BERGAMO – Inter’s run of victories in Serie A ended abruptly as the Nerazzurri fell to a heavy 4-1 defeat away to Atalanta. Goals by Hateboer, Mancini, Djimsiti and Gomez secured the win for the home side, with Icardi’s penalty only restoring temporary parity.
Inter started the game slowly. After two minutes the Nerazzurri defence only just managed to clear Gosen’s cross from the left, while two minutes later Handanovic had to be on hand to produce a splendid stop to deny Zapata. The Slovenien goalkeeper also kept out the rebound after the ball fell to Hateboer, although the latter was standing in an offside position. Atalanta were relentless in coming forward and eventually took the lead after 9 minutes as Hateboer slid in to convert Gosens’s low cross from the left. Two minutes later, the home side almost doubled their lead as the ball hit the post after bouncing off D’Ambrosio, before Handanovic managed to turn it behind for a corner. Atalanta went close again shortly after this, but Ilicic’s powerful left-footed strike was saved by Inter’s number one. Ilicic again nearly scored after 22 minutes, but he couldn’t convert Zapata’s ball across the face of the goal with the goal at his mercy. Inter had a chance of their own in the 34th minute as Perisic headed over, but Spalletti’s team once again had Handanovic to thank for not going into the break two behind as he produced two superb saves to deny Ilicic and Toloi. The Nerazzurri were thus only 1-0 down at half-time after a difficult first half.
Spalletti made a change at the start of the second half as he brought on Borja Valero for Vecino. And Inter couldn’t have wished for a better start after the break as Mancini was penalised for handball in the area. Up stepped Mauro Icardi, who calmly converted from the penalty spot to bring the Nerazzurri back on level terms after 47 minutes. This seemed to give Inter a lift, with Politano seeing his powerful left-footed effort going out for a corner a few minutes later. But Inter’s revival only lasted a few minutes as Atalanta took the lead again after 63 minutes: Ilicic’s free-kick was met by the head of Mancini and the Nerazzurri found themselves behind again. Spalletti responded by bringing on Keita and Vrsaljko in place of Politano and Miranda respectively. Gagliardini couldn’t quite head home Brozovic’s corner after 82 minutes, before things got worse for Inter: six minutes later Djimsiti found the back of the net with his head after Ilicic had whipped in another menacing free kick, leaving Handanovic with no chance. Brozovic was then sent off after receiving his second yellow card, before Gomez’s superb strike finished off the scoring for the home side.
This was a heavy defeat, and we need to put it behind us as quickly as possible to get back to winning ways after the international break. On Saturday 24 November, the Nerazzurri will play Frosinone at San Siro, with the match set to kick off at 20:30 CET.
Now and forever, #ForzaInter!
ATALANTA 4-1 INTER
Goalscorers: 9' Hateboer (A), 47' pen. Icardi (I), 63' Mancini (A), 88' Djimsiti (A), 94' Gomez (A)
ATALANTA: 1 Berisha; 2 Toloi (56' 21 Castagne), 19 Djimsiti, 23 Mancini; 33 Hateboer, 15 De Roon, 11 Freuler, 8 Gosens; 10 Gomez, 72 Ilicic; 91 Zapata (71' 88 Pasalic)
Substitutes: 95 Gollini, 31 Rossi, 4 Valzania, 13 Bettella, 22 Pessina, 24 Rigoni, 44 Kulusevski, 53 Adnan, 90 Barrow
Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini
INTER: 1 Handanovic; 33 D'Ambrosio, 23 Miranda (71' 2 Vrsaljko), 37 Skriniar, 18 Asamoah; 8 Vecino (46' 20 B. Valero), 77 Brozovic, 5 Gagliardini; 16 Politano (66' 11 Keita), 9 Icardi, 44 Perisic
Substitutes: 27 Padelli, 6 De Vrij, 10 Lautaro, 13 Ranocchia, 14 Nainggolan, 15 J. Mario, 29 Dalbert, 87 Candreva
Coach: Luciano Spalletti
Bookings: Vecino (I), Skriniar (I), Hateboer (A), Gagliardini (I), De Roon (A), Gomez (A)
Red Card: 92' Brozovic (I) after receiving two yellow cards
Added time: 3' + 5'
Referee: Maresca
Assistents: Schenone, Mondin
Fourth official: Mariani
VAR officials: Guida, Posado
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