Final score

22 September 2004 20:30

Atalanta
40' (2nd half) Pazzini
25' Budan
Inter
42' (2nd half) Adriano
35' (2nd half) Recoba
9' (2nd half) Stankovic
Referee: Gianluca Paparesta / Linesmen: Puglisi, Ayroldi S. / Fourth official: Ayroldi N.
Watch highlights
Minute Text commentary
47' Atalanta lead Inter by a goal to nil after forty-five.
46' Favalli's unintentional cross-shot from the left dips and finishes on top of the net, forcing Taibi to backtrack.
45' 2 minutes of added time to play.
43' Stankovic takes the ball past two opponents then crosses. Vieri's volley from just inside the box goes way over.
38' Budan wins possession on the edge of the Inter box then turns and shoots. Nicolas Burdisso blocks with his knee and Atalanta win a corner.
36' Favalli crosses in from the left, Vieri's header is caught by Taibi. Vieri has another chance seconds later but is flagged offside.
34' Stankovic shows all his power with a storming run down the right wing, then a diagonal shot which Taibi can't hold on to. Corner to Inter.
31' Vieri rides challenges from two opponents then plays into the Atalanta box. His pass for Adriano is too long and Taibi smothers the ball.
30' Favalli crosses from the left, Gonnella beats Vieri to the ball and makes a headed clearance.
28' Emre needs treatment after Marcolini makes a sliding tackle then elbows the Turk where it hurts.
25' Atalanta take the lead. Burdisso's back pass to Toldo is too short, Budan intercepts, rounds the Inter keeper and slots into an open goal.
24' Atalanta win two corners and defend well, but Inter stay in attack and Emre sends a diagonal shot from 20 yards just wide of the right post.
19' Adriano chests the ball to Vieri, who from an inviting position just outside the Atalanta box pulls a weak shot well wide of the right post.
16' On the left wing Adriano takes the ball past Gonnella with a combination of strength and skill then at the by-line crosses into the middle. Atalanta head clear.
13' Adriano crosses into the Atalanta box from the left, Albertini clears and the home side come forward.
11' Inter win an attacking throw-in on the left wing after Gonnella anticipates Adriano to Emre's forward pass.
10' Pia' dribbles two Inter players just outside the Inter box then shoots. Cordoba, making his 200th appearance for the Nerazzurri tonight, blocks.
9' Toldo makes a two-handed save from Budan, who from 20 yards out sends a low shot on target.
8' Budan heads Rivalta's right-wing cross wide of the left post.
5' At the other end Adriano wriggles free of three opponents then sees his diagonal shot blocked by Taibi.
5' The Bergamo Nerazzurri win a free kick 35 yards out. Albertini curled shot whizzes wide of the left post.
3' Great play by Adriano. Spotting Taibi off his line the Brazilian tries to lob the Atalanta keeper with a sweet shot from 30 yards which comes back off the crossbar.
2' Massimo Taibi comes off his line to anticipate Inter captain Bobo Vieri to Andy van der Meyde's right-wing cross.
1' Welcome to the Atleti Azzurri d'Italia Stadium in Bergamo for tonight's all-Nerazzurri clash between Atalanta and Inter. The home side kick off.
1' From 25 yards Atalanta captain Albertini shoots high over Toldo's crossbar.
Minute Text commentary
49' Full time. Atalanta 2-3 Inter.
49' Montolivo creates space for himself then passes square to Marcolini, who fires wide of the left post.
48' Recoba looks for his second with a left-footed shot from the edge of the Atalanta box. Taibi saves.
45' 4 minutes of extra time.
42' ADRIANO!!!!!!!!! The Emperor takes on Natali then storms on goal and from the edge of the Atalanta box blasts a left-footed shot which Taibi has no chance of keeping out.
40' Pazzini equalises for Atalanta, shooting past Toldo from inside the Inter area after seeing his initial effort deflected.
38' Edgar Davids comes on for compatriot Andy van der Meyde.
37' Atalanta bring on Mingazzini for Lazzari.
35' 2-1 to Inter!!!! Superb goal by Recoba. The Uruguayan receives from Emre, turns Albertini then finds the bottom left-hand corner with a trademark left-footed shot.
31' Il Chino Alvaro Recoba replaces El Cuchu Esteban Cambiasso.
29' Inter win another corner after van der Meyde's cross from the by-line is blocked.
28' Oba plays wide to Andy, who creates a yard of space then sees his shot deflected off Bellini. Corner.
27' Emre curls a right-wing free kick round a two-man Atalanta wall, Natali blasts clear.
25' Van der Meyde is booked for a foul on Albertini.
22' Atalanta make a double substitution: Pazzini replaces Pia', Gautieri comes on for Budan.
21' Albertini's shot goes through the Inter wall and Toldo punches clear.
20' Burdisso fouls Budan ten yards outside the Inter box. Free kick to the home side.
15' Mancini brings on Martins for Vieri.
14' Another pin-point cross from Dutch winger Andy van der Meyde. Bellini anticipates Adriano and makes a headed clearance.
13' Free kick to Atalanta 30 yards out after Materazzi fouls Montolivo. Toldo collects Albertini's shot.
12' Superb play by Andy van der Meyde, who turns Bellini inside out then crosses to the edge of the six-yard box, where Favalli fires over.
10' From the distance Emre shoots with the outside of his left foot. Taibi parries and we win a corner.
9' Inter equalise. From the right wing Andy van der Meyde crosses over to the far side where Stankovic heads in at the far post.
7' Rivalta is yellow-carded for a foul from behind on Dejan Stankovic.
7' Pia' blasts over the bar from inside our area after Materazzi and Cambiasso fail to clear Marcolini's left-wing cross.
3' At the other end Budan is flagged offside and he glances a header wide of the right post.
2' Stankovic's free kick comes off the Atalanta wall.
1' Inter kick off the second half.
1' Inter win a free kick on the edge of the Atalanta penalty box after Natali obstructs Adriano.
Recoba
8.19
8.19
Vieri
5.16
5.16
Cordoba
6.36
6.36
Materazzi
6.57
6.57
Emre
7.02
7.02
Toldo
5.23
5.23
Adriano
8.77
8.77
Martins
6.39
6.39
Van Der Meyde
7.08
7.08
Stankovic
7.76
7.76
Favalli
6.02
6.02
Cambiasso
5.61
5.61
Burdisso
5.78
5.78
Davids
6.23
6.23
Average rating 6.58
5 shots on target 9
5 shots off target 5
16 fouls committed 11
3 corners 7
3 offsides 3
20:23 ball possession 32:38
Mandorlini v Mancini

