Final score

24 April 2010 18:00

Inter
33' (2nd half) Chivu
35' Mariga
24' Milito
Atalanta
5' Tiribocchi
Referee: Daniele Orsato / Linesmen: Di Liberatoreq, Rosi / Fourth official: Gava
Watch highlights
Minute Text commentary
49' Half time in Milan. Inter lead Atalanta 2-1, Milito and Mariga replying to Tiribocchi's early strike for the visitors.
48' Tiribocchi charges down the left but Zanetti and Cordoba do a brilliant job on the Roman striker.
46' Milito plays low to Muntari in the box but the Ghanaian can't get a shot on target.
45' Two minutes of injury time.
45' Eto'o gets on the end of Sneijder's brilliant inswinging cross to the far post but his volley is wide.
44' Valdes tries to dummy Zanetti but he'll have to do better than that to get past the Inter captain.
42' Materazzi times his challenge on Tiribocchi to perfection as Atalanta counter-attack.
41' Cordoba climbs in the area and heads Sneijder's cross straight at Coppola.
40' Chivu whips in a low cross from the left. It takes a deflection off Ferreira Pinto and we win a corner.
39' Milito intelligently lets Eto'o's square pass roll through to Sneidjer and the Dutchman tries to lob Coppola but this time the Atalanta keeper is alert to the danger.
36' Sneijder whips a high cross over to the far post but it's too long for Eto'o.
35' That was Mariga's first goal for Inter.
35' GOAL!!!!!!! Mariga scores!!!! Sneijder attacks down the left and lays off to Eto'o who pulls back into the middle of the area for the Kenyan midfielder to crash his shot beyond Coppola. It takes a slight deflection off Muntari. INTER 2-1 ATALANTA.
33' Sneijder and Milito combine to serve Stankovic and the Serbian rifles narrowly over from the edge of the box.
31' A chance for Ivan Cordoba from Sneijder's corner. The Colombian's effort inside the area is on target but it spins off Eto'o and goes behind for a goal kick.
30' Mariga's shot takes a deflection. Corner.
28' Nerazzurri back on the attack. Atalanta lose possession in their own area and Eto'o pounces but the Cameroonian drives his shot wide of the back stick.
27' Doni completely wastes his free kick, uncharacteristically blazing his effort into the Curva Nord.
27' Dejan Stankovic is booked for foul play.
26' Tiribocchi gets to the right-wing by-line and delivers a cross but there's no team-mate in the six-yard box.
24' GOAL!!!! Diego Milito lobs Coppola after Bianco fails to intercept Sneijder's long pass to the Argentine. INTER 1-1 ATALANTA.
24' That was Diego's 20th goal in Serie A this season.
22' Sneijder's thunderous free kick is blocked by the wall.
22' Eto'o is fouled by Bianco. The free kick is about 30 yards out.
21' Zanetti gets a cross in from the right. Coppola saves.
20' Guarente's inswinging cross from the free kick is headed away by Cordoba.
19' Free kick to Atalanta out on the left wing after a foul by Zanetti on Valdes.
15' Atalanta's Brazilian winger is okay to continue and we're back under way at the Giuseppe Meazza.
14' Play interrupted as Ferreira Pinto requires medical attention after landing awkwardly following an aerial duel with Materazzi.
13' Milito gets on the end of Chivu's lofted pass from the left but the flag goes up for offside again.
11' Doni receives from Valdes but mis-controls in the area with his back to goal. A half-chance wasted for Atalanta.
10' Sneijder looks for Eto'o with a high ball into the area but Peluso intercepts and heads away.
8' Atalanta's Bianco is booked for foul play.
7' The visitors go close to a quick second as Tiribocchi rises in the box and heads wide Guarente's left-wing free kick with the goal gaping.
5' GOAL. Atalanta launch a counter-attack and take the lead through Simone Tiribocchi, who fires past Julio Cesar from inside our area after latching on to Manfredini's pass. INTER 0-1 ATALANTA.
5' Inter attack back and Sneijder plays short to Stankovic, who plays into the area for Milito. The Argentine is flagged for offside.
3' Guarente serves Doni and the Atalanta captain sweeps wide to Peluso, whose cross from the left goes out for a goal kick.
1' After 4-2-3-1 against Barcelona it's back to a 4-4-2 diamond as José Mourinho rings in the changes for today's Serie A Week 35 visit of relegation-threatened Atalanta.
1' Game on in Milan! The Bergamo Nerazzurri, playing in white today, kick off. FORZA INTER!!!!
1' Nine players (four from Inter and five from Atalanta) are within a booking of suspension. They are: Muntari, Samuel, Sneijder, Thiago Motta, Amoruso, Bianco, Chevanton, Manfredini and Valdes.
