Kingdom Area 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 reaching 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 aspect 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 recreation 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 turn into the primary group in historical past to do this 4 instances in a row. Alternatively, Gian Piero Gasperini’s high-flying fees are vying for his or her maiden look within the grand closing. Along with pursuing an unprecedented feat in membership historical past, Atalanta will probably 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 towards fellow Italian opposition in mid-September. Milan obtained the higher of Inzaghi’s aspect 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 towards 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 gorgeous sufficient, they’re on a scintillating 13-game unbeaten run towards Atalanta (W8, D5), together with six wins on the spin.
Inter scored a outstanding 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 type 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 towards Italian groups to 13 video games. But, it additionally spelled the top of their 12-game successful streak towards home golf equipment.
A labored draw within the capital will unlikely hassle Gasperini as a result of his males have solely misplaced one in all 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 at the least twice. Doing that towards Inter may very well be simpler mentioned than achieved after dropping Mateo Retegui to harm.
Group 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 will be a part of forces with Bastoni tomorrow. Matteo Darmian has regained full health, however Denzel Dumfries ought to begin on the appropriate.
As for Atalanta, Retegui isn’t the one first-team star that will probably be lacking. Gianluca Scamacca continues 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 meanwhile. 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.
