Matchday 10 of the Serie A begins this morning with Inter Milan travelling to Bergamo to meet Atalanta. Join us for live scores and commentary from 6.45am AEDT.
It’s that time of the year where matches are squeezed into every possible opportunity with midweek rounds and cup games taking place across Europe.
Kicking off the round in Italy as the only Tuesday fixture is ninth placed Atalanta at home to fourth placed Inter Milan in the battle of the Nerazzurri colours.
Inter enters the midweek fixture off the back of a pleasing win at home to the over-achieving Hellas Verona.
After picking up only two points from the last three games, dearly missing the defensive figure of Hugo Campagnaro, Inter were keen to force themselves back into the winners circle and two early goals from two corners went a long way to ensuring this.
Despite the win, Inter still showed the odd defensive lapses and were lacklustre in the final thirty minutes of the game.
With Campagnaro still missing through injury, Walter Mazzarri will be continually focused on strengthening the Nerazzurri backline.
It seemed that Esteban Cambiasso’s substitution had a direct correlation to a loss of control over the Verona game and given the tight scheduling, a cover for the holding midfielder position could be key for Inter.
Welcoming Inter to Bergamo is the somewhat unpredictable Atalanta.
At home, they have so far proved to be a considerable obstacle with three wins and the one loss at the Atleti Azzurri d’Italia.
More impressive is the fact the three wins have included significant the scalps of Lazio and Udinese, with the only loss coming
against a very strong Fiorentina outfit.
Given the quality of opposition played, sitting in ninth position for the (other) Nerazzurri is quite an impressive start to the season, after finishing the 2012-2013 edition in 15th.
Atalanta will be keen to try and take advantage of Campagnaro’s absence, with Luca Cigarini sure to lead the way. Il Professore (the professor), as he is nicknamed, lies equal second in the league for assists (five) and is very much the mastermind behind much of Atalanta’s attack.
He will no doubt keep the Inter midfield and defence busy, thus creating the space for the likes of German Denis up front.
The match-up provides an interesting outlook, where Inter’s quality should ensure they control much of the match, however Atalanta will put up a significant fight to try and take away at least a point from the game.
Nicholas Carroll
Roar Guru
Post match comments: Walter Mazzarri: "We put in another good performance at a tough ground tonight against a physical, well-drilled, aggressive team, but if you look at the way the game went we edged it on points and could have won it." "We need to be sharper and more clinical, that's something we have to get better at, though there's also such a thing as a knack for scoring goals. Let's not forget we're still missing Milito... We have to grow in lots of ways but I must say, it's very hard to play here."
Nicholas Carroll
Roar Guru
They were so close to doing so! Yepes' shot right in front of goal somehow saved by Carrizo...
Nicholas Carroll
Roar Guru
With the bulk of the round to be played tomorrow morning, Inter remain in fourth position on nineteen points, giving Fiorentina the chance to leap-frog them if they can beat Napoli at home. Atalanta meanwhile move to eighth position with Parma, AC Milan and Udinese all within striking distance.
Nicholas Carroll
Roar Guru
A draw seems a fair result for both teams thought both will feel they had the opportunity to win (particularly Atalanta with Yepes' chance). Atalanta will no doubt be the happier of the two, who despite the gulf on paper, where able to more than hold their own against Inter. The second half opened up quite a bit, with the rain seemingly having an effect. Mazzarri will no doubt be disappointed with Inter's midfield which did not seem to flow today and failed to effectively push forward in support of Palacio. Kovacic did not have his best game and seemingly still lacks the confidence required to consistently make an impact for the Nerazzurri. Both teams had the most success down their respective right flanks, with Moralez (the smallest player in the Serie A) causing lots of trouble in the first half. Whilst for Inter it was Jonathon who was at the heart of a lot of the opportunities and continues to show how much he has improved from recent seasons,
Nicholas Carroll
Roar Guru
FULLTIME And the ref brings an end to quite an entertaining game of football in Bergamo.... ATALANTA 1 - INTER MILAN 1
Nicholas Carroll
Roar Guru
90+′: Atalanta 1 – Inter 1 Almost a chance at the very end with Palacio picking up the ball with only one defender to beat. He tries to step inside for the shot, however is blocked from the opportunity to take the game.
Nicholas Carroll
Roar Guru
90+′: Atalanta 1 – Inter 1 CHANCE! An amazing strike from Ricky Alvarez who from outside the corner of the box, blasts it towards the far post. The ball was moving in the air and JUST breezed past the post. That would have been an incredible winner had it gone in.
Nicholas Carroll
Roar Guru
90+: Atalanta 1 – Inter 1 We are into injury time, with three minutes signalled.
Nicholas Carroll
Roar Guru
89′: Atalanta 1 – Inter 1 As Atalanta tries to break, Samuel picks up a yellow as he breaks the play down.
Nicholas Carroll
Roar Guru
88′: Atalanta 1 – Inter 1 With only a couple minutes to play, it is Inter who is more desperate to push for a winner as Atalanta seem content to defend the draw now.
Nicholas Carroll
Roar Guru
Substitution also made there with Jonathon coming off for Taider.
Nicholas Carroll
Roar Guru
84′: Atalanta 1 – Inter 1 Inter appeals for a penalty as Icardi looks to take a ball down and is seemingly pulled down by Stendardo. 50 / 50 call there which Inter fans will claim was a sure penalty.
Nicholas Carroll
Roar Guru
82: Atalanta 1 – Inter 1 CHANCE!!! Atalanta takes a corner which seems to roll past two defenders, falling for Yepes right in front of goal. Somehow Carrizo makes a save on the shot and somehow, this game is still tied! Atalanta will NOT get a better chance than that!
Nicholas Carroll
Roar Guru
81′: Atalanta 1 – Inter 1 Moralez on the ball in a rare occasion this second half, brought down by a foul. And that will be his last input as he is substituted by Migliaccio.
Nicholas Carroll
Roar Guru
80′: Atalanta 1 – Inter 1 Rolando sees an opportunity to play Icardi in, however the striker is called offside (just).
Nicholas Carroll
Roar Guru
77′: Atalanta 1 – Inter 1 Atalanta move forward this time, putting in a cross which is met by Denis some way out with the header providing no danger. However just another example of what Denis is capable of doing if the crosses keep coming in.
Nicholas Carroll
Roar Guru
76′: Atalanta 1 – Inter 1 Inter trying to create with Alvarez and Nagatamo exchanging with some impressive skills, ending with a Nagatomo cross cut off by Consigli in goal.
Nicholas Carroll
Roar Guru
73′: Atalanta 1 – Inter 1 CHANCE FOR INTER! Icardi on the end of a ball through who cuts inside the defender to get a left footed shot on goal, beating the keeper however rebound off the outside of the post. Great skill on the ball, unlucky it did not fall in Inter.
Nicholas Carroll
Roar Guru
72′: Atalanta 1 – Inter 1 Jonathon gets a great cross in for Inter, which is only just met in defence. Again it seems Jonathon the most dangerous man for Inter.
Nicholas Carroll
Roar Guru
71′: Atalanta 1 – Inter 1 Into the final twenty minutes as the play starts to open up a bit, as we go from end to end.