The current Atalanta and Inter coaches meet in a competitive match for the first time.

Mandorlini v Inter

Andrea Mandorlini, who played for Inter from 1984/85 to 1990/91 and was therefore one of the protagonists of the club's last title-winning season in 1988/89, faces the Nerazzurri for the first time as a coach.

Mancini v Atalanta

Roberto Mancini faces Atalanta for the fifth time as a coach, with two wins and two draws from the other four matches.

In detail:

2000/01 Serie A Fiorentina-Atalanta 1-1 ----
2001/02 Serie A Fiorentina-Atalanta 3-1 ----
2002/03 Serie A Lazio-Atalanta 0-0 1-0

No Atalanta home defeat in 11 matches

Bergamo Nerazzurri Atalanta haven't lost at home since last 4 March when they were beaten 2-0 by Verona in the Serie B championship. Since then Mandorlini's men have won 6 and drawn 5 in 11 competitive home matches.

Atalanta vulnerable in first 30 minutes

Of the 9 goals Atalanta have let in so far in 2004/05 (Serie A and Coppa Italia matches), 4 have been scored in the opening 30 minutes of matches. Lecce and Juventus have netted early goals against the Bergamo side in the league, with Vicenza and Reggina on target in the first half hours of Coppa Italia matches.

Inter in 2004/05: only Adriano decisive

According to the statistics, Inter are increasingly dependent on Adriano. The Brazilian has scored in each of the Nerazzurri's 5 competitive matches in 2004/05, with a total of 7 goals to his credit. All of Inter's decisive goals so far this season have been scored by Adriano (the draws away to Basel and Chievo and at home to Palermo, and the victories at home to Basel and Werder Bremen).

