The third round of the Italian Serie A offers a thrilling encounter as the defending champions, Inter Milan, host Atalanta on Friday, 30th August 2024, at the iconic Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, commonly known as San Siro, in Milan. This fixture promises to be a captivating clash between two top-tier teams with a history of delivering exciting football.

Inter Milan, coming off a strong start to the season, will be eager to continue their momentum and showcase why they are the reigning champions. Their recent victory against Lecce, even in the absence of Lautaro Martínez, has underlined their depth and determination. Facing Atalanta, a team known for its dynamic and attacking style of play, will be a significant test for Inter’s title defense.

On the other hand, Atalanta will come into this match with their own ambitions, aiming to disrupt Inter’s early-season form and establish themselves as strong contenders in the league. Matches between these two sides are often tightly contested, with plenty of action, making this an exciting fixture for football fans.

San Siro will be the perfect stage for this early-season showdown, with both teams eager to prove their credentials and set the tone for the rest of the campaign.

As they prepare for the upcoming match against Atalanta, this victory will serve as a confidence boost. The team will likely draw on this experience, knowing they can perform under pressure and without relying solely on one player. Their desire to maintain such high-level performances will be crucial as they face tougher opponents like Atalanta, who are known for being a challenging side.

Atalanta had a dream start to the 2024\25 season as they ran past their opponent in the opening fixture in a grand style as they set off for the new campaign thanks to the brace from Brescianini M. and Retegui M. to give Atalanta a 4-0 win in the opening fixture of the league. Things did not go as planned in their second fixture against Torino as they could not walk past their host and had to return home empty-handed as they lost the match 2-1 to Torino. Despite losing the game, Atalanta have some positivity ahead of their match with Inter Milan. However, Torino will have Milinkovic-Savic, their goal keeper, to thank for the many important saves in the match to give them a win, especially the penalty save to keep their winning alive till the final whistle.

In both legs of this fixture last season, Inter had an amazing outing as they had the whole 3 points to themselves on both occasion. In the second leg, they cruised past Atalanta with a 4-0 win. This is what Atalanta would not want to see repeated this season. They would be all out to get back to winning ways. Atalanta will be up for a very difficult ride if they want to grab a win in this fixture. They are up against a team they have not won in their last 12 outings with draw being their best result. Their last win over Inter in all competitions came on the 11th of November 2018 in a 4-1 victory at home over Inter Milan. San Siro has not been a good venue for them, whether against Inter Milan or AC Milan. Of Atalanta’s 51 visits to San Siro either with AC Milan or Inter Milan, they have lost 23 matches, drawn 17 matches, and won 11 matches. It will be a massive work when they meet Inter Milan there again this weekend for match day 3 of the Italian Serie A.

Of the 53 meetings between these two clubs, Atlanta has won 9 matches and drawn 15 matches while Inter Milan has won 29 matches. Atalanta seem not to be a match for their opponent as long as this tie is concerned as statistically shown. However, their outing in the first 2 matches of the season have shown how dangerous they can be in attack, but they are up against a very defensive side. Inter has shown how good they can be in both attacking and defending positions. For Atalanta, sticking to their strategy while facing a formidable side like Inter Milan will be a massive challenge. Inter’s tactical flexibility, combined with their ability to adapt even without key players, means Atalanta will need to be at their very best to secure a favorable result.

Despite all the preparation and planning, football’s unpredictable nature is what makes it so captivating. The outcome of this fixture, like any in the sport, is never guaranteed, which is why it’s so exciting. Inter Milan vs. Atalanta is a match that promises not just quality football but also the kind of drama and intensity that keeps fans on the edge of their seats.

It’s definitely a game you won’t want to miss, any outcome is possible, and that’s the beauty of football!

Best tip: Inter Milan to score

Correct score: 2-1