Inter Milan vs Atalanta: Match Preview

With matches coming thick and fast, Inter turn around immediately from Tuesday’s comeback win away in Florence to face the ever-potent attack of Atalanta. Wins against Bologna and Fiorentina have yielded nine goals for Simone Inzaghi’s side, who are making their own case for being the most fearsome scoring side in the league. That being said, Saturday’s match could very well produce some fireworks going forward for both teams.

Photo by Emmanuele Ciancaglini/CPS Images/Getty Images

For Inter, Tuesday’s win was a testament to resilience, something the club has gotten used to since the summer. Managerial changes, player changes, and style changes have not been enough to undo this Nerazzurri squad. Dominant wins and come from behind wins are needed over long seasons, and Inter have proven early that they can do both. Only Luciano Spalletti and his Napoli side have a better record than Inter so far in Serie A. After playing three of their first five matches away from home in the league so far, Inter will be happy to kick off inside the friendly confines of the Meazza and looking to make it six unbeaten to start the season.

Personnel-wise, the only likely change to the side that defeated Fiorentina will come with Denzel Dumfries making his second Inter start. Nicolo Barella experienced a slight issue after the previous match, but is expected to be fit and starting. Joaquin Correa should also make his return to the squad after his hip knock last week against Bologna, but with how decisive Edin Dzeko has been so far, the Argentine will likely start on the bench, though starting a quicker player like Correa against a high energy team like Atalanta may not be the worst idea.

Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images

For all the firepower we know Atalanta have, they have not quite gotten up to full speed yet. They have yet to score more than two goals in a match in any competition so far this season. They have scored two in three of their six matches so far this season in Serie A and Champions League play. Two goals were good enough for victories over Torino and Sassuolo, but only good enough for a 2-2 draw with Villareal in Europe. They only beat lowly Salernitana 1-0 and fell to a 0-0 draw against Bologna. It has been a slow start, with only six goals scored and four conceded, but still good enough for 10 points in the league from five matches.

They may also be without two attacking threats in Matteo Pessina and the always dangerous Luis Muriel. A blow to Gian Piero Gasperini’s side. Despite this, Inter-linked Duvan Zapata is still a goal scoring threat, along with Ruslan Malinovskyi beside him and Robin Gosens out wide. There is still plenty to watch out for in this team.

Previous Results

1-0 (H) - 8/3/2021

1-1 (A) - 11/8/2020

Predicted Starting XIs

Prediction: Inter 3-2 Atalanta

Atalanta have been decent this season, but getting to face off against them early in the season while they are still trying to establish some continuity to the side will prove to be crucial. The Gosens against Denzel Dumfries battle could be one for the ages on the wings. Inter have been very high scoring so far this season and that should not change with the continuity they have found. This advantage should just give Inter the edge in a match that will be very end to end. Watch for goals from Lautaro Martinez, Hakan Calhanoglu, and Dumfries with his first.

Forza Inter!