Final score

15 February 2015 15:00

Atalanta
27' Moralez
1 - 4
Inter
28' (2nd half) Palacio
18' (2nd half) Guarin
37' Guarin
2' Shaqiri (P)
Referee: Luca Banti / Linesmen: Crispo, La Rocca / Fourth official: Stallone / Assistants: Irrati, Pasqua
Watch highlights
Minute Text commentary
46' Banti blows his whistle to draw the first half to a close. Mancini's side go in leading 1-2, thanks to goals from Shaqiri and Guarin.
45' Maxi Moralez has picked up an injury and has to leave the field of play.
45' The referee signals one minute of added time.
44' Pinilla picks up a booking after a late challenge on Juan Jesus.
43' Brozovic receives the ball from Shaqiri on the edge of the area, but the Croatian midfielder's effort is saved low by Sportiello.
41' Cigarini tries a low shot, but Medel thinks fast to get his body in the way.
40' Shaqiri lets fly with a left-footed effort from the edge of the area, but it whistles just over the bar.
37' GOOOOOOOOOOAL! Inter retake the lead through Guarin, who works a yard to lash home a magnificent strike and make it 1-2.
32' The tension is bubbling over here in Bergamo, with Moralez and Shaqiri both seeing yellow.
27' Pinilla gets up to head down for Maxi Moralez, who controls well to fire past Handanovic in the Nerazzurri goal.
23' Santon tries his luck from distance, but sees his effort blocked by the Atalanta defence.
20' Juan Jesus gets his name taken by the referee for a stray arm on Moralez.
19' Carmona picks up a booking for his troubles after taking his complaints a little too far.
18' Cigarini releases Zappacosta, who bursts into the box to square for Pinilla. The Chilean gets there, but skies his effort from close range.
16' Maxi Moralez shows quick thinking to spring the offside trap after a free-kick, but Guarin does excellently to block the shot.
13' Guarin collects the ball and unleashes a long-range effort, but Bellini gets his body in the way to deflect behind for a corner.
9' Gomez swings in a corner for Atalanta. Pinilla gets up high and connects with a header, but it whistles past Handanovic's left post.
5' Moralez crosses from the left, but Ranocchia is there to head clear. Carmona meets the rebound on the volley, but it's off-target.
2' GOOOOOOOAL! Shaqiri makes no mistake from the spot. Sportiello guesses correctly and gets something on it, but can't stop the ball going in.
1' Inter are on the attack right from the off, with Guarin winning a penalty after a foul from Bellini!
1' Atalanta take the kick-off to get things underway here at the Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia!
Minute Text commentary
47' It's all over! Great win for Roberto Mancini's side, who beat Atalanta by four goals to one thanks to Guarin (2), Shaqiri and Palacio.
47' Podolski goes it alone, bursting into the area and looking to shoot, but Masiello blocks his effort in the nick of time.
45' There'll be two minutes' added time.
44' Guarin again looks to complete his hat-trick, but the Colombian's long-range strike is wayward.
42' Inter are in complete control here, keeping possession well as they watch the clock tick down.
37' Mancini makes his last change of the match, with Kuzmanovic taking the place of Brozovic.
34' Guarin so close to his hat-trick: the Colombian's powerful right-footed effort is blocked by Sportiello at his near post.
31' The Nerazzurri also make a change: Hernanes jogs on to replace the goalscorer Palacio.
30' Atalanta make their third and final change of the match, with Emanuelson coming on for Cigarini.
28' GOOOOOOOOOOAL!!! Guarin turns provider to slip in Palacio, who stands his ground against Stendardo to slot home for 1-4!
25' Kovacic is involved straight away, bursting into the area to serve Podolski. The German's shot is deflected behind for a corner.
23' Mancini shuffles his pack, bringing Kovacic on for Shaqiri.
21' Inter go for the kill! Shaqiri unleashes a fierce left-footed effort, but Sportiello just gets there to put it behind for a corner.
18' GOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL!!! Sportiello can only watch as another stunning Fredy Guarin strike whistles past him to make it 1-3!
15' Baselli tries his luck with a right-footed effort from distance. It's no trouble for Handanovic, who gathers with ease.
13' Colantuono makes his second substitution of the match, with Baselli taking this place of Gomez.
12' Guarin puts it on a plate for Palacio, but the Argentine's volley whistles just over the bar.
9' First Brozovic and then Medel look for goal, but Sportiello is equal to both efforts.
7' Benalouane talks himself into a second booking in the space of seconds, reducing Atalanta to ten men!
7' Benalouane brings down Palacio with a poor challenge, earning himself a yellow card from Banti.
6' Brozovic swings in a cross from the left, but Stendardo puts it straight behind for another Inter corner.
4' Inter counter well, with Shaqiri and Guarin attempting to link up. The ball is put behind for a corner.
1' Guarin sends a ball into the area for Palacio, but the Argentine can't quick bring the ball under his control.
1' The Nerazzurri take the kick-off to get the second half underway here in Bergamo.
1' Atalanta have made an enforced change, with Denis replacing the injured Maxi Moralez.
Santon
7.15
7.15
Ranocchia
5.3
5.3
Jesus
6.03
6.03
Guarin
9.16
9.16
Palacio
6.28
6.28
Handanovic
6.28
6.28
Kuzmanovic
5.85
5.85
Kovacic
6.32
6.32
Campagnaro
6.17
6.17
Hernanes
6.11
6.11
Medel
7.34
7.34
Podolski
5.52
5.52
Shaqiri
7.45
7.45
Brozovic
7.37
7.37
Average rating 6.59
2 shots on target 7
7 shots off target 11
9 fouls committed 13
6 corners 9
7 offsides 0
29% ball possession 71%
wins(25) draws(23) defeats(16)

BERGAMO – Inter won in Bergamo for the first time since April 2008 this afternoon as they destroyed Atalanta by four goals to one. The man in charge that day almost seven years ago? You guessed it: Roberto Mancini.

