Tuesday, October 25, 2011

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26.10. (Wed) 20:45 Atalanta - Inter

Thiago Motta - Inter (Getty Images)
Getty Images

PROBABLE LINEUPS

ATALANTA

Consigli
Masiello, Capelli, Lucchini, Peluso
Schelotto, Cigarini, Padoin, Bonaventura
Moralez
Denis
INTER

Julio CesarMaicon, Lucio, Chivu, Nagatomo
Zanetti, Motta, Stankovic
SneijderZarate, Milito
Atalanta have made quite a stir since returning to Serie A this season, winning four out of seven matches and, even more impressively, would be joint second with Lazio if not for their six-point deduction.

Coach Stefano Colantuono has a settled squad at his disposal for the visit of Inter, with Adriano Ferreira Pinto and Thomas Manfredini being the hosts' only absentees, meaning they should be unchanged from the side that beat Parma 2-1 on Sunday.

Meanwhile for their Milanese opponents, Claudio Ranieri is forced to manage without squad members Andrea Ranocchia, Andrea Poli, Philippe Coutinho, Diego Forlan and Walter Samuel , who are all out with various injuries.

However, the ex-Roma boss will have been extremely pleased by the way his team dug out an important three points against Chievo at the weekend, and will look to sustain their new-found form by promoting Diego Milito and Dejan Stankovic to the line-up, in favour of Esteban Cambiasso and Giampaolo Pazzini.

DID YOU KNOW?

  • Atalanta have won just one of their last 12 meetings with Inter, but the Coppa Italia holders have been victorious only once in their last four visits to Bergamo.
  • The hosts have lost just once this season; a 3-1 reverse at Roma, and remain unbeaten at home so far, winning two and drawing one.
  • Argentine pair German Denis and Maxi Moralez have scored eight of Atalanta's 10 league goals this season, bagging four each.
  • Meanwhile, Inter have lost three of their last four trips away from home this campaign, with the win at Bologna the only exception.
  • In addition, they have conceded in all of their last nine Serie A fixtures away from home.
  • The last six Serie A meetings between these sides have been fiery encounters, with three red cards being brandished; two for Atalanta and one for Inter.

Prediction
It should be a tight encounter in northern Italy, with a share of the spoils arguably the most expected outcome. However, there is potential for a free-flowing exhibition at the Azzurri d'Italia, with both sides possessing some of the league's most creative players in the final third, so it remains to be seen how effectively their supply lines are serviced.
Editor's Prediction
Atalanta 1-1 Inter Milan