Inter Milan v Atalanta – Preview, Predictions and Best Bets

Inter Milan welcomes Atalanta to the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on Saturday evening in Serie A. The defending champions are top of the table under new coach Simone Inzaghi despite two high-profile departures in the off-season. Atalanta has surprisingly been struggling to score goals this season with just six strikes in five matches, a third of the 18 goals netted by Internazionale. The latter will hope to extend their undefeated run against Atalanta to six matches.

Inter Milan Form

Inter have started the season very well domestically despite the departures of Romelu Lukaku, Achraf Hakimi, and coach Antonio Conte. They began this season with a 4-0 win against Genoa before a 3-1 win at Genoa. They then dropped their only points of the season as they surrendered two leads to draw 2-2 at Sampdoria. A last-minute 1-0 defeat to Real Madrid followed at home in UEFA Champions League.

The side bounced back with a 6-1 thrashing of Atalanta after scoring six times between the 6th and 68th minutes. Their last match brought a 3-1 success at Fiorentina as Matteo Darmian, Edin Dzeko and Ivan Perisic scored the goals.

Inter Milan Team News

Inter has a few players unavailable but is not really weakened by the absences. Christian Eriksen is still out after his heart problems and both Stefano Sensi and Arturo Vidal are also absent in midfield.
Joaquin Correa should return to boost the attack after a knock to the hip. Alexis Sanchez is also available again.

Matteo Darmian has done a good job of replacing Achraf Hakimi with the new addition Denzel Dumfries featuring from the bench. Edin Dzeko will lead the line and he has scored four times in his first six outings.

Inter Milan Motivation

Inter will play to win this match but could rotate their side a little ahead of a must-win Champions League match away to Shakhtar Donetsk. Simone Inzaghi’s side has seen four goals per match on average this term with just one clean sheet.

They tend to continue to attack and drive home any advantage if they are leading.

Atalanta Form

Gli Orobici I Nerazzurri have had a decent start to the season with three wins and a draw in five Serie A matches and a credible draw to start the UEFA Champions League. A 2-1 win at Torino to start this season was followed by a surprise goalless draw at home to Bologna and a 2-1 home defeat to Fiorentina (having conceded two penalties).

Atalanta then twice came from behind to draw 2-2 in Spain against Villarreal in the Champions League before winning successive league matches – 1-0 at Salernitana and 2-1 against Sassuolo. Wingbacks Robin Gosens and Davide Zappacosta scored the goals.

Atalanta Team News

Atalanta is missing two players for this match in right back Hans Hateboer and key attacker Luis Muriel, who netted 26 goals last season. Davide Zappacosta’s goal in midweek should see him continue to start at right wingback ahead of versatile Dane, Joakim Mahle.

Josip Ilicic may continue to be left on the substitutes bench but Mario Pasalic is pushing for a recall at number ten in place of Matteo Pessina.

Atalanta Motivation

The side has been struggling to score goals this season with just six netted in five matches. They have only produced 7.61 total xG this season in Serie A compared to 12.03 for Inter, which shows their lack of threat going forward.

Atalanta will attack in this match and should breach a leaky Inter defence but may not put several goals away in their current form.

Key Stats

Inter have scored 24 goals in their last 7 matches

Inter Milan have 18 consecutive home matches in Serie A

Inter have scored 23 goals in their last 5 home league matches

Internazionale have conceded in 4 of their last 5 home Serie A matches

Atalanta have scored just 6 goals in 5 Serie A matches this season

Atalanta have conceded in 6 of their last 7 away matches

Atalanta are winless in seven away matches at Inter (L5, D2)

Verdict

Inter are playing well and should win this match even with the distraction of the Champions League on the horizon. Atalanta is less dangerous going forward this season so far but should score at least once as Inzaghi’s side has been leaking goals.