Kingdom Enviornment in Riyadh is the venue as Inter Milan and Atalanta go head-to-head in a mouth-watering Supercoppa Italiana semi-final tie. Each groups might get one step nearer to attaining historic feats by taking victory in Saudi Arabia’s capital.
Inter ended final calendar 12 months on a excessive. After a goalless first half, objectives from Alessandro Bastoni, Lautaro Martinez, and Hakan Calhanoglu impressed Simone Inzaghi’s facet to . It was their fifth consecutive Serie A win with out conceding for the primary time since 2012.
Extra importantly, they’ve whittled down the hole on table-topping Atalanta to a single level. With a sport in hand, the Nerazzurri are in pole place to reclaim the highest spot later this month. Nonetheless, they’ll first take a brief break from their league duties to defend their Supercoppa Italiana crown.
Having received the title in three earlier editions, Inter might change into the primary workforce in historical past to try this 4 instances in a row. However, Gian Piero Gasperini’s high-flying expenses are vying for his or her maiden look within the grand remaining. Along with pursuing an unprecedented feat in membership historical past, Atalanta can be out to enact revenge on Inter.
Certainly, the reigning Scudetto holders emerged 4-0 winners when the 2 sides locked horns in Serie A earlier this season. However Atalanta have since gone from power to power, as witnessed by their present positions within the UEFA Champions League and Serie A.
Match Preview
Inter
Inter final tasted defeat in opposition to fellow Italian opposition in mid-September. Milan bought the higher of Inzaghi’s facet within the newest version of the long-lasting Derby della Madonnina, solely infuriating the San Siro giants. Certainly, they’ve since gone unbeaten in 13 consecutive matches in opposition to home rivals (W11, D2).
Apart from a last-gasp 1-0 loss at Bayer Leverkusen within the Champions League, Inter are undefeated in 17 of their final 18 outings throughout all competitions (W15, D2). As if that’s not beautiful sufficient, they’re on a scintillating 13-game unbeaten run in opposition to Atalanta (W8, D5), together with six wins on the spin.
Inter scored a exceptional 19 objectives throughout these six triumphs, highlighting the potential for an additional multi-goal margin win. That’s been the case of their final 4 aggressive victories, all of which got here by 2+ objectives ‘to nil,’ regardless that they failed to attain earlier than halftime twice.
Atalanta
Many groups would discover Inter’s red-hot kind intimidating, however not Atalanta. Marco Brescianini scored off the bench to salvage a 1-1 draw at Lazio in La Dea’s final Serie A outing of 2024, stretching their unbeaten streak in opposition to Italian groups to 13 video games. But, it additionally spelled the tip of their 12-game successful streak in opposition to home golf equipment.
A labored draw within the capital will unlikely trouble Gasperini as a result of his males have solely misplaced considered one of their final 19 aggressive video games, happening to reigning Champions League holders Actual Madrid 3-2 (W15, D3). This encounter takes place on impartial floor. Nonetheless, Atalanta received’t be afraid of leaving Bergamo.
Since Inter swept them apart at Giuseppe Meazza in September, they’ve pieced collectively an exceptional ten-game unbeaten run on the highway (W8, D2). Moreover, seven of Atalanta’s eight wins throughout that sequence noticed them rating a minimum of twice. Doing that in opposition to Inter might be simpler stated than carried out after dropping Mateo Retegui to harm.
Crew Information
Inter took this journey with out long-term absentees Francesco Acerbi and Benjamin Pavard. Stefan de Vrij and Yann Bisseck have excelled of their absence and may be a part of forces with Bastoni tomorrow. Matteo Darmian has regained full health, however Denzel Dumfries ought to begin on the suitable.
As for Atalanta, Retegui isn’t the one first-team star that can be lacking. Gianluca Scamacca remains to be within the remedy room with a knee harm. However Gasperini can depend on Ademola Lookman and Charles De Ketelaere to shoulder the scoring burden. In the meantime, Juan Cuadrado can be absent.
Inter vs Atalanta Potential Beginning Line-ups
Inter (3-5-2): Sommer; Bisseck, De Vrij, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Martinez, Thuram.
Atalanta (3-4-2-1): Carnesecchi; Kossounou, Hien, Kolasinac; Bellanova, De Roon, Ederson, Zappacosta; Samardzic, Lookman; De Ketelaere.
Inter vs Atalanta Prediction
Inter are just about in a league of their very own in the intervening time. Inzaghi’s males are firing on all cylinders whereas they’ve regained final season’s defensive resilience. That makes them well-equipped to knock Atalanta off their perch.