Atalanta 0 - 0 Inter: Stalemate in Bergamo

BERGAMO – Inter returned home with a point from the Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia thanks to a goalless draw with Atalanta on Saturday evening in Serie A TIM's 32nd round of fixtures. Spalletti's side therefore move onto 60 points and are level in the table with Roma and Lazio who face each other tomorrow in the Derby della Capitale.

Atalanta took the initiative in the first few minutes. On five minutes, Cristante put Gomez through one-on-one against Handanovic but the Argentine dragged his shot and fired wide from a great position. The Inter defence were suffering from the furious pressing of the Bergamo outfit. Spalletti's men made a first foray forward on 18 minutes when Rafinha's left-footed strike from the edge of the box went just off target. A few moments later, however, Atalanta threatened once again. Cristante played a ball over the top for Barrow whose attempted finish was parried away for a corner by Handanovic. The hosts continued to press and in the 24th minute, Handanovic was forced into a straightforward save from Freuler's effort. Three minutes later, Barrow shot just wide from Gosens' low ball into the box. After half an hour, Handanovic had to be ready again to block a headed effort from the young Gambian striker but Perisic then went very close on the counterattack. The Croat was found by a perfectly measured ball from Rafinha and drove into the box but his powerful, left-footed strike was turned behind by Berisha. Gasperini's men maintained their grip on the match in the following minutes but the clearest chance of the first half fell to Perisic's right foot. The Inter no. 44 got on the end of Gagliardini's long ball and sent his effort across the goal but just wide of the far post. The teams therefore headed in at the break with the score at 0-0.

At the start of the second half, Gasperini brought Cornelius on for Barrow while Spalletti left the team unchanged from the first half. In the 54th minute, Perisic and Icardi combined well on the break but the captain was stopped by Hateboer just as he was lining up a shot. Inter had better control of the game compared to the opening 45 minutes. In the 61st minute, Santon looked to surprise Berisha with a shot from distance but it went wide. Spalletti’s team were getting up the pitch as time passed. In the 65th minute, Berisha was alert to get to a low Cancelo cross before everyone else. After, Icardi wasn’t able to turn home from another cross by the Portuguese. There was a big chance for Rafinha in the 71st minute. Perisic crossed it to Icardi who knocked it back with his heel but the Brazilian’s left-foot effort flew over from a good position. Spalletti brought Eder on for Rafinha and powerful right-foot strike by the Italian/Brazilian from a free kick forced Berisha into a save in the 81st minute. Inter went very close in the 86th minute when Eder crossed from the right to Perisic who leapt high but the header went wide with Berisha left rooted to the spot. 

In the 90th minute, Karamoh came on for Santon. After three minutes of stoppage time, there was no change to the result and Atalanta vs. Inter finished goalless. 

Now, the Nerazzurri will have to get back to winning ways on Tuesday 17th April at San Siro against Cagliari. Now and always, #ForzaInter! 

ATALANTA 0-0 INTER 

ATALANTA: 1 Berisha; 3 Toloi, 13 Caldara, 5 Masiello; 33 Hateboer, 15 De Roon, 11 Freuler, 8 Gosens (80' 21 Castagne); 4 Cristante (85' 28 Mancini); 99 Barrow (46' 9 Cornelius), 10 Gomez

Bench: 91 Gollini, 31 Rossi, 23 Melegoni, 32 Haas, 95 Bastoni, 97 Elia

Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini

INTER: 1 Handanovic; 33 D'Ambrosio, 25 Miranda, 37 Skriniar; 7 Cancelo, 5 Gagliardini, 20 B. Valero, 21 Santon (90' 17 Karamoh); 8 Rafinha (72' 23 Eder), 9 Icardi, 44 Perisic

Bench: 27 Padelli, 46 Berni, 2 Lisandro, 13 Ranocchia, 29 Dalbert, 63 Emmers, 64 Zaniolo, 87 Candreva, 99 Pinamonti

Coach: Luciano Spalletti

Bookings: Miranda (I), Toloi (A), Borja Valero (I), Caldara (A), Masiello (A), Mancini (A)

Stoppage Time: 0' + 3'

Referee: Doveri

Assistants: Vivenzi, Lo Cicero

Fourth Official: Calvarese

VAR Operators: Damato, Ranghetti