Inter Milan v Atalanta preview, predictions & possible XIs
Inter Milan host Atalanta in Serie A on Saturday evening.
Antonio Conte’s men currently lead the Italian championship, level on points with defending champions Juventus but ahead due to goal difference.
Atalanta, meanwhile, are pushing for another top-four finish and go into this weekend’s game a point below fourth-place Roma.
Read on for our Inter Milan v Atalanta preview, predictions, team news and TV coverage information.
When is Inter Milan vs Atalanta and what TV channel is it on?
Competition: Serie A
Venue: San Siro
Date: Saturday, 11 January 2020
Kick-off: 7:45 PM (UK time)
TV coverage (UK): Premier 1
Last five meetings: Inter Milan vs Atalanta
7 April 2019: Inter Milan 0-0 Atalanta (Serie A)
11 November 2018: Atalanta 4-1 Inter Milan (Serie A)
14 April 2018: Atalanta 0-0 Inter Milan (Serie A)
19 November 2017: Inter Milan 2-0 Atalanta (Serie A)
12 March 2017: Inter Milan 7-1 Atalanta (Serie A)
Aggregate Score: Inter Milan (DLDWW) 10-5 Atalanta (DWDLL)
Ones to watch
Inter Milan: Romelu Lukaku
Romelu Lukaku is enjoying a debut season in Serie A and has proven to be the effective striker Antonio Conte knew he would be. The 26-year-old Belgian marksman goes into this game in fine form having scored four goals across his last two league outings.
Key stat: Only Ciro Immobile (19) has scored more Serie A goals than Romelu Lukaku (14).
Atalanta: Robin Gosens
Gosens’ recent performances at left-back/left wing-back are said to have attracted the attention of Chelsea and it remains to be seen whether the German full-back is still with Atalanta when they resume their Champions League campaign next month. Such speculation adding to Gosen’s ever-enhancing reputation, not least among traders on Football Index.
“Robin Gosens from Atalanta has shot up nearly 50% to start the year with a lot of transfer speculation surrounding him as he continues to impress,” Football Index told Squawka.
“He started the year at £0.76 and is now £1.06 and that could go much higher should a move to Chelsea happen.”
Gosen, who is averaging 1.89 chances created per 90 minutes, will no doubt be a source of trouble for Inter this weekend.
Key stat: Only Paolo Ghiglione and Rafael Tolói (5) have created more goals by a Serie A defender than Robin Gosens (4).
Team news
Inter Milan
Antonio Conte will definitely be without the suspended pair Milan Skriniar and Nicolò Barella this weekend. Danilo D’Ambrosio and Kwadwo Asamoah are both ruled out for the Serie A leaders through injury.
Predicted XI: Handanovic; De Vrij, Bastoni, Godín; Candreva, Gagliardini, Vecino, Brozovic, Biraghi; Lukaku, Martínez.
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Atalanta
Gian Piero Gasperini has no players unavailable when he takes Atalanta to Milan on Serie A matchday 19. He’s expected to make few changes from the side that humbled Parma 5-0 last time out though Duván Zapata is pushing for a start.
Predicted XI: Sportiello; Tolói, Djimsiti, Palomino; Hateboer, Freuler, De Roon, Gosens; Gómez, Ilicic, Muriel.
Squawka prediction
Inter Milan are on a 11-match unbeaten streak (eight wins and three draws) and they will be confident of extending on Saturday evening. The reason behind that is La Dea’s recent troubles on the road: one defeat across their last five Serie A away trips.
