Inter-Atalanta is a Serie A Week 37 match to be played on Saturday at 20:45: lineups, predictions, TV and streaming.
A deluxe Lautaro Martinez in midweek allowed Inter to lift their second trophy of the season and put the Coppa Italia in their trophy cabinet for the second consecutive season. It was the Nerazzurri who triumphed on the night at the Stadio Olimpico against a Fiorentina side who gave Fiorentina a hard time. But in the end it was decided by a brace from the world champion Argentine striker, who confirmed his relentlessness in front of goal.
Under a goal after the first minutes of the game, Simone Inzaghi’s team did not disband and came back against the Viola, taking advantage of a couple of defensive lapses. In the second half, then, they limited themselves to controlling, although they risked on several occasions to concede the 2-2 goal that would probably have sent the challenge into extra time. The first final the coach from Piacenza brought it home: the second, much more prestigious, Inter will play on 10 June in Istanbul, Turkey, against the ‘Martians’ of Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City. But before thinking about the Champions League, the Nerazzurri are called upon to secure their place among the top four in the league. To close the games definitively, it would be enough not to lose in Saturday’s Serie A match against Atalanta, who are five points behind in the standings. Facilitated by the penalty inflicted on Juventus, which has once again overturned the classification, Inter, against the Dea – momentarily fifth – have two results out of three at their disposal to be sure of playing in the Champions League next year too.
Dea haven’t won at the San Siro since 2014
Gian Piero Gasperini and his men still have a faint hope of returning to play with the best teams in Europe, but they need to defeat the San Siro in order to continue dreaming of a feat that would be sensational.
Hojlund
In fact, it doesn’t just depend on Atalanta, as ahead of the Bergamaschi is AC Milan, who have three more points – as well as the direct clashes in their favour – and twenty-four hours later will be engaged in a vibrant clash with Juventus at the Stadium. The Dea’s realistic objective is therefore to avoid the minor cups: consolidating fifth place next year would give them the opportunity to play their cards in the Europa League. In the meantime, Atalanta immediately filed away the disappointment for the two defeats in a row against Juventus and Salernitana, returning to win against Verona, who were defeated 3-1 last Saturday: de Roon and his team-mates shone again from the offensive point of view, after they had surprisingly remained goal-less in the matches against the Bianconeri and the Granata. In any case, it will be complicated to return with three points from the ‘Meazza’, a stadium that against Inter the Dea has not managed to violate since 2014.
Inter-Atalanta: the latest line-up news
In addition to the disqualified Gagliardini, who was sent off last Sunday in Napoli, Inter will also be without Correa, who is struggling with a muscle strain in the soleus of his right leg. Lautaro Martinez could be called upon to work overtime: the Argentine will team up with Lukaku, who is certain to start at 1′. In defence, de Vrij will play with D’Ambrosio and Acerbi, while Gosens will play Dimarco on the left flank.
Atalanta’s infirmary is always full: after Palomino, Zapata, Boga and Soppy, Zappacosta is also injured and in doubt for the San Siro trip. If he doesn’t make it Gasperini will replace him with Okoli. Up front Koopmeiners and Pasalic will support Hojlund but from the bench will be the re-established Muriel and Lookman.
The prediction
On the wings of enthusiasm for having also got their hands on the Coppa Italia, Inter also start with the favourites against Atalanta. The Milanese Nerazzurri have lately become something of a taboo for La Dea, who have failed to beat them in nine consecutive league and Coppa Italia clashes. The unknown factor is the physical condition of most of Inzaghi’s starters after the final at the Stadio Olimpico, which is why we expect Atalanta to be able to pierce Onana’s defence on at least one occasion.
The likely line-up for Inter v Atalanta
- INTER (3-5-2): Onana; D’Ambrosio, de Vrij, Acerbi; Dumfries, Barella, Brozovic, Calhanoglu, Gosens; Lautaro Martinez, Lukaku.
- ATALANTA (3-4-2-1): Sportiello; Toloi, Djimsiti, Scalvini; Maehle, de Roon, Ederson, Zappaccosta; Koopmeiners, Pasalic; Højlund.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 2-1
