking proclivities have not come at the expense of Nerazzurri’s defensive solidity, as evidenced by the league’s best record of only 12 goals conceded.
Topically, Inter have won their last seven league games, including six accompanied by a clean sheet, underscoring the potential for extending a near-decade-long unbeaten home run against Atalanta.
Atalanta
Despite Atalanta’s formidable form during the post-Christmas period, their travel sickness could still throw a spanner in the works. Gasperini’s men have got in the win column only once on their last six Serie A road trips (D3, L2). To their defense, they held Milan and Roma winless during that sequence, showing they couldn’t care less about their opposition’s stature.
But it’s been a while since Atalanta last left Meazza with a smile. Not since a 2-1 victory in 2014 have they triumphed at this venue in Serie A, nor any other competition for that matter. And as they’re yet to keep a clean sheet on the road in 2024, it makes it ever so challenging for Gasperini to end his barren away run against Inter.
If it’s any consolation, his men have only failed to score once in 12 league matches outside Bergamo this term.
Team News
Inter boss Inzaghi can’t call upon the likes of Yann Sommer, Francesco Acerbi, Stefano Sensi, Juan Cuadrado, and Marcus Thuram. Yet, the quintet’s absence did nothing to slow Nerazzurri down in Puglia over the weekend, with their deputies holding up their end of the bargain in the abovementioned rout of Lecce.
As for Atalanta, Giorgio Scalvini is the only doubt ahead of this trip after picking up a knock against Milan. Despite underperforming in that game, Charles De Ketelaere is the frontrunner to lead the line alongside Ademola Lookman, who’s more likely to start than Aleksei Miranchuk.
Inter vs Atalanta Potential Lineups
Inter (3-5-2): Emil Audero; Yann Bisseck, Stefan de Vrij, Alessandro Bastoni; Denzel Dumfries, Davide Frattesi, Nicolo Barella, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Federico Dimarco; Alexis Sanchez, Lautaro Martinez.
Atalanta (3-4-1-2): Marco Carnesecchi; Giorgio Scalvini, Berat Djimsiti, Sead Kolasinac; Davide Zappacosta, Marten De Roon, Ederson, Matteo Ruggeri; Teun Koopmeiners; Ademola Lookman, Charles De Ketelaere.
Inter vs Atalanta Prediction
With all due respect to Atalanta’s tremendous effort these past few weeks, Inter are currently on another level. Despite lacking several first-team stars, Inzaghi’s men will most likely put another crucial three points on the board.
Prediction: Inter Win
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