Atalanta saved maintain of high spot in Serie A on Saturday after escaping Lazio with a 1-1 draw which saved Inter Milan at bay however ended their club-record league successful streak at 11 matches.
Marco Brescianini tapped house into an open purpose with two minutes remaining to grab a degree from the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, the place a passionate crowd thought a giant win was coming their means.
As an alternative Atalanta will finish a historic 12 months a degree forward of Inter, who’ve a sport in hand, after the champions briefly drew stage on factors with a 3-0 win earlier at Cagliari.
Europa League holders Atalanta will lead the league even when Napoli beat Venezia on Sunday and draw stage on 41 factors with Gian Piero Gasperini’s facet who’ve a considerably higher purpose distinction than the 2023 champions.
Ought to two groups end stage on the high of Serie A come the tip of the season they may face off in a single match to determine the vacation spot of the Scudetto, which Atalanta have by no means gained.
“We struggled for lengthy intervals within the first half, however we had been significantly better within the second,” stated Atalanta coach Gasperini.
“This 12 months has been the very best 12 months in Atalanta’s historical past, let’s hope we are able to make 2025 the identical.”
Atalanta confirmed nice character to battle again from Fisayo Dele-Bashiru’s Twenty seventh-minute purpose which got here in an intense opening interval from Lazio.
The away facet had been initially blitzed by Lazio, with Marco Carnesecchi making two sensational stops earlier than Matteo Guendouzi curled an incredible strike off the publish within the eleventh minute.
However because the match wore on, Atalanta, who had been with out injured star striker Mateo Retegui, grew into the sport and deservedly drew stage in entrance of a boisterous and hostile crowd within the Italian capital.
Brescianini netted his third purpose of the season thanks largely to Ademola Lookman, who made up for earlier lacking from yards out by beating Lazio’s offside lure, assembly Nicolo Zaniolo’s hooked cross and rolling throughout to his teammate to salvage a treasured level.
Subsequent up, Atalanta journey to play the Italian Tremendous Cup in Saudi Arabia, the place they may face Inter on Thursday.
– Lautaro again within the targets –
Lautaro Martinez ended an eight-match scoring drought at Cagliari, netting the second in a fascinating contest in Sardinia which Inter gained with second-half targets from the Argentina striker, Alessandro Bastoni and Hakan Calhanoglu.
Inter have gained their final 5 in Italy’s high flight, scoring 19 and conceding simply as soon as, a burst in kind which has re-established Inter as favourites to retain the Scudetto.
The one factor lacking for Inter had been targets from captain Martinez, who hadn’t scored since November 3 earlier than he prodded house Nicolo Barella’s cross within the 71st minute on Saturday.
“An important factor is that Inter win. If I get a purpose too, then that is a bonus,” stated Martinez.
“We work laborious day by day to win trophies and anybody who units foot on the pitch will give their all for the workforce. We have simply bought to maintain going and make 2025 like this 12 months.”
Inter might have gained by an much more convincing margin had captain Martinez not wasted nice probabilities in every half and Cagliari goalkeeper Simone Scuffet not pulled off excellent saves to disclaim Marcus Thuram and Barella.
However Martinez did internet his seventh purpose this season in all competitions and 7 minutes later Calhanoglu made completely positive of the factors from the penalty spot.
Cagliari are simply contained in the relegation zone after a fourth consecutive defeat for Davide Nicola’s facet, a degree behind Verona and Como who each play on Monday.
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