Inter Milan extended their grip on the Serie A summit with a commanding 2-0 win over Atalanta, increasing their lead at the top to three points.
This result also marked a third consecutive defeat for Atalanta against the Nerazzurri this season, failing to find the net in any of those encounters.
With both sides boasting the league’s highest goal tally, the match was expected to deliver attacking excitement. It took less than seven minutes for the first major opportunity to arise, as Lautaro Martinez’s perfectly weighted pass sliced through Atalanta’s defense, setting up Marcus Thuram.
The Frenchman rounded goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi, but his shot agonizingly struck the inside of the post and rebounded away.
Atalanta soon crafted a chance of their own when Marten de Roon delivered a pinpoint cross to Mario Pasalic, whose powerful header seemed destined for the net—until Yann Sommer produced an outstanding reflex save to deny him.
Despite the promising start, goal-scoring opportunities became scarce as both defenses tightened their grip on the contest.
Alessandro Bastoni and Ademola Lookman both tried their luck, but neither could keep their efforts on target before halftime.
However, Inter found the breakthrough early in the second half. Hakan Calhanoglu delivered a pinpoint corner, and an unmarked Carlos Augusto rose highest to nod home his third league goal of the campaign, ending Atalanta’s run of five consecutive Serie A clean sheets.
Calhanoglu attempted to extend the lead with a long-range effort, but Carnesecchi was equal to the strike. Martinez then appeared to have doubled Inter’s advantage, only for his goal to be ruled out due to a foul on Berat Djimsiti in the build-up.
Atalanta struggled to create meaningful openings and managed only one shot on target in the second half, Lazar Samardzic’s tame effort, which Sommer dealt with comfortably.
Their evening took another turn for the worse when Ederson received two yellow cards in quick succession—first for a foul on Thuram, then for protesting the referee’s decision.
With a numerical advantage, Inter capitalized and sealed the win in the 86th minute, as Martinez smashed the ball past Carnesecchi to end their four-game winless streak on the road.
The match concluded in dramatic fashion, with Bastoni receiving a red card in stoppage time and Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini also sent off.
Atalanta, still searching for their first Serie A home victory of 2025, were left frustrated, while Simone Inzaghi’s men celebrated a crucial win in their pursuit of the Scudetto.
