Inter Milan vs Atalanta
Third plays fifth at the San Siro Stadium on Saturday with Champions League places on offer, but for one of the teams it’s a long shot.
The outcome of Serie A: Inter Milan vs Atalanta could confirm the hosts’ top four place at the same time as ending their visitors’ hopes. Simone Inzaghi’s Inter are on 66 points and five ahead of Atalanta, with AC Milan in between on 64. So Gian Piero Gasperini’s side really needs to win both of its remaining games and hope one of the Milan giants slips up.
Even so, La Dea’s hopes are still alive and kicking, and the pre-match Inter Milan vs Atalanta betting odds say this game could go either way.
Talking Points
Inter fighting on three fronts
I Nerazzurri still have a little work to do to guarantee a 2023/24 Champions League place after losing 3-1 to Napoli last time out. And, unlike their next league opponents, they have other priorities looming, which means Inzaghi needs to use his squad carefully. After beating AC Milan in the semi-final Inter are in the final of the Champions League, and will meet Manchester City in Istanbul on May 10th and, on Wednesday this week, they face Fiorentina in the Coppa Italia Final.
At the back Stefan de Vrij will line up alongside either Allesandro Bastoni or Francesco Acerbi in the next two games, Acerbi started on the bench against Napoli. Marcelo Brozovic was also rested for the league game against the champions and will be sure to return to lead the midfield this week. And up front we top scorer Lautaro Martinez will return alongside either Romelu Lukaku or Edin Dzeko, if Inzaghi opts for a front two. Lukaku hasn’t reached the heights he did in 2021 and his, among other recruits, salary has added to the club’s financial pressures… but he has also contributed to Inter’s unexpected march to the Champions League final which will provide a handy windfall to offset the club’s expenses. I think the Belgian hitman might get the nod over the 37 year old Dzeko who remains a superb impact sub.
Lookman back in contention for Atalanta
The ten point punishment slapped on Juventus on Monday has opened the door to the top four for Atalanta and that was timely. They recovered from back to back defeats, one to the Old Lady, with a 3-1 win over Hellas Verona last week. The trip away to Salernitana the previous week ended in a disappointing 1-0 defeat, and La Dea were missing a key player. Ademola Lookman is top scoring with 13 goals and he handed his manager a boost when he returned from injury to feature in the 3-1 victory over Verona. It’s exactly the pre match Inter Milan vs Atalanta news that boss Gasperini was hoping for. The 25 year old winger had been sidelined for a month with a hamstring strain but he climbed off the bench on 56 minutes, and five later he teed up a goal for Rasmus Hojlund to make it four assists for the season. Lookman came through without any new problems and is very hopeful of featuring against I Nerazzurri.
And Gasperini is hoping a goal against Hellas will spur Hojlund on to two big performances to see out the campaign. The 20 year old moved from Sturm Graz last season and made a great start in Serie A, scoring in four consecutive games in January. He then scored five goals in two European Championship qualifiers in March but he has been a little quiet since. His manager has raised concerns that Hojlund may have been distracted by interest from Manchester United and he needs him focussed for the clash with Inter.
He was left on the bench for a win over Spezia earlier in the month but I expect Hojlund to line up alongside Lookman on Saturday.
History
Inter have already beaten Atalanta twice this season, a 1-0 win in the Coppa Italia quarter final and a 3-2 win in Bergamo in the league, to make it 26 wins to nine in all encounters since 1994.
Both teams come into the game in good form, I Nerazzurri with five wins from six while La Dea has four from six.
Inter’s home record this season reads 13 wins and five losses with not one draw in the league, while Atalanta have failed to beat Inter on their last nine visits to the San Siro Stadium.
Betting Tip
With Inter Milan at SBOTOP odds of 1.80, the draw at 3.40 and Atalanta at 3.60, a home win looks likely but the hosts’ congested fixture list will give La Dea a chance. They need to win and I’m not sure Atalanta can guarantee that and I do expect it to be a hard fought match.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR (⭐) BETS ARE WORTH:
⭐⭐⭐= €20 (HIGHLY CONFIDENT)
⭐⭐= €10 (CONFIDENT))
⭐= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT)
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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