1' Atalanta: 32 Coppola; 4 Capelli, 77 Bianco, 5 Manfredini, 13 Peluso; 79 Ferreira Pinto, 22 Padoin, 17 Guarente, 20 Valdes; 72 Doni, 90 Tiribocchi. &#8232;<br>Subs: 91 Rossi, 6 Bellini, 9 Amoruso, 15 De Ascentis, 19 Chevanton, 21 Radovanovic, 70 Ceravolo.&#8232;<br>Coach: Bortolo Mutti.
1' Inter: 12 Julio Cesar; 4 Zanetti, 2 Cordoba, 23 Materazzi, 26 Chivu; 17 Mariga, 5 Stankovic, 11 Muntari; 10 Sneijder; 22 Milito, 9 Eto'o. &#8232;<br>Subs: 21 Orlandoni, 6 Lucio, 7 Quaresma, 8 Thiago Motta, 19 Cambiasso, 25 Samuel, 89 Arnautovic.<br> &#8232;Coach: José Mourinho.
1' Mariga and Muntari flank Stankovic in midfield with Sneijder behind Milito and Eto'o. Zanetti fills in for Maicon at right-back, Cordoba and Materazzi occupy the central defence roles and Chivu slots in at left-back.
Minute Text commentary
49' That's it. Inter come from behind to beat Atalanta 3-1 and move two clear of Roma at the top of Serie A ahead of Sunday's games. See you on Wednesday for the return leg of our Champions League semi-final tie against Barcelona.
49' On the stroke of full time Arnautovic runs on to Thiago Motta's pass and fires over the bar.
49' Inter counter-attack and Mariga's deflected cross from the right is saved by Coppola.
47' Cordoba blocks a goal-bound header from Radovanovic as Atalanta come close from a corner.
45' The fourth man tells us that there are four minutes of added time.
42' Julio Cesar comes off his line to beat Tiribocchi to a high ball into the area.
40' Arnautovic's low 20-yard shot is a whisker wide of Coppola's right-hand post.
38' Marco Materazzi gets a yellow cards for a foul on Radovanovic.
37' Chivu's curling free kick is wide of the target.
36' Muntari is sent flying and we win a free kick about 25 yards from goal.
35' Diego Milito is replaced by Marko Arnautovic as Mourinho makes his final change. Standing ovation for the Prince.
33' GOAL!!!!!!!! Cristian Chivu receives from Eto'o and rifles a magnificent 25-yard shot past Coppola. It's his first goal for Inter in three seasons with the club. INTER 3-1 ATALANTA.
30' Thiago Motta controls a pass from Muntari with his chest and tests Coppola with a low shot on the turn.
30' Applause for Zanetti. The Inter captain gets past three in the box before seeing his cross blocked. Corner.
26' Mutti makes his third. Cristiano Doni makes way for Ivan Radovanovic.
25' José Mourinho makes his second substitution. Dejan Stankovic off, Thiago Motta on.
24' Atalanta come back at us and Tiribocchi has a chance in the box, his shot on the turn going out for a goal kick.
24' A chance for Muntari as Inter hit Atalanta on the break again. Stankovic serves Milito on the right and the Prince squares for the onrushing Muntari, whose low shot is blocked by Coppola's leg.
23' Inter surge forward on the counter after clearing a corner but Mariga and Eto'o aren't on the same wavelength.
22' Applause all round the stadium as the Nerazzurri build a lovely move. Eto'o's finishes it off with a right-footed shot that is saved by Coppola.
19' Atalanta keeper Coppola is booked for protesting.
18' Manfredini is booked for bringing down Eto'o just outside the area.
16' Tiribocchi overhits his low through ball for Amoruso. No problem for Julio Cesar.
14' Stankovic nutmegs his marker with a sublime piece of skill and serves Eto'o, who plays wide to Mariga. The Inter number 9 is flagged for offside as he receives the Kenyan's return pass.
12' Bortolo Mutti makes a double change: Amoruso for Ferreira Pinto and Ceravolo for Valdes.
9' Stankovic sees his pass for Milito intercepted after trying to slalom through the Atalanta defence.
6' Valdes makes a fast run towards our area before blazing his shot way over.
3' Atalanta close from the resulting free kick. Doni touches short to Manfredini, whose rising drive forces Julio Cesar into a tipped save.
2' Cordoba is booked for a foul from behind on Tiribocchi. A bit harsh that - it was his first foul.
1' Inter kick off the second half.
1' An early scare for Inter as Guarente's fierce 20-yard drive flies inches over the bar after a headed clearance from Cordoba.
1' Esteban Cambiasso replaces Wesley Sneijder.
Zanetti
8.68
8.68
Cordoba
7.04
7.04
Materazzi
6.43
6.43
Stankovic
7.2
7.2
Cambiasso
7.37
7.37
Julio Cesar
7.35
7.35
Chivu
8.08
8.08
Muntari
6.95
6.95
Milito
8.43
8.43
Motta
7.3
7.3
Eto'o
7.49
7.49
Arnautovic
8.03
8.03
Sneijder
8.07
8.07
Mariga
7.82
7.82
Average rating 7.59
9 shots on target 3
8 shots off target 7
21 fouls committed 12
4 corners 3
5 offsides 3
53% ball possession 47%
Mourinho v Mutti

