Inter Milan held to 0-0 draw with Atalanta

While Duvan Zapata was missed by Atalanta, Inter Milan could not generate any goals as they split points in a 0-0 draw Sunday at the Giuseppe Meazza.

”The match was hard-fought and both sides had their say so we have to accept the result from what happened on the pitch,” said Luciano Spalletti, in his post-match news conference. “We played in a compact fashion, putting in a good performance and this is a good sign, one which makes me think that we can achieve our goal.

Inter had an opportunity to score in the 5^th minute by Matias Vecino as his volley found the back of the net after an apparent assist from Danilo D’Ambrosio, however the offside flag was up.

Vecino had another shot at goal in the 9^th minute, but Pierluigi Gollini was able to push the lob over the top of goal to save the effort.

Ivan Perisic also had a look at goal after Mauro Icardi crossed to the Croatian in the 14^th minute, but the header was right to Gollini.

A big negative happened in the 23^rd minute when Marcelo Brozovic came off after grabbing his hamstring. That forced Radja Nainggolan to come on in place of the Croatian international.

Spalletti said his injury will be monitored.

”Brozovic has a muscle problem (note: he’s injured the flexor muscles in his right thigh), he’ll undergo tests in the upcoming days and won’t be available,’ Spalletti said.

Icardi had a solid shot at goal early after breaking an onside trap with Gollini, however, his chip shot was easily parried away by the Atalanta goalkeeper.

As Zapata was out due to a suspension, Atalanta turned to Papu Gomez as a false nine. Gomez had an opportunity to put the ball into a dangerous position midway through the first half, however, there was no Orobisi player there to capitalize.

Photo by Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images

To start the second half, Josip Ilicic put a ball into the area, but Gomez could not connect on a tap-in to find the back of the net.

In the 72^nd minute, Nainggolan was able to break through up the middle where Vecino found him, but Gollini charged ahead and was able to save the potential shot from the Belgian. D’Ambrosio also nearly headed home a goal after Kwadwo Asamoah found him on a cross, but the attempt was mistimed and out of range.

Toward the end of the match, Icardi one of the best chances at goal after Perisic belted a corner into the area, but Timothy Gastagne ran down Icardi and prevented any danger.

”The team’s determination and the collaboration between teammates are fundamental. It’s an unpredictable league with peaks and troughs, there’s no coherent pattern,” Spalletti said. We don’t know what the next results will be so we have to move forward and put in positive performances and get points.”

The point moved Inter to five points clear of both Atalanta and AC Milan – after Milan lost at Juventus on Saturday – to remain in third. Atalanta and Milan hold in fourth on 52 points while AS Roma is one point back in sixth.

Inter Milan return to action next weekend when they travel to Frosinone, followed by a return to the Giuseppe Meazza to face Roma the following week.

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