The Nerazzurri wasted no time getting their foot on the gas, with Guarin winning a penalty in the very first minute of the match. Xherdan Shaqiri stepped up to the plate and coolly slotted home to give his side a very early lead and score his first ever Serie A goal. In fact, it was the fastest goal of the season so far.

To their credit, Atalanta responded well, racking up a slew of corners thanks to their high-pressing game. The hosts had a gilt-edged chance to equalise on 18 minutes, after Zappacosta had sprung the offside trap to hare in behind the Nerazzurri ranks. The Italian squared the ball for the onrushing Pinilla, but the Chilean could only shoot over from no more than a few yards out.

Not to be disheartened, Atalanta continued to threaten and got their reward ten minutes later. Pinilla used his physique well to head on for Maxi Moralez, who controlled expertly to lash a smart shot off the post and in. With both sides looking to attack, the high-octane clash risked bubbling over, with challenges flying in all over the park.

Inter continued to threaten, and eight minutes before half-time it was Fredy Guarin who struck the hammer blow for the Nerazzurri. Picking up the ball midway into the Atalanta half, the Colombian skipped past Carmona before firing home with a magnificent curling effort. It was Guarin’s second goal in as many matches, and one that sent Mancini’s men in at half-time with a deserved 1-2 lead.

The Nerazzurri picked up where they left off after the break, building on their impressive first-half statistics of 67% possession and 80% pass completion. And Atalanta soon found themselves hamstrung after Benaloune picked up two bookings in a matter of seconds. The numerical advantage allowed Brozovic, Medel and Guarin to pull the strings, and it wasn’t long before the Nerazzurri began to run away with things.

Guarin’s performance was turning into something of a personal masterclass and in the 57th minute the Colombian almost bagged an assist, putting it on a plate for Palacio to volley just over. Inter had their third minutes later, however, and it was another Guarin wondergoal that did the damage. The Colombian gathered the ball well in space, spying an opportunity and firing a peach past Sportiello and into the net.

Inter were in complete control, with Shaqiri nearly bagging his second with a pinpoint left-footed effort. Palacio got in on the action in the 73rd minute, with the ever-present Guarin setting him up to fire home for the Nerazzurri’s fourth.

Atalanta were a beaten team and Inter knew it, with the Nerazzurri simply keeping possession as the clock ticked down. The final whistle signalled three points and back-to-back wins for the Nerazzurri, who will be delighted with their performance.

Atalanta 1-4 Inter (HT: 1-2)
Scorers: Shaqiri pen. 2, Moralez 27, Guarin 37, 63, Palacio 73.

ATALANTA: 57 Sportiello; 13 A. Masiello, 2 Stendardo, 29 Benalouane, 6 Bellini; 22 Zappacosta, 21 Cigarini (Emanuelson 75), 17 Carmona, 10 Gomez (Baselli 58); 11 Moralez (Denis 46); 51 Pinilla.
Substitutes: 1 Avramov, 3 Del Grosso, 5 Scaloni, 7 D'Alessandro, 8 Migliaccio, 9 Bianchi, 20 Biava, 95 Grassi, 99 Boakye.
Coach: Stefano Colantuono.

INTER: 1 Handanovic; 14 Campagnaro, 23 Ranocchia, 5 Juan Jesus, 21 Santon; 13 Guarin, 18 Medel, 77 Brozovic (Kuzmanovic 82); 91 Shaqiri (Kovacic 68); 11 Podolski, 8 Palacio (Hernanes 76).
Substitutes: 30 Carrizo, 46 Berni, 15 Vidic, 20 Obi, 22 Dodo, 28 Puscas, 54 Donkor.
Coach: Roberto Mancini.

Booked: Carmona 19, Juan Jesus 20, Moralez 32, Shaqiri 32, Pinilla 44, Benalouane 52.
Sent off: Benalouane 52 (second bookable offence).
Added time: 1 + 2 mins.

Referee: Banti.
Assistents: Crispo, La Rocca.
Fourth official: Stallone.
Additional assistants: Irrati, Pasqua.

 

starting lineups

Sportiello 57 1 Handanovic
Masiello 13 14 Campagnaro
Stendardo 2 23 Ranocchia
Benalouane 29 5 Jesus
Bellini 6 21 Santon
Zappacosta 22 13 Guarin
Cigarini 21 18 Medel
Carmona 17 77 Brozovic
Gomez 10 91 Shaqiri
Moralez 11 11 Podolski
Pinilla 51 8 Palacio

substitutes

Avramov 1 30 Carrizo
Del Grosso 3 46 Berni
Scaloni 5 10 Kovacic
D'Alessandro 7 15 Vidic
Migliaccio 8 17 Kuzmanovic
Bianchi 9 20 Obi
Baselli 16 22 Dodò
Denis 19 28 Puscas
Biava 20 54 Donkor
Emanuelson 28 88 Hernanes
Grassi 95
Boakye 99