Lautaro scores and Handanovic saves, a 1 - 1 stalemate against Atalanta

MILAN - A body flying through the sky with outstretched hands. That moment in the 88th minute conjured up by a superhero in action. With the clock running down, Samir Handanovic achieved hero status as he quite literally flew to his right to keep out Muriel’s penalty. It was a save that denied Atalanta victory in a match that began with an early goal from Lautaro Martinez and finished with Borja Valero firing just wide of Gollini’s left post. 1-1 was the final score, Inter’s third home draw of the season and a result which sees the Nerazzurri move onto 46 points in the league. It was a tough match, but Conte’s men competed well and can’t have any regrets following a hard-fought display.

It was intense, but it was never going to be any other way. The tempo was high right from the very beginning. Inter vs. Atalanta began at an incredible pace, just like everyone had expected it to. After just 20 seconds, Lukaku struck the post, although play was brought back for offside. It was a sign of the aggressive nature with which the Nerazzurri were aiming to approach the match, and just minutes later Conte’s men managed to take an early lead. It goes without saying: Lautaro Martinez was the man to get on the scoresheet, with the Argentine striker combining well with Lukaku, getting the better of Toloi and sliding the ball under goalkeeper Gollini. This was El Toro’s 15th goal of the season, his tenth in Serie A and the seventh he’s scored in the first 30 minutes of play.

Inter were really getting at their opponents in the early stages, with Atalanta struggling to produce their aggressive style of football as a result. Nevertheless, there were flashes of attacking play from the away side, especially down the right flank through Hateboer, while Pasalic also looked threatening through the centre. Inter were containing Gomez and Ilicic well and looking to get the ball to the front two quickly: with Lautaro and Lukaku’s movement causing the Atalanta rearguard problems. In the 22nd minute, Lautaro dinked the ball over Gollini but was denied by Palomino’s header off the line. All of Conte’s men were getting involved in the Nerazzurri’s attacks, including Godin who shot narrowly off target following some good link-up play. With the half coming to a close, Inter were finding it more and more difficult to press high up the pitch, giving Atalanta more space to play. The away side had a golden opportunity to equalise in the 39th minute: Handanovic producing a fine stop to keep out Toloi’s header before a scramble in the box eventually ended with the ball going out for a corner.

More warning signs for the Nerazzurri began to materialise in the second half, with Atalanta looking full of energy and increasingly threatening, thanks in part to Malinovskyi’s introduction as he caused Inter problems throughout the second 45. The Ukrainian rattled Handanovic’s post in the 55th minute with a great curled effort, then it was Gosens who came close after a great bit of play from the guests. Inter struggled in attack, finding it much harder to hold the ball up top, but kept up their awareness in the middle with our three centre-mids doing well to close down the spaces. However, Atalanta couldn’t be kept out completely as they broke through in the 75th minute, Gosens just that bit sharper than Candreva as he nipped in front of our defender and slotted the ball past Handanovic.

The equaliser stunned San Siro and gave a major boost to the away side who rushed forward in search of a killer blow. The game was thrust open as spaces started to appear for both sides. Gomez smashed his effort against the crossbar, but the linesman had his flag up for offside anyway. Brozovic also came close with a volley off his left, but the shot was fired right at Gollini who kept it out capably. Anything could have happened, and indeed Atalanta had a chance to win it in the 88th minute: Bastoni colliding with Malinovskyi in the box and Rocchi duly pointing to the spot. Muriel stepped up to take and fired his effort low to the left, but Handanovic got down superbly to keep it out with a huge right hand. A miraculous stop from the Nerazzurri captain which gave a new breath of life to the Nerazzurri, Borja Valero bursting into the box and getting close to a winning goal as his shot sailed wide.

Eventually the final whistle blew on a 1-1 end result which was perhaps the fairest outcome, the Nerazzurri saved by a moment of Handanovic magic. This point takes Inter up to 46, and although the team will be tinged with regret after a second half that lacked the energy of the first, they knew going into the game that nothing could be taken for granted against this Atalanta side. With everyone’s help, from Lautaro to Handanovic, once again the boys put in a performance of which all 70,000 fans at San Siro could be proud.

INTER 1-1 ATALANTA

INTER (3-5-2): 1 Handanovic; 2 Godin, 6 de Vrij, 95 Bastoni; 87 Candreva, 5 Gagliardini, 77 Brozovic, 12 Sensi (20 Borja Valero 71'), 34 Biraghi; 9 Lukaku, 10 Lautaro (16 Politano 80').Substitutes: 27 Padelli, 46 Berni, 7 Sanchez, 8 Vecino, 13 Ranocchia, 19 Lazaro, 21 Dimarco, 30 Esposito, 31 Pirola, 32 Agoumé. Coach: Antonio Conte.

ATALANTA (3-4-1-2): 95 Gollini; 2 Toloi, 6 Palomino, 19 Djimsiti; 33 Hateboer, 15 De Roon, 88 Pasalic (9 Muriel 70'), 8 Gosens (21 Castagne 90'); 10 Gomez; 72 Ilicic, 91 Zapata (18 Malinovskyi 53').Substitutes: 31 Rossi, 57 Sportiello, 5 Masiello, 11 Freuler, 17 Piccoli, 20 Da Riva, 55 Okoli, 79 Traore, 87 Heidenreich.Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini.

Scorers: 4' Lautaro (I), 75' Gosens (A)Bookings: Hateboer (A), De Roon (A), Palomino (A), Sensi (I), Godin (I)Notes: Antonio Conte booked. Samir Handanovic saved a Muriel penalty at 88'.Added time: 1', 4'.

Referee: Rocchi.Assistants: Carbone, Giallatini.Fourth official: Doveri.VAR and VAR Assistant: Irrati, Vivenzi.