Final score

23 August 2015 20:45

Inter
48' (2nd half) Jovetic
1 - 0
Atalanta
Referee: Gianpaolo Calvarese / Linesmen: Marrazzo, Pegorin / Fourth official: Gava / Assistants: Giacomelli, Chiffi
Watch highlights
Minute Text commentary
47' The half-time whistle blows here and it's Inter 0-0 Atalanta at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza.
45' There are going to be two minutes of added time here in Milan.
44' Inter so close to the lead! Jovetic lays it on a plate for Kondogbia, but the Frenchman's left-footed effort is saved by Sportiello!
43' Jovetic looks for goal from outside of the area, but it's wide of Sportiello's right-hand post.
40' Inter threaten again with another powerful cross, this time from Brozovic. Another corner!
39' Palacio sticks in a low cross for Brozovic from the right, but it's cut out by Cherubin just in time. Corner to Inter!
36' Yellow card for Palacio after a foul on Carmona.
28' Jovetic looks to find the net from a free-kick on 35 yards, but it whistles just over the bar.
27' Lovely work from Jovetic on the left, who crosses in for the onrushing Kondogbia. It's intercepted just in time.
23' Atalanta make an early change of their own here. Pinilla jogs on to replace Denia, who is forced off with injury.
22' Juan Jesus finds Jovetic, who nips by his man and lets fly with a low shot from just outside the area. Sportiello makes the save.
20' Maxi Moralez looks to receive the ball inside the Inter box, but Murillo does brilliantly to see it behind for a corner.
14' Mancini is forced into an early change, as Mauro Icardi comes off to be replaced by Stevan Jovetic on his competitive debut for Inter.
12' Great chance for the Nerazzurri! Palacio sprints through on goal but Cherubin puts a stop to the run just in time.
11' Juan Jesus crosses in from the left, but it's an easy take for Sportiello.
8' Murillo steps in to stop an Atalanta attack, gets his head up and sets Inter on their way once again.
4' Kondogbia has a crack from distance, but it whistles over the bar.
3' An Atalanta break sees Gomez teed up inside the area, but he blazes well over the bar.
1' The referee blows his whistle to herald the beginning of the Nerazzurri's 2015/16 season. Inter v Atalanta is underway! Come on Inter!
1' Here we go again! Inter v Atalanta, part of Serie A 2015/16 Week 1, is about to begin at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza. Forza Inter!!
Minute Text commentary
50' And that's it! Inter take the three points this evening after a little bit of magic from new-boy Stevan Jovetic!
48' GOOOOOALLLL! Spectacular curling effort from Jovetic to find the net and win it for the Nerazzurri! 1-0 Inter!
46' Santon lets fly with a right-footed effort from distance, but Sportiello somehow keeps it out yet again!
45' The referee has indicated that there'll be five minutes' added time here in Milan.
45' Hernanes tries to force the issue from distance, but Sportiello's diving save clears the danger for Atalanta.
44' Juan Jesus fires in a cross for Palacio, who's denied by the post!
42' Manaj looks to find Hernanes in front of goal, but a deflection takes it into Sportiello's grasp.
40' Last change for Mancini: Manaj comes on for Brozovic.
39' Brozovic finds Hernanes with a lovely ball, but the Brazilian can't quite curl a shot into the far corner of the goal.
37' Pinilla picks up a booking of his own after a late challenge on Murillo.
33' Last change from Atalanta sees Migliaccio replace Gomez here at the Meazza.
33' Palacio fires home from a Jovetic assist, but it's ruled out for offside against the Argentine hitman.
28' Fantastic effort from Jovetic! It whistles past the post from the best part of 30 yards out.
26' Bad foul from Carmona on Hernanes. It's a second yellow card for the Atalanta midfielder, leaving the visitors a man short.
21' Murillo sets off with the ball at his feet, but Carmona brings him down. Yellow card for the Atalanta midfielder.
19' Atalanta make another substitution: this time it's Moralez who comes off for D'Alessandro.
18' Juan Jesus crosses in from the left for Brozovic, who lashes the ball just over the bar. Great chance!
14' Jovetic and Medel look to play a give-and-go on the edge of the area, but the Chilean midfielder's return pass is just overhit.
13' Some good work from Palacio on the right sees Inter win a corner-kick.
10' Brozovic and Stendardo end up in a heap after going for the same ball, but the Atalanta man is hurt so Calvarese stops play.
7' The visitors looks to hit Inter on the counter attack, but Gomez's cross-shot eludes all his team-mates and whistles past the post.
5' Kondogbia comes close with a fearsome right-footed effort after being teed up by Brozovic. Sportiello can only palm behind for a corner.
3' Brozovic takes aim with a long-range effort, but it's not troubling the Sportiello goal.
1' The second half of Inter v Atalanta is underway!
1' Inter have made one half-time change, with Hernanes replacing Gnoukouri in the Nerazzurri ranks.
Santon
6.48
6.48
Jesus
6.32
6.32
Palacio
5.83
5.83
Handanovic
6.4
6.4
Icardi
5.56
5.56
Hernanes
6.09
6.09
Medel
5.94
5.94
Gnoukouri
5.62
5.62
Brozovic
6.47
6.47
Kondogbia
7.31
7.31
Miranda
7.41
7.41
Murillo
7.69
7.69
Jovetic
8.28
8.28
Manaj
6.33
6.33
Average rating 6.55
7 shots on target 0
14 shots off target 4
14 fouls committed 12
9 corners 1
4 offsides 0
68% ball possession 32%
wins(44) draws(11) defeats(9)

MILAN – Inter are up and running in Serie A after Stevan Jovetic curled home a late winner to secure a 1-0 victory over Atalanta at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza tonight.

