Inter Clinches Crucial Victory Against Rivals Atalanta to Gain Three-Point Lead at Serie A Summit

Inter Milan have increased their lead at the summit of the Serie A table to three points following a 2-0 victory against Atalanta, who now suffer their third defeat to the Nerazzurri without finding the net across all competitions this season.

The clash between the league’s top scorers produced its first significant opportunity less than seven minutes in, with a deft pass from Lautaro Martinez slicing through the home defence and allowing Marcus Thuram to race clear on goal.

The forward managed to get past goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi, but his shot clipped the inside of the post and rebounded to safety. Atalanta responded with a major chance of their own just over 10 minutes later, however, Yann Sommer produced a magnificent save to deny Mario Pasalic’s header from a cross by Marten de Roon.

Goals have proven elusive for La Dea at the Gewiss Stadium recently, with their last two home fixtures finishing goalless. It wasn’t long before both teams struggled to find the net again, with wayward attempts from Alessandro Bastoni and Ademola Lookman representing the closest efforts either side came to breaking the deadlock before half-time.

Any hopes for Gian Piero Gasperini’s side to secure a sixth consecutive clean sheet in the league were dashed in the ninth minute of the second half, as Hakan Calhanoglu’s precise corner was met by the unmarked Carlos Augusto, who scored his third league goal of the season.

 Not long after, Calhanoglu attempted a strike from 25 yards, but Carnesecchi was well-positioned to handle it. Meanwhile, Martinez thought he had doubled the lead, only for his effort to be ruled out due to a foul on Berat Djimsiti leading up to the goal.

Atalanta finally registered a shot on target in the second half with 10 minutes remaining, but Lazar Samardzic’s weak attempt caused no problems for Sommer.

Things worsened for the home side when Ederson received two bookings in quick succession; first for a foul on Thuram, then for dissent towards referee Davide Massa.

Simone Inzaghi’s side capitalised on this and secured all three points just four minutes from time, with Martinez striking decisively past Carnesecchi to end a streak of four league matches without an away win, despite Bastoni receiving a red card in injury time.

Meanwhile, Atalanta—who also saw Gasperini dismissed—are still searching for their first Serie A home victory of 2025.