Serie A: Atalanta Looking To Gatecrash Title Race

Atalanta vs Inter Milan

After appearing to be a two-way battle, the Serie A title race now firmly has three teams in the mix.

It had escaped the attention of this SBOTOP observer quite how close last year’s Europa League winners Atalanta were to the summit.

I’ve noticed now.

This weekend they welcome the Italian champions to Bergamo knowing victory will not just keep their own aspirations alive but see them leapfrog their opponents.

The title race is very much alive and Serie A 2025 highlights are duly expected on Sunday evening.

 

Talking Points

As recently as early February, Atalanta were six points off the pace having played a game more than Napoli and two more than Inter.

They are now right on their coattails and underlined their form with a statement 4-0 victory in Turin last weekend.

La Dea’s exit from the Champions League at the hands of Club Brugge last month was an undoubted setback but they have responded well and, against Juventus, were in super form.

A hotly contested Mateo Retegui penalty set them on their way, Marten De Roon smashed home a second goal within 50 seconds of the restart. Sead Kolasinac set up Davide Zappacosta to make it 3-0 midway through the second half and Ademola Lookman completed the scoring.

While they are outsiders, who would doubt Gian Piero Gasperini’s men from making a genuine title tilt in the closing months of the campaign with players such as Lookman (a difference of opinion with the boss seemingly resolved) and Retegui in their ranks, the latter now up to 22 league goals for the season.

That actually makes him the outright highest goalscorer in Serie A, comfortably in front of second-placed Moise Kean on 15 and joint-third place holders Lookman and Marcus Thuram on 13.

Indeed, only one player (Mohamed Salah, 27) in Europe’s top five leagues currently has more domestic goals than Retegui this season.

Inter were in action in midweek then they completed a comfortable victory over Feyenoord to reach the Champions League quarter-finals.

They may have shown some inconsistency at times this term but Simone Inzaghi’s men are largely a picture of stability and have a one-point advantage at the summit, while they’re also through to the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia where a two-legged Milan derby awaits next month.

With the likes of Thuram and Hakan Calhanoglu continually influential, they remain title favourites and Sunday evening’s encounter will be a real test of whether Atalanta are genuinely ready to push them for the crown in the final months of the campaign.

 

History

Atalanta owe Inter one as their last two games in the San Siro – the most recent in August – have ended in 4-0 routs.

Last time out, I Nerazzurri made a blistering start. An own goal and a Nicolo Barella shot put them 2-0 up inside the opening 10 minutes and they never looked back with Thuram adding two more early in the second half.

This fixture last season went their way with a Calhanoglu penalty and a Lautaro Martinez shot helping them see off the hosts who replied through Gianluca Scamacca.

It’s 15 games (13 in the league) since Atalanta defeated Inter – a comprehensive 4-1 success when Hans Hateboer, Gianluca Mancini, Berat Djimsiti and Papu Gómez were the marksmen.

This will be their third meeting this term as Inter edged their Supercoppa semi-final in January with a Denzel Dumfries double – the opener a fine scissor kick.

 

Betting Tip 

I’ve not known Inter to be second favourites in a Serie A game for a while – albeit our Serie A 2025 betting odds have little difference between the sides.

Perhaps it’s because Atalanta have a free week while Inter were in Champions League action.

The onus on the home side is clear given their rout of Juventus last weekend but Inter still hold the aces in the title race and know they need to show as much.

They are priced 1X2 @ 2.62 and Asian Handicap -0.25 @ 2.33, with Gasperini’s men on offer to back 1X2 @ 2.45 and Asian Handicap -0.25 @ 2.28.

The draw @ 3.21 is appealing as are total goal 0-1 @ 3.23 and 4-6 @ 3.24.

I am going to go for the reigning champions to show their mettle this weekend without the scare they had at home to Monza last weekend.

While I do think it will be close, my ** tip is for an exact repeat of last term which will earn a pay day @ 9.80 with Correct Score 1-2.

   

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