It could have been really cozy at the top of the Serie A table. But Inter Milan didn’t feel like it and ultimately deserved to win the top game against their pursuers Atalanta Bergamo 2-0 and pull slightly ahead.
But also one that shows a clear tendency after this 29th match day – namely the tendency called Inter Milan. This was also evident in the top match on Sunday evening between the Milanese and Bergamasque teams, who played an interesting and overall completely even game in the first 45 minutes, but with few chances.
Including one phase of pressure for each team – starting with the visitors from the fashion city, who dominated the opening minutes with the ever-present playmaker Barella. Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini, who had recently recorded a clear 4-0 win against the overpowered team in the neighboring table, Juventus, was probably not pleased. Especially not because the reigning champions should have taken the lead here. But after an assist from Lautaro Martinez, Thuram, who was left unmarked, shot wide of the post with a low shot (7th).
Sommer is on the ball
As time progressed, FC Internazionale, coached by Simone Inzaghi, who will face Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals after beating Feyenoord Rotterdam 2-1 (8 and 16 April), lost control of the game. This was also because the Bergamasks were able to push their pace more, press more courageously, push more offensively and develop ideas. The best? Came in minute 18, when de Roon found Pasalic and his header was parried by Sommer. But not much more happened in terms of chances before half-time, it was a high-level feeling out.
.. and in the end Milan wins
That changed in the second 45 minutes. Here, the Nerazzurri increasingly made their mark on the game – starting with the 1-0 just after a minute-long interruption due to an unspecified medical incident at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza. Calhanoglu found Carlos Augusto, who was not well covered by Kolasinac, with a corner kick just after the game restarted.
This 1-0 was also a knock-on blow from which the willing but rather unimaginative Bergamasque side were no longer able to recover against Inter’s defense. On the contrary: after the guests had managed solidly, midfielder Ederson received yellow and yellow-red in the final phase within seconds for complaining (81). The decisive 2-0 followed after a beautiful passing play between substitute DFB newcomer Bisseck, Barella and Lautaro Martinez from a tight angle (87′), before Atalanta coach Gasperini also complained – and saw red (88′). In added time, referee Davide Massa also showed yellow-red for Bastoni (90.+5).
The sending off against Inter should have been manageable. Much more important was the 2-0 statement in this top game, through which the reigning champions from Milan reinforced their position as the top team ahead of Napoli and Bergamo. Instead of a three-way tie with 61 points each, the Nerazzurri pulled out to a three-point and a six-point lead respectively – and once again proved to be Atalanta’s bogey team (sixth straight league win). Both clubs will continue after the international break – Milan face Udine, while Bergamo travel to Florence.
