Inter Milan vs Atalanta Preview & Prediction | 2024-25 Italian Serie A
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Potentially one of the more entertaining matches anywhere in Europe takes place this weekend as defending Italian champions Internazionale welcome the reigning UEFA Europa League winners at San Siro.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Friday 30th August, 2024 - UK – 7:45pm / US ET – 2:45pm / US PT – 11:45am
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – Not televised / US – Select matches will be televised on CBS Sports so it is worth checking their schedule
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – OneFootball / US – Paramount+
INTER MILAN PREVIEW: GETTING UP AND RUNNING
Former Lazio boss Simone Inzaghi led Internazionale to their 20th Scudetto last season and the second star upon the badge and the Nerazzurri were magnificent throughout the campaign. They come into this third game, which could be a really tough test, after a relatively shaky start to the season.
On the opening day of the season they shared a 2-2 draw with Genoa in a game in which they thought they had nicked all three points before conceding deep into second-half stoppage-time. They did then manage a relatively comfortable but still hard-fought victory over Lecce by two goals to nil last weekend.
ATALANTA PREVIEW: HAVING TO EVOLVE AGAIN
Atalanta, in comparison, hammered Lecce by four goals to nil in the opening day of the season. However, the Bergamasci will be forgiven for struggling to deal with so much going on in the summer transfer window as well as Gian Piero Gasperini having to, once again for potentially the third or fourth time since arriving in 2016, evolving the style of football.
They have lost goalkeeper Juan Musso this week to Atletico Madrid and rumours persist around Teun Koopmeiners and Ademola Lookman. Those off-the-field frustrations were then followed up by losing in Turin by two goals to one with some slight concerns that there may be some teething issues at the start of this season.
INTER MILAN TEAM NEWS: IRRITATION FOR LAUTARO
Lautaro Martinez was forced to miss Inter’s defeat of Lecce and the Inter captain is a doubt for this weekend which will be a frustration after he missed a large chunk of pre-season.
As well as the Argentinian international, Tajon Buchanan remains a doubt albeit making good speed with his recovery after an injury sustained whilst with Canada this summer. Stefan de Vrij remains unavailable.
PREDICTED XI (3-5-2): Sommer; Pavard, Acerbi, Bastoni; Darmian, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Taremi, Thuram
UNAVAILABLE: De Vrij (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Buchanan (Injured), Lautaro Martinez (Injured)
ATALANTA TEAM NEWS: UNCERTAINTY IN BERGAMO
Throughout the season so far, which began with the UEFA Super Cup, Atalanta remain without Teun Koopmeiners because he has chosen not to play in order to force through a move to Juventus.
The visitors will have to sweat and wait on the availability of Ademola Lookman but there will have to be a continued change in goal with Marco Carnesecchi starting after Juan Musso’s departure to Atletico.
PREDICTED XI (3-4-2-1): Carnesecchi; Djimsiti, Hien, De Roon; Zappacosta, Pasalic, Ederson, Ruggeri; De Ketelaere, Brescianini; Retegui
UNAVAILABLE: Toloi (Injured), Scalvini (Injured), Kolasinac (Injured), Bakker (Injured), Koopmeiners (Disciplinary), Scamacca (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
INTER MILAN VS ATALANTA PREDICTION
This one has the potential to be quite an entertaining encounter in Milan this weekend. Inter have not been overly convincing so far this season, both in defence and attack, after being so dominant throughout the campaign last year. Atalanta will go to San Siro and believe they can get after and exploit the gaps but their lack of clarity on their shape and system will be a major concern. Both teams scoring seems a good bet but it remains the case that Inter are firm favourites.
INTER MILAN VS ATALANTA TIP: INTER TO WIN & BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE
