Inter Milan will seek to continue their strong title defence when they face Atalanta at San Siro on Friday.
Inter Milan, the reigning Serie A champions, aim to secure consecutive victories as they face their Lombardy rivals Atalanta BC at San Siro this Friday. With both teams experiencing mixed results in their early season matches, they will be keen to head into the international break with a win.
The home side’s title defence got off to a shaky start with a 2-2 draw against Genoa. However, they quickly found their footing with a confident 2-0 win over Lecce last weekend. Matteo Darmian opened the scoring just five minutes into the game, and Hakan Calhanoglu added a second from the penalty spot, maintaining his perfect record with 17 consecutive successful penalties in Serie A.
This victory extended Inter’s impressive record of not losing their first home match of the season for 12 years. San Siro has become a stronghold for Inter Milan, with the Nerazzurri winning their first home game in each of the last six seasons.
The upcoming match against Atalanta presents a more significant challenge for Inter Milan. Simone Inzaghi’s side will be keen to continue their unbeaten run against top-five teams, a record that played a crucial role in their successful title campaign last season.
Inter’s recent history against Atalanta is favourable, with the Nerazzurri securing a commanding 4-0 victory in their last encounter at San Siro. Darmian was again on the scoresheet in that match. Inter have not lost a Serie A game to Atalanta since 2018, a streak that spans 11 matches, emphasizing their dominance in this regional rivalry.
Atalanta enter the fixture against Inter Milan with something to prove. After a strong start with a 4-0 win over Lecce, Gian Piero Gasperini’s team stumbled in their second match, suffering a 2-1 defeat to Torino. They were close to securing a draw, but a missed stoppage-time penalty cost them dearly.
Gasperini, who had a brief and unsuccessful stint as Inter’s manager, has continued to lead Atalanta to impressive results, including a top-five finish last season and a historic Europa League victory. However, the summer transfer period has been challenging, with key players like Teun Koopmeiners already leaving, Ademola Lookman potentially on the move and others sidelined by injuries.
La Dea face a tough task in playing away at San Siro, especially while their home ground, Gewiss Stadium, undergoes renovations. Given Inter’s strong home form and Atalanta’s recent difficulties, this could be a challenging match for the visitors. The Hard Tackle delves into the potential elevens and tactics for this highly-anticipated clash.
Team News & Tactics
Inter Milan
Simone Inzaghi may have to cope without his captain Lautaro Martinez this week, as the Argentine striker continues to struggle with a muscular problem that has hampered his availability. Martinez, who was last season’s Capocannoniere, might miss out on this crucial clash.
In his absence, former FC Porto striker Mehdi Taremi, who started against Lecce, is expected to retain his place in the starting lineup, likely partnering Marcus Thuram up front. Taremi’s experience and goal-scoring ability will be key as Inter looks to secure another victory.
On the defensive side, Dutch defender Stefan de Vrij has returned to full training and could be available for selection, possibly starting on the bench alongside summer signing Piotr Zielinski. However, Tajon Buchanan remains sidelined with a leg injury and will not feature in this match.
Inter Milan is expected to line up in a 3-5-2 formation against Atalanta, with Yann Sommer starting in goal, providing his vast experience and shot-stopping ability between the posts. The back three will likely consist of Benjamin Pavard at right centre-back, Francesco Acerbi in the central defensive role, and Alessandro Bastoni at left centre-back, forming a solid and experienced defensive line.
In midfield, Matteo Darmian will operate as the right wingback, offering both defensive cover and attacking width, while Nicolo Barella, Hakan Calhanoglu, and Henrikh Mkhitaryan will form the central midfield trio. Calhanoglu, in particular, will be tasked with orchestrating the play and linking up with the forwards. Federico Dimarco is expected to take up the left wing-back position, contributing to both defensive duties and providing an additional attacking option on the flank.
Up front, Marcus Thuram will partner with Mehdi Taremi as the two strikers, with Thuram’s pace and Taremi’s finishing ability expected to be key in breaking down the Atalanta defence. This front pairing will be crucial as Inter aims to secure three points at San Siro.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Sommer; Pavard, Acerbi, Bastoni; Darmian, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Thuram, Taremi
Atalanta BC
Gian Piero Gasperini continues to navigate a challenging period for Atalanta, with several key players set to depart the club. Teun Koopmeiners has joined Juventus, while UEFA Europa League hero Ademola Lookman is also linked with a potential transfer. Additionally, El Bilal Toure has moved to Stuttgart, and goalkeeper Juan Musso has departed for Atletico Madrid.
