Inter Milan showcased their dominance with a stunning 4-0 victory over Atalanta in a thrilling Serie A showdown. Discover the highlights and key moments.
Introduction: Dominance since the First Whistle
In a dominant display at the San Siro, Inter Milan defeated Atalanta 4-0 in their Serie A match on Matchday 3 of the 2024-2025 season. Right from the first whistle, Inter meant business and never gave Atalanta the remotest glimpse of getting into their rhythm. This win keeps Inter right at the top and sends a statement to the other title hopefuls.
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Early Pressure Pays Off Immediately
Inter didn’t take any time to show who the bosses were. The Nerazzurri opened the score in the 3rd minute of the match thanks to an own goal from Atalanta’s Berat Djimsiti. Under pressure from Inter’s attacking front, Djimsiti misjudged the cross and sent the ball past his own goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi for an early lead.
In six minutes, Inter doubled their lead. The ball came out to Nicolo Barella, on the edge of the box, in an almost musically choreographed attack. It was met with precision and power as Barella unleashed a low drive into the bottom corner, giving Carnesecchi no chance. The actual rapid-fire start from Inter sent Atalanta tumbling, barely coping with the unrelenting pressure.
Thuram Shines in Lethal Attack
The dominance of Inter spilled into the second half, with Marcus Thuram continuously proving influential. The in-form French forward in this campaign extended his goal haul with a double. First, he had just three minutes of the restart as he capitalized on the defensive lapse of Atalanta. Thuram pounced on a loose ball inside the box and calmly slotted it past Carnesecchi to make it 3-0.
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A second, and Inter’s fourth, for Thuram was to come in the 56th minute. A pacey counter-attack saw Inter break down the pitch, and Thuram was the instigator. A couple of passes later, Thuram found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper and coolly finished to seal the game beyond any doubt.
Tactical Masterclass by Simone Inzaghi
Simone Inzaghi proved to be wiser tactically from the very beginning of this match. Playing in a 3-5-2 setup, Inter absolutely bossed the midfield and used those spaces that Atalanta left open in their press. His two wing-backs, Matteo Darmian and Federico Dimarco, proved two shrewd decisions as both players gave width and kept putting dangerous crosses inside the box.
Hakan Çalhanoğlu and Henrikh Mkhitaryan led the play with class deep in midfield, while Barella’s tireless running and creative spark allowed Inter to move up a notch in attack. The back three of Benjamin Pavard, Francesco Acerbi, and Alessandro Bastoni were solid; nullifying Atalanta’s attacking threats and ensuring a clean sheet was maintained.
Atalanta’s Struggles: A Night to Forget
Atalanta, normally known for their attacking flair under Gian Piero Gasperini, were oddly so repressed. The Bergamo-based side showed little wit in finding a way past Inter’s better-organized backline and, on the whole, was often resigned to speculative long-range efforts. Forwards for Atalanta, including summer signing Mateo Retegui, were left in some isolation and did nothing of major value.
Gasperini made tactical changes in the second half, which included the introductions of Rafael Toloi and Charles De Ketelaere, but little changed in the direction of the game. The frustration showed on the part of Atalanta with bookings for Marten de Roon and Retegui.
Substitutions and Squad Depth
The strength in depth at Inter was evidenced by the caliber of their bench. He also made a few changes in the second half with Davide Frattesi, Kristjan Asllani, Mehdi Taremi, and Marko Arnautović coming in. Each substitution fitted well within the structure of the team and kept the intensity and control of the performance by Inter.
The introduction of fresh legs, with Carlos Augusto for Bastoni in defense, with Frattesi and Asllani in midfield, gave new energy to Inter. Taremi and Arnautović were other seasoned forwards introduced into the game as Inter continued to forge forward.
Key Moments and Turning Points
3rd Minute: Inter opened the game with an early lead from an own goal by Djimsiti, setting the trend for the rest of the match.
9′: Nicolo Barella’s classy finish doubled Inter’s lead, leaving Atalanta behind the eight ball.
48′, 56′: A clinical brace by Marcus Thuram sealed matters for Inter and underlined his importance to the team.
Player Performances: Standout Stars
Marcus Thuram: He was the standout performer with two well-taken goals that showed his composure and finishing ability. His pace and movement were constant threats to the Atalanta rear guard.
Nicolo Barella: The goal from Barella and his general contribution in midfield was very important for Inter’s dominance. He was able to break up play and instigate attacks effectively.
Hakan Çalhanoğlu: Çalhanoğlu’s range of passing and vision was in full flow, as he dictated the rhythm of the game from the center of the park.
Final Thoughts: A Statement Win for Inter
This was a statement of intent from the Nerazzurri as they achieved a comprehensive 4-0 victory over Atalanta. The result underlined not only their title credentials but also spoke to the depth and quality within Simone Inzaghi’s squad. Key players hitting top gear, with most tactical strategies bearing fruition, mean that Inter is really ready to challenge for top honors come this season.
