BERGAMO - Inter leave the Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia with a point for their efforts after the midweek fixture with Atalanta finished 1-1. Alvarez put Mazzarri's men in front in the 16th minute following a smart knock-down by Palacio before Denis got the hosts back on level terms with a 35th-minute header.
Handanovic was back between the sticks after serving his suspension and there was a return to competitive action for Samuel, making his first appearance since April 17. Rolando and Juan Jesus completed the back three while elsewhere Mazzarri went with an unchanged line-up: a midfield quintet of Jonathan, Guarin, Cambiasso, Alvarez and Nagatomo, plus Kovacic in the hole behind Palacio.
The hosts went closest to opening the scoring early on when Canini's header was prodigiously cleared off the line by Guarin in the 10th minute with Handanovic on the ground.
Yet it was Inter who took the lead on the quarter of an hour mark: Palacio nodded down Kovacic's cross into the path of Alvarez and the No.11 controlled well before pushing it through Stendardo's legs and inside the near post.
The advantage lasted less than ten minutes, however, as Denis leapt over Samuel and guided a superb header into the top corner leaving Handanovic with no chance on 25 minutes.
The teams headed into the dressing rooms with the scores all square at 1-1. During the break, Handanovic was replaced by Carrizo after the Slovene shotstopper had picked up an injury in the opening period.
The second half saw Inter on top of proceedings, although Atalanta protested for a handball inside the penalty box in the 69th minute.
The best chance of the half fell to Icardi, who had replaced Guarin. The Argentine striker turned Yepes well before hitting a low strike from the edge of the box but was unlucky to see it ricochet off the outside of the upright.
In the 83rd minute Carrizo pulled off a miraculous save with his foot to thwart Yepes, just yards from goal and with only the keeper to beat.
Three minutes of injury time were awarded and it was enough for Inter to fashion two late chances. First Alvarez went desperately close with an audacious 35-yard drive that flashed past the far post. Then in the final seconds Palacio almost got past Canini in the box, only for the former Cagliari defender to close the door with a decisive intervention.
Atalanta 1-1 Inter (HT: 1-1)
Scorers: Alvarez 16, Denis 25.
Atalanta: Consigli; Stendardo, Livaja (Marilungo 65), Moralez (Migliaccio 81), Canini, Carmona, Denis, Cigarini (Baselli 74), Brivio, Yepes, Raimondi.
Subs not used: Sportiello, Scaloni, Polito, Del Grosso, Cazzola, Gagliardini, Kone, De Luca.
Coach: Stefano Colantuono.
Inter: Handanovic (Carrizo 46); Rolando, Samuel, Juan Jesus; Jonathan (Taider 86), Guarin (Icardi 66), Cambiasso, Alvarez, Nagatomo; Kovacic; Palacio.
Subs not used: Castellazzi, Andreolli, Mudingayi, Kuzmanovic, Wallace, Ranocchia, Pereira, Donkor, Olsen.
Coach: Walter Mazzarri.
Referee: Rizzoli.
Booked: Stendardo 55, Canini 60, Migliaccio 87, Samuel 89.
Added time: 0 + 3 minutes.
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