MILAN - With the help of our friends at Football Data, we've put together this collection of facts and figures to get you in the mood for Inter's Serie A contest with Atalanta this afternoon.
Palacio, Serie A's most decisive player in 2013/14
With his goal last Saturday, which set Inter on their way to another three points against Verona, Rodrigo Palacio moved back to the top of the 'most decisive players' standings in the league, level with Juventus' Vidal. The goals scored by the Argentine and Chilean have earned their teams 19 points.
Inter's 320-minute shutout
Mazzarri's men have been watertight at the back for 320 minutes now, since Pinilla converted from the spot in the 40th minute of Inter 1-1 Cagliari on 23 February. The Nerazzurri defence has remained unbreached for the remaining 50 minutes of that game plus the full 90 against Roma (0-0 away), Torino (1-0 at home) and Verona (2-0 away).
Birthday boy Walter Samuel
Walter Adrian Samuel turns 36 today. The veteran defender was born in Firmat (Argentina) on 23 March 1978.
Penalty paucity
Inter are the only Serie A outfit not to have been awarded a spot kick in 2013/14. The last penalty given in their favour was 30 league games ago on 8 May 2013, Alvarez then missing from 12 yards in Inter 1-3 Lazio. Atalanta are second in the table of teams to have received the fewest penalties this season: just one in 28 matches.
Mazzarri aiming to level the scores with Colantuono
Walter Mazzarri and Stefano Colantuono have crossed swords 12 times in competitive fixtures before today, with Mazzarri winning three, Colantuono four, and five draws. Mazzarri's sides have always conceded at least once when playing at home, letting in nine in total.
Mazzarri even-stevens with Atalanta
Walter Mazzarri's results from meetings with Atalanta in his coaching career are in perfect parity: six victories for both sides and seven draws.
Colantuono unbeaten in seven against Inter
Stefano Colantuono has pitted his wits against Inter eight times as a coach, losing only the first encounter, when Inter hosted Atalanta in Serie A on 23 December 2006 (2-1). Since that game, Colantuono has won two and drawn five.