The evening had begun with rumours of a slight injury for Mauro Icardi in the warm-up, but the Argentina striker made the cut to lead out his team-mates as Inter captain for the night. Roberto Mancini opted for a 4-3-1-2 formation, with Handanovic behind a back-four of Santon, Murillo, Miranda and Juan Jesus. Young Ivorian Gnoukouri took up his place in front of the defence, with Medel and Kondogbia either side of him, while Brozovic provided support to the front pairing of Palacio and Icardi.

The Nerazzurri started well enough, but it was Atalanta who threatened first, with Alejandro Papu Gomez coming close after just two minutes’ play. The Atalanta No. 10 took advantage of some indecision on the part of Gnoukouri to exchange passes with Denis in the area and fire just over the bar.

Inter responded in kind, but although Gnoukouri found Palacio well, the Argentine was unable to guide the ball into the path of strike partner Mauro Icardi. Maurito’s evening was about to be cut short, in fact, as those pre-match injury fears were confirmed and he had to be replaced by Stevan Jovetic after just ten minutes. Gary Medel took on the captain’s armband.

The game fell flat until the 40th minute, when Inter sprang into life, spinning a web of passes around the Atalanta defence to work the ball to Brozovic in a great position. Atalanta had Masiello to thank for preserving their clean sheet on that occasion, as he managed to see the ball behind for a corner. Seconds later, Jovetic found Kondogbia on the edge of the box, but Sportiello somehow managed to keep out the Frenchman’s shot with an outstretched boot.

With Mancini bringing on Hernanes for Gnoukouri at the break, Inter were on the attack just five minutes into the second half as Kondogbia’s piledriver forced Sportiello into a diving save.  On 63 minutes, Juan Jesus found Brozovic deep in the Atalanta box with a pinpoint cross, but the Croatian’s effort was inches wide.

The Nerazzurri received further encouragement on 71 minutes, when Atalanta midfielder Carmona fouled Brozovic to earn himself a second yellow card and an early bath. Barely 60 seconds later, Jovetic came within a whisker of giving Inter the lead, while Palacio had a goal ruled out for offside in the 77th minute.

Rey Manaj came on for his Meazza debut on 84 minutes, prompting Mancini to switch systems to a 4-2-3-1. And it nearly bore fruit five minutes later as Juan Jesus fired in a low cross for Palacio, with only the woodwork denying the Argentine from glory.

Inter were doing their best to batter the Atalanta door down, but it seemed to be slipping away from the Nerazzurri. Then, deep into injury time, Stevan Jovetic collected the ball on the left side of the box, advancing on goal and curling a sumptuous strike past Sportiello and into the gaping net. The Meazza roared. 

Inter 1-0 Atalanta (HT: 0-0)
Scorers: Jovetic 90+3.

INTER: 1 Handanovic; 21 Santon, 25 Miranda, 24 Murillo, 5 Juan Jesus; 27 Gnoukouri (Hernanes HT), 17 Medel, 7 Kondogbia; 77 Brozovic (Manaj 85); 8 Palacio, 9 Icardi (Jovetic 10).
Subs not used: 30 Carrizo, 6 Andreolli, 14 Montoya, 16 Schelotto, 19 Taider, 23 Ranocchia, 33 D'Ambrosio, 55 Nagatomo, 93 Dimarco.
Coach: Roberto Mancini.
 
ATALANTA: 57 Sportiello; 5 Masiello, 2 Stendardo, 33 Cherubin, 93 Dramé; 17 Carmona, 15 De Roon, 27 Kurtic; 10 Gomez (Migliaccio 78), 19 Denis (Pinilla 23), 11 Moralez (D'Alessandro 74).
Subs not used: 30 Bassi, 4 Giorgi, 6 Bellini, 9 Boakye, 20 Estigarribia, 24 Conti, 28 Brivio, 77 Raimondi, 88 Grassi.
Coach: Edoardo Reja.

Booked: Palacio 36, Carmona 66, 71, Pinilla 82, Manaj 90.
Sent off: Carmona 71.
Added time: 2 + 5 minutes.

Referee: Calvarese.
Assistants: Marrazzo, Pegorin.
Fourth official: Gava.
Additional assistants: Giacomelli, Chiffi.

 

starting lineups

Handanovic 1 57 Sportiello
Santon 21 5 Masiello
Miranda 25 2 Stendardo
Murillo 24 33 Cherubin
Jesus 5 93 Dramé
Gnoukouri 27 17 Carmona
Medel 17 15 De Roon
Kondogbia 7 27 Kurtic
Brozovic 77 10 Gomez
Palacio 8 19 Denis
Icardi 9 11 Moralez

substitutes

Carrizo 30 30 Bassi
Andreolli 6 4 Giorgi
Jovetic 10 6 Bellini
Montoya 14 7 D'Alessandro
Schelotto 16 8 Migliaccio
Taïder 19 9 Boakye
Ranocchia 23 20 Estigarribia
D'Ambrosio 33 24 Conti
Nagatomo 55 28 Brivio
Hernanes 88 51 Pinilla
Dimarco 93 77 Raimondi
Manaj 97 88 Grassi