The two coaches meet in a competitive fixture for the first time.

Mourinho v Atalanta

José Mourinho faces Atalanta for the fourth time after a home win, a draw and an away defeat. There have been goals in all three games (6 for Mourinho's Inter and 7 for the Bergamo side).

Details:
2008/09 Serie A Inter-Atalanta 4-3 1-3
2009/10 Serie A Inter-Atalanta ---- 1-1

Mutti v Inter

Bortola Mutti has faced the Nerazzurri on six previous occasions, winning once (Messina 2-1 on 24 April 2005) and losing five times. Inter have scored in all six games for a total of 15 goals.

Details:
1996/97 Serie A Piacenza-Inter 0-3 0-2
2002/03 Serie A Reggina-Inter 1-2 ----
2004/05 Serie A Messina-Inter 2-1 0-5
2005/06 Serie A Messina-Inter 1-2 ----

Inter unbeaten in last 43 home games

The Nerazzurri have won 32 and drawn 11 at home since their last defeat at the San Siro, a 1-0 reverse against Panathinaikos in the Champions League on 26 November 2008. In Italian tournaments Inter are unbeaten at home in 47 matches, having won 35 and drawn 12 since their 2-1 defeat to Juventus on 22 March 2008. That loss was also Inter's last home defeat in Serie A. They have since played 39 league games at home, winning 29 and drawing 10.

Nerazzurri yet to concede at home in second half of Serie A season

Inter haven't let in a goal at home in Serie A since Maccarone's effort in the 65th minute of Inter 4-3 Siena on 9 January 2010. Inter have since hosted AC Milan (2-0), Cagliari (3-0), Sampdoria (0-0), Genoa (0-0), Livorno (3-0), Bologna (3-0) and Juventus (2-0), without conceding a single goal. The Nerazzurri kept another two clean sheets before that 4-3 win over Siena (Inter 1-0 Lazio and Inter 1-0 Fiorentina).

Milito one of four top scorers in 2009/10

Diego Milito has scored 24 goals in all competitions this season (19 in Serie A, 1 in the Coppa Italia and 4 in the Champions League). He is one of four top scorers in Italian professional football in 2009/10 along with Di Natale (Udinese), Pinilla (Grosseto) and Bianchi (Torino).

Inter one away from 200th goal against Atalanta. Atalanta one away from 100th goal against Inter

Inter's next goal against Atalanta will be their 200th in competitive games against the Bergamo outfit, while Atalanta's next goal against Inter will be their 100th against their local rivals. The first goals were scored in the first ever meeting between the two clubs on 12 December 1937. It ended 1-1 between Atalanta and Ambrosiana Inter in Bergamo, with Severo Cominelli scoring for the hosts on 63 minutes and Giovanni Ferrari scoring Inter's equaliser five minutes laters.

Padoin set to make 100th appearance in Serie A

By appearing against Inter, Atalanta midfielder Simone Padoin will complete a century of appearances in Italy's top flight (all for the Bergamo club). He made his Serie A debut in Reggina 1-1 Atalanta on 26 August 2007.

