Inter Milan Vs Atalanta Preview: Proof Of Italian Rulers In Saudi Arabia

Duet Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram became the mainstay of Inter Milan's front line against Atalanta at Supercopa Italiana. (X/@Inter)

JAKARTA - Inter Milan met with Atalanta which was already different compared to August 2024. Now, Atalanta, who topped the league, is a tough competitor for Inter. The match for tickets to the Italiana Supercopa final in Saudi Arabia Friday, January 3, 2025 in the morning at 02.00 WIB is proof of the Italian football rulers.

Inter started the 2024/2025 season with impressive achievements. Unmitigated, Inter even slaughtered Atalanta 4-0. The victory further confirmed Inter's dominance over Atalanta.

How not, Inter always win every time they meet La Dea. Of the last seven matches, Inter have won six times and lost only once. Inter's defeat was experienced six years ago. In 2018, Atalanta, who acted as the host, beat his rival 4-1.

The match record does favor Inter over Atalanta who has won only nine times from 56 times in the history of meeting the two teams. But Atalanta is now very different.

Gian Piero Gasperini's team showed consistency so that they recorded 10 consecutive wins. This success made Atalanta win the throne which was previously controlled by Napoli and Inter alternately.

But Atalanta was able to poke and get rid of his competitors. Only in the last match of the league, they were forced to draw 1-1 against Lazio. The result slightly tarnished the glory of the Europa League champions even though Atalanta's position was unshakable at the top of the standings with 41 points.

However, Atalanta could not be comfortable at the top. Napoli, who are in second place, have the same points as Atalanta. They lost on goal difference. Meanwhile, Inter are only one point adrift and are in third position.

Atalanta's impressive performance, including setting a record 127 goals throughout 2024, made the team an opponent Inter should have taken into account in a duel at Al-Awwal Park Stadium, Riyadh.

Inter did have good capital ahead of the match which was held in this neutral place. Simone Inzaghi's team successfully beat Cagliari 3-0 which was marked by the return of captain Lautaro Martinez by scoring the first goal after two months of barrenness.

Inter will also be Atalanta's tough opponent because so far this year, they have shown no decline. Even the Nerazzurri were able to pick 27 wins from 38 matches and only lost twice that they experienced last September.

Good capital is in the hands of Marcus Tulam et al who have ambitions to defend the Supercopa trophy. If they qualify for the final by getting rid of Atalanta, they will meet AC Milan or Juventus.

Only in that match, Inzaghi lost the best players in the back sector, Benjamin Pavard and Francesco Acerbi, who were injured. His removal again. both occupy the same position left-back. However, there was Alessandro Bastoni who opened a 3-0 win over Napoli.

Bastoni will work hand in hand with Stefan de Vrij and Yann Bisseck. Meanwhile, in front of Thuram, he returned to the duet with Martinez.

Meanwhile, Atalanta lost mainstay full-back Juan Cuadrado. The former Inter player suffered a thigh injury despite being able to play for 45 minutes in the second half. He followed Italian national team strikers Gianluca Scamacca and Mateo Retegui who had already been sidelined due to injury.

On the other hand, midfielder Matteo Rugeri could be an alternative to play. He has recovered from a toe injury and joined the team for training

On the front lines, Gasperini again relied on Ademola Lookman who would support Charles De Ketelaere. They became the focus of penetrating the strong defense of goalkeeper Yann Sommer.

Forecast Of Inter Milan's Lineup (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