Cordoba set for 200th Inter match

If he plays in Bergamo, Ivan Ramiro Cordoba will make his 200th appearance for the Nerazzurri. The Colombian defender, who made his debut on 6 January 2000 (Inter 5-0 Perugia in the Serie A), has played 132 matches in the Itailan league, 15 in the Coppa Italia, 50 in European cup competitions and 2 Uefa play-offs in 1999/00. Cordoba has scored 5 goals for Inter.

Third time lucky for Nerazzurri?

Inter are still looking for their first victory after 180 minutes of Serie A football. If they don't win against Atalanta in Bergamo, it will be the fifth time in the history of the one-division championship that Inter have failed to win one of their opening three matches of a season. It happened in 1935/36, 1941/42, 1946/47 and 1983/84. Inter won in Week 4 in the first two cases, in Week 6 in 1946/47 and in Week 5 in 1983/84.

DA IMPLEMENTARE
wins(25) draws(23) defeats(16)
BERGAMO - After draws away to Chievo and at home to Palermo, it was third time lucky for Inter at the Atleti Azzurri d'Italia Stadium. Inter beat Bergamo Nerazzurri Atalanta 3-2 thanks to a late winner from Adriano, who takes his tally for the season to eight goals and has now scored in each of his last nine competitive matches for the club.

Inter made a promising start to the Serie A Week 3 Lombardy derby, Adriano rattling the crossbar with a spectacular long-range shot. But Atalanta settled quickly and had a handful of chances before a period of Inter pressure.

Against the run of play Igor Budan put Atalanta in front on 25 minutes. The Croatian centre-forward intercepted Burdisso's back pass to Toldo then rounded the Inter keeper before slotting into an open goal.

Inter equalised early in the second half when Stankovic headed van der Meyde's cross in at the far post. After the Serbia&Montenegro midfielder's third goal of the season Favalli and Emre had good chances to put Inter in front.

But the turning point came in the 81st minute. Always capable of deciding a match, Alvaro Recoba must have thought he had decided this one four minutes after coming on for Cambiasso. The Uruguayan received from Emre, elegantly turned Albertini then sent one of those left-foot specials past Taibi and into the bottom left-hand corner.

But Atalanta attacked back and drew level on 85 minutes through substitute Pazzini, who fired past Toldo after his initial shot took a deflection.

With time running out, Adriano picked up the ball on the right wing, stormed past Natali then advanced to the edge of the box before smashing home.

Inter's next match is at home to Parma this Sunday afternoon.

ATALANTA 2-3 INTER (HT: 1-0)

Scorers: Budan 25', Stankovic 54', Recoba 80', Pazzini 85', Adriano 87'

ATALANTA: 1 Taibi, 3 Gonnella, 4 Albertini, 6 Bellini, 7 Marcolini, 10 Pià (29 Pazzini 67'), 11 Budan (9 Gautieri 67'), 16 Rivalta, 18 Montolivo, 22 Mingazzini (21 Lazzari 82'), 25 Natali
Subs not used: 27 Calderoni, 8 Bernardini, 19 Zenoni, 24 Sala
Coach: Andrea Mandorlini

INTER: 1 Toldo, 2 Cordoba, 3 Burdisso, 5 Emre, 7 Van der Meyde (8 Davids 83'), 10 Adriano, 16 Favalli, 19 Cambiasso (20 Recoba 76'), 23 Materazzi, 25 Stankovic, 32 Vieri (30 Martins 60')
Subs not used: 12 Fontana, 4 J. Zanetti, 9 Cruz, 13 Zè Maria
Coach: Roberto Mancini

Referee: Gianluca Paparesta

Booked: Rivalta 52', van der Meyde 70'

starting lineups

Taibi 1 Toldo
Gonnella 2 Cordoba
Albertini 3 Burdisso
Bellini 5 Emre
Marcolini 7 Van Der Meyde
Pià 10 Adriano
Budan 16 Favalli
Rivalta 19 Cambiasso
Montolivo 23 Materazzi
Mingazzini 25 Stankovic
Natali 32 Vieri

substitutes

Calderoni 12 Fontana
Bernardini 4 Zanetti
Gautieri 8 Davids
Zenoni 9 Cruz
Lazzari 13 Ze Maria
Sala 20 Recoba
Pazzini 30 Martins