One Atalanta win in last 13 away games

Atalanta have won just one of their last 13 away matches (2-0 at Siena on 22 November 2009), drawing 2 and losing 10 of the other 12.

DA IMPLEMENTARE
wins(44) draws(11) defeats(9)

MILAN - Diego Milito scored his twentieth of the Serie A season, with Cristian Chivu and Mariga netting their first in black and blue as Inter went top of Serie A.

Atalanta made a fast start at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza and the Nerazzurri were on the back foot in the fifth minute when Simone Tiribocchi scored.

But Inter soon seized control and took the lead after a devastating ten-minute spell, Milito lobbing the keeper and Mariga finishing off a well-worked move.

Any hopes of stay-up points for the relegation-threatened side were scuppered with twelve minutes left when Chivu gave Inter a two-goal cushion with a blistering long-range shot.

The win lifts José Mourinho's men above Roma, who take on Sampdoria in Genoa tomorrow night.

With next Wednesday's Champions League tie at Barcelona in mind, the Inter coach rotated numerous players against the Bergamo Nerazzurri.

African midfielders Mariga and Muntari started in a diamond midfield with Stankovic in the middle and Sneijder in support of front pair Milito and Eto'o.

Maicon, out of action after several trips to the dentist, was replaced at right-back by Zanetti, with Cordoba partnering Materazzi and Chivu filling the left-back slot.

It didn't take Atalanta long to get into their stride and Tiribocchi took full advantage of a defensive mistake, firing past Julio Cesar after latching on to Manfredini's through ball.

Inter were level on 24 minutes when Milito lobbed the stranded Coppola to punish a Bianco's moment of defensive suicide.

Mariga celebrated his 100th appearance in a European league with Inter's second goal ten minutes before half time. Sneijder attacked down the left and served Eto'o, who pulled back into the middle of the area for the Kenyan to fire in off Muntari.

Atalanta started the second half as they began the first and Guarente missed by a whisker, moments before Manfredini's rising drive produced a tipped save from Julio Cesar.

But Inter gradually wore their local rivals down and made sure of the points on 78 minutes when Chivu received from Eto'o and crashed a magnificent long-range shot beyond Coppola to stretch the Nerazzurri's long unbeaten home run in Serie A to 40 games.

Inter 3-1 Atalanta (HT: 2-1)

Scorers: Tiribocchi 5, Milito 24, Mariga 35, Chivu 78.

Inter: 12 Julio Cesar; 4 Zanetti, 2 Cordoba, 23 Materazzi, 26 Chivu; 17 Mariga, 5 Stankovic (8 Thiago Motta 70), 11 Muntari; 10 Sneijder (19 Cambiasso 46); 22 Milito (89 Arnautovic 80), 9 Eto'o.
Subs not used
: 21 Orlandoni, 6 Lucio, 7 Quaresma, 25 Samuel. 

Coach
: José Mourinho.

Atalanta: 32 Coppola; 4 Capelli, 77 Bianco, 5 Manfredini, 13 Peluso; 79 Ferreira Pinto (9 Amoruso 57), 22 Padoin, 17 Guarente, 20 Valdes (70 Ceravolo 57); 72 Doni (21 Radovanovic 71), 90 Tiribocchi. 

Subs not used
: 91 Rossi, 6 Bellini, 15 De Ascentis, 19 Chevanton.

Coach
: Bortolo Mutti.

Referee: Daniele Orsato (Schio).

Booked: Bianco 8, Stankovic 27, Cordoba 47, Manfredini 64, Coppola 64, Materazzi 83.

Att.: 63,779.
 

starting lineups

Julio Cesar 12 Coppola
Cordoba 2 Capelli
Zanetti 4 Manfredini
Stankovic 5 Peluso
Eto'o 9 Guarente
Sneijder 10 Valdes
Muntari 11 Padoin
Mariga 17 Doni
Milito 22 Bianco
Materazzi 23 Ferreira Pinto
Chivu 26 Tiribocchi

substitutes

Orlandoni 21 Rossi
Lucio 6 Bellini
Quaresma 7 Amoruso
Motta 8 De Ascentis
Cambiasso 19 Chevanton
Samuel 25 Radovanovic
Arnautovic 89 Ceravolo