Inter open up match day 20 of the 2015/16 Serie A season this Saturday 16 January 2016 when they travel to the Stadio Atleti Azzurri d’Italia in Bergamo to face Atalanta (kick off 15:00 CET).

Inter come into this game on the back of a disappointing 0-1 defeat at San Siro against Sassuolo, who scored a 95th minute penalty but it wasn’t all doom and gloom when looking at the analysis of the game.

Roberto Mancini’s team have been criticised all season for their attacking play and lack of creating chances but in the game against Sassuolo they created nearly as many chances as they have scored goals this season and if it weren’t for a man of the match performance from Neroverdi goalkeeper Andrea Consigli we could have been talking about another seven goal destruction but it wasn’t to be.

There are always games in football like this unfortunately but the most disappointing thing wasn’t Inter’s performance, but the fact that the Nerazzurri lost top spot to Napoli, who now have a two point advantage. Inter were also caught in second by Juventus on 39 points with Fiorentina in fourth one point further behind on 38 points.

Edy Reja’s Atalanta started the season well with their only defeats coming against Inter(1-0), Fiorentina(3-0) and Juventus(2-0) in their first ten league matches were they won against Frosinone(2-0), Empoli(0-1), Sampdoria(2-1), Carpi(3-0) and Lazio(2-1), and with draws against Sassuolo(2-2) and Hellas(1-1).

However the Bergamo club’s form has took a nosedive since match day 11 with only two wins against Roma(0-2) and Palermo(3-0) added to one draw against Milan(0-0) and six defeats against Bologna(3-0), Torino(0-1), Chievo(1-0), Napoli(1-3), Udinese(2-1) and Genoa(0-2) last weekend which sees Atalanta in 11th place on 24 points, 9 points clear of the relegation zone and Reja will know if their poor form continues then they will have a battle on their hands to stay in the division.

Here is the Inter team news and probable line up as reported by La Gazzetta dello Sport at the time of writing:

Samir Handanovic starts in goal after yet another impressive performance against Sassuolo last week.

Danilo D’Ambrosio is expected to keep his place at right back alongside the central defensive duo of Joao Miranda and Jeison Murillo with Alex Telles expected to replace Yuto Nagatomo at left back.

In a midfield three Geoffrey Kondogbia is favoured over Fredy Guarin for a place alongside Gary Medel and Marcelo Brozovic. Felipe Melo sits out the last of his three match suspension.

Up top Adem Ljajic should start on the left with Ivan Perisic on the right and captain Mauro Icardi through the middle.

Probable Inter line up (subject to change): (4-3-3) Handanovic; D’Ambrosio, Miranda, Murillo, Telles; Brozovic, Medel, Kondogbia; Perisic, Icardi (C), Ljajic

Bench: Carrizo, Berni, Dodo, Juan Jesus, Ranocchia, Santon, Nagatomo, Montoya, Guarin, Gnoukouri, Biabiany, Jovetic, Palacio, Manaj

 

Some Stats:

Inter and Atalanta have faced each other 55 times in Bergamo in the Serie A records with Inter leading the stats with 22 wins to Atalanta’s 14 wins with 19 matches drawn.

In the overall Serie A records (home & away), Inter continue to lead the stats with 61 wins to Atalanta’s 23 wins with 27 of the 111 matches drawn.

In last season’s corresponding fixture at the Stadio Atleti Azzurri d’Italia on 15 February 2015, Inter won 1-4 thanks to goals from Shaqiri(pen), Palacio and a Guarin double.

In the earlier meeting this season between the sides at San Siro on 23 August 2015, Inter won 1-0 thanks to a 95th minute winner from Jovetic.

Since moving to Atalanta 5 years ago, German Denis has scored 7 times against Inter, making them the team he’s scored most goals against.

Referee Nicola Rizzoli has took charge of 35 Inter matches with the Nerazzurri winning 18, drawing 6 and losing 10 matches.

Player to Watch: Adem Ljajic – Inter’s creative influence. Last week against Sassuolo he had a superb game and if it weren’t for Consigli and some bad finishing he could have had a hat-full of goals.

My Prediction: Atalanta 1-2 Inter

Scorers: Denis (Atalanta), Icardi, Ljajic (Inter)

Officials: Referee: Nicola Rizzoli     Assistants: De Pinto, Longo

Fourth Official: Preti     Additional Assistants: Russo, Gavillucci

 

Author’s Note: I expect this will be a tight game as Atalanta look to bounce back from four losses in a row, not only that but this fixture has become difficult for Inter, who have only won three times in the last ten league matches in Bergamo but Inter will be looking to bounce back as well after the Sassuolo loss and I believe we have enough to win this game.

Forza Inter!