Reigning Serie A champions Inter Milan welcome Atalanta to the San Siro on Friday night in an intriguing early-season matchup between two of Italy’s top sides.
Inter will be looking to build momentum after picking up their first win of the new campaign last weekend, a comfortable 2-0 victory over Lecce. The Nerazzurri stumbled slightly in their season opener, drawing 2-2 with Genoa, but quickly got back on track thanks to goals from Matteo Darmian and Hakan Calhanoglu against Lecce.
Manager Simone Inzaghi will be eager to see his side continue their strong home form, as Inter have not lost their first home match of a season in 12 years. The champions also went unbeaten against fellow top-five sides en route to last season’s title.
Atalanta, meanwhile, come into the match looking to bounce back from a disappointing 2-1 loss to Torino last time out. La Dea had opened their campaign in style with a 4-0 thrashing of Lecce, but were unable to build on that result. A missed stoppage-time penalty from Mario Pasalic cost them a chance at salvaging a point against Torino.
Manager Gian Piero Gasperini faces some selection headaches, with several key players either injured or potentially on the move before the transfer window closes. Star midfielder Teun Koopmeiners has joined Juventus, while forward Ademola Lookman could also depart in the closing days of the transfer window. Injuries to Giorgio Scalvini and Gianluca Scamacca further deplete Atalanta’s options.
Inter have dominated this fixture in recent years, going unbeaten in their last 11 Serie A meetings with Atalanta. That includes a comprehensive 4-0 victory when the sides last met at San Siro.
Team News
For Friday’s match, Inter may again be without captain and top scorer Lautaro Martinez due to injury. In his absence, new signing Mehdi Taremi is likely to partner Marcus Thuram up front. Atalanta will look to in-form striker Mateo Retegui, who has three goals in his first two Serie A appearances, to lead the line alongside Charles De Ketelaere.
With both sides harboring ambitions of challenging at the top of the table this season, this early clash could set the tone for their respective campaigns. Inter will be favored at home, but Atalanta have the quality to cause an upset if they can overcome their injury issues.
Expected Starting XIs
Inter Milan: Sommer; Pavard, Acerbi, Bastoni; Darmian, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Thuram, Taremi
Atalanta: Carnesecchi; De Roon, Hien, Djimsiti; Bellanova, Ederson, Pasalic, Ruggeri; Brescianini, De Ketelaere; Retegui