Adding to the team’s woes, Giorgio Scalvini and Gianluca Scamacca are long-term absentees due to their injuries, and both Sead Kolašinac and Mitchel Bakker will be unavailable for this weekend’s clash. Despite these setbacks, Atalanta has bolstered their squad with the arrivals of experienced duo Rui Patricio and Juan Cuadrado, providing some much-needed depth.
New signing Raoul Bellanova will compete with Davide Zappacosta for a spot at wing-back, while Mateo Retegui, who has scored three goals in his first two Serie A games for Atalanta, is expected to lead the line. He will be supported by former Milan forward Charles De Ketelaere in the final third.
Atalanta are expected to line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation, with Marco Carnesecchi starting in goal, bringing his shot-stopping skills and composure to the team. The back three will likely include Marten de Roon at right centre-back, Isak Hien in the central defensive role, and Berat Djimsiti at left centre-back, forming a resilient defensive line.
In the midfield, Raoul Bellanova will operate as the right wing-back, providing width and support in both defence and attack, while Mario Pasalic and Ederson will form the central midfield partnership, tasked with controlling the tempo and linking play between the defence and attack. Matteo Ruggeri is expected to take up the left wingback position, offering balance and additional attacking options down the flank.
In the advanced midfield roles, Marco Brescianini and Charles De Ketelaere will support the lone striker, with Brescianini likely playing slightly deeper to facilitate transitions. Leading the line will be Mateo Retegui, who will be looking to continue his impressive goal-scoring form and provide the cutting edge upfront.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Carnesecchi; De Roon, Hien, Djimsiti; Bellanova, Ederson, Pasalic, Ruggeri; Brescianini, De Ketelaere; Retegui
Key Stats
- Inter Milan are unbeaten in their last 11 league games against Atalanta (W6 D5), marking a record run against this opponent in Serie A. Inter have won each of the last four encounters, with Atalanta’s last victory coming back in November 2018 at the Gewiss Stadium (4-1).
- Atalanta’s last Serie A win against Inter at the Meazza dates back to March 2014, when they won 2-1 thanks to a brace from Giacomo Bonaventura. Since then, Inter have won seven times, and there have been three draws, with an overall score of 23-6 in favour of Inter.
- Inter have alternated between a draw and a win in their last six home league games, with their most recent result being a 2-0 victory against Lecce. This follows a run where Inter had achieved nine consecutive home wins in Serie A.
- After their defeat against Torino, Atalanta could lose two of their first three Serie A games of the season for the first time since 2017/18, when they lost to Roma and Napoli in their opening matches.
- Atalanta have scored in 22 of their last 23 Serie A games, netting 49 goals in total (an average of 2.1 goals per game). The only match in this period where they failed to score was against Inter at the Meazza on February 28, where they lost 4-0.
Player to Watch
Marcus Thuram
Marcus Thuram is poised to be the key player to watch in this crucial clash between Inter Milan and Atalanta, particularly in the potential absence of Lautaro Martinez. With Inter’s captain and last season’s top scorer sidelined due to a muscular issue, the responsibility of leading the attack falls squarely on Thuram’s shoulders.
Thuram, who joined Inter this summer, has quickly become an integral part of Simone Inzaghi’s plans. His combination of pace, physicality, and technical ability makes him a constant threat to defences. In Martinez’s absence, Thuram will be expected to step up as the focal point of Inter’s attack, not just in terms of scoring goals but also in creating opportunities for his teammates.
His versatility allows him to play both as a central striker and on the wings, providing Inzaghi with tactical flexibility. Thuram’s ability to take on defenders, hold up play, and make intelligent runs behind the defence will be crucial in breaking down a disciplined Atalanta side.
Moreover, his partnership with Mehdi Taremi, if they start together, could be pivotal. With Taremi’s finishing prowess and Thuram’s ability to stretch defences, Inter’s attack could still pose significant problems for Atalanta even without Martinez.
Prediction
Inter Milan 1-0 Atalanta BC
Inter Milan’s solid home record and Atalanta’s early-season inconsistency make the reigning champions the favourites to win. Atalanta’s injury concerns and off-field distractions might leave them exposed against a well-drilled Inter team.
