Italian Journalist Matteo Marani: “Champions League Elimination Was Catalyst For Inter’s Strong Form & Title Challenge”

Inter’s early exit from the Champions League was a critical factor in the Nerazzurri hitting top form and moving clear in the race for the Scudetto, Italian journalist Matteo Marani claims.

Inter currently sit six points clear at the top of the Serie A table ahead of their match against Atalanta at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza tomorrow and are unbeaten in nine matches.

Writing in today’s newspaper edition of Tuttosport, Marani argued that Inter’s elimination at the Group Stage of the Champions League in December and a series of stale performances in the early part of the campaign led to crucial changes.

“Inter have not been understood by the critics. At the start, when they were playing a useless, sterile possession-based game there was understanding,” Marani claimed.

“Then, after the Champions League exit, the criticism began. But this was the decisive moment of the season. Firstly, because of the reaction to that elimination, but also because the cup competitions were draining Juventus and AC Milan, whilst Inter remained fresh.

“None of the competitors have been able to build winning runs like they have, going eight games unbeaten after the first match against Atalanta in November, and now after the 0-0 against Udinese they have won six in a row.”

However, Marani suggested that Inter’s match against Atalanta tomorrow was a meeting between the two strongest teams in Serie A and that La Dea could prove to be the biggest challengers for Antonio Conte’s side.

“The teams in the best form in the league will face each other tomorrow. Inter vs Atalanta is a beautiful, open, hard-fought match. At this moment in the season, the Bergamo team appear to be the only ones capable of creating a serious problem for Conte’s team.

“Neither Milan or Juve have succeeded, and nothing has been done by any of the last six opponents who have been beaten by Inter in the last month. But tomorrow is a different challenge.

“Two goals conceded and 19 scored in the last eight matches shows what this Inter team is about, but Atalanta have [Luis] Muriel, [Robin] Gosens and a thousand arrows to fire as they look to get back into the Champions League. Tomorrow is a difficult match for Inter, just ask their cousins Milan.”

Inter have not suffered defeat to Atalanta at home in Serie A since March 2014, recording four wins and two draws against the Orobici.