It was the fourth try to get a three win streak this season. But yet again it was not to be. Atalanta confirms itself the boogey-team for Inter at San Siro. The old cliché that says “if you don’t score on your chances you’ll be punished” came back to bite the nerazzurri in the ass.
My thoughts before the game were focused on how Inter would handle German Denis who is always a threat in these games and if Andrea Ranocchia would play another game with that lovely mean spirit shown in the last game. Well Denis was a constant threat, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves here.
The first half started decently for Inter with Hernanes looking good with the ball at his feet and creating scoring opportunities for Guarin who shot willingly but unfortunately off target. The first heart attack of the game came with Stendardo who forced Handanovic to a difficult save and a short while later Denis hit the crossbar. The Inter defense was all over the place, not being able to close down Denis. And Del Grosso was constantly given a wide space to cross the ball in to the Atalanta players who had an advantage on every header. In situations like these I would like to see Guarin help Jonathan on the flank defensively more than he did this game. Inter looked lethargic in the first half and left most of the initiative to Atalanta.
In the 35th minute Campagnaro gave the ball away which resulted in a counter attack where him and Jonathan gave Giacomo Bonaventura too much space and allowed him to aim and shoot freely behind Handanovic. Luckily Mauro Icardi levelled the game temporarily just a few seconds later after a beautiful pass from Guarin. Maurito placed the ball coolly behind the Atalanta keeper after a long run and the game really heated up the last ten minutes of the first half.
The second half started with the same players that started the game and it is obvious how the team suffers when Hernanes isn’t having a great game, the team is slow and there is no ball movement whatsoever. Looked like too many players on the pitch were waiting to get the ball at their feet instead of running to create space for the teammates.
Mazzarri who is often criticized and labelled a defensive coach showed that Inter was going for the 3 points subbing Cambiasso and replacing him with Alvarez (minute 60). Shortly after Nagatomo came on for a tired D’Ambrosio in the chase for a winner. The quality of play wasn’t very impressive but even so Inter did create a ton of chances, hitting the woodwork 4 times. The last ten minutes of the game Kovacic came on for Campagnaro and Inter had all offensive midfielders available in the squad together on the pitch.
Chances were created and missed throughout the second half, but the craziest one came in the 88th minute. Jonathan came storming through on the right flank seeing his shot hit the cross bar and Icardi who was on the rebound managed to get his shot deflected into the post. 4 shots in the woodwork for Inter, as if the goal were cursed.
Unfortunately that was not the case for Atalanta who got a free-kick after a Nagatomo foul just after. And Giacomo Bonaventura once again found himself forgotten by Inter defenders (Jonathan in primis looked asleep) and he took no prisoners this time either 1-2 and game over. The defending was abysmal all through the game and when you don’t score on so many chances you are bound to be punished. As for Guarín once again he was the player most involved in the chances created by the team but the fact that he is also losing the ball more often than the rest of the team combined makes me wonder if it is not the time to try Kovacic from start and give Guarín some rest the next game.
So what about my thoughts before game? Well Denis was his usual dangerous self when he plays against Inter even though he didn’t score, and Ranocchias mean spirit? He looked meaner than his usual self, but defensively the whole team had a horrible game. Inter were unlucky but the team cannot afford to give the first half away every game. And there is work to do defensively; the mistakes at the goals conceded were embarrassing. In the next game I am hoping for a more cynical Inter, and hopefully a team that stays awake the whole game.