MILAN - Atalanta came away victorious from the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza after an incredible match, or rather an incredible second half. Inter v Atalanta ended 3-4, with the team from Bergamo receiving a non-existent penalty.
It was a balanced first half but Inter were once again struck by bad luck: just past the half hour mark Cassano was forced to leave the pitch for a muscle problem and Alvarez came on in his place. Rocchi was now leading the attack and on 43 minutes he put Inter ahead from Pereira’s corner when he connected with the outside of his right to beat Polito. It was his first goal for Inter and his 100th in the Serie A.
On 56 minutes Atalanta found the equaliser when Bonaventura controlled Livaja’s cross and lifted the ball into the net. Not even a minute had passed, however, before Inter were back in front, as Alvarez capitalised on an error from Canini and headed the ball home. On 61 minutes the Argentine made it a brace with a left-footer. In the 65th minute the referee awarded an inexplicable penalty to Atalanta, which Denis duly converted. Six minutes later Denis added his second when he dribbled past Ranocchia and banged in his shot off the inside of the post. The big Argentine centre forward made it a hat trick on 77 minutes when he anticipated Samuel to tuck away Bonaventura’s cross. Raimondi was sent off in injury time. Then in minute 94 Ranocchia missed a glorious chance from close range after Guarin’s deflected cross fell right to him. Tensions ran high after the final whistle. Inter remain with 50 points in the standings.
Inter 3-4 Atalanta (HT: 1-0)
Scorers: Rocchi 43, Bonaventura 56, Alvarez 57, 61, Denis 65 (pen.), 71, 77.
Inter: 1 Handanovic; 23 Ranocchia, 25 Samuel, 40 Juan Jesus; 4 Zanetti, 10 Kovacic, 19 Cambiasso (Schelotto 41), 31 Pereira; 14 Guarin; 99 Cassano (Alvarez 32), 18 Rocchi.
Unused subs: 27 Belec, 30 Carrizo, 6 Silvestre, 17 Kuzmanovic, 24 Benassi, 28 Pasa, 45 Forte, 47 Colombi, 55 Nagatomo.
Coach: Andrea Stramaccioni.
Atalanta: 16 Polito; 2 Stendardo, 5 Scaloni, 10 Bonaventura, 13 Canini, 17 Carmona (Livaja 54), 19 Denis (Cazzola 83), 21 Cigarini, 77 Raimondi, 83 Del Grosso (Brivio 74), 88 Biondini.
Unused subs: 78 Frezzolini, 8 Radovanovic, 9 Troisi, 18 Giorgi, 22 Contini, 23 Brienza, 28 Brivio, 32 Ferri, 91 De Luca, 99 Parra.
Coach: Stefano Colantuono.
Referee: Andrea Gervasoni (Mantova).
Booked: Kovacic 5, Scaloni 85, Biondini 88.
Sent off: Raimondi 90+1.
Recovery: 1 + 4 minutes.
Attendance: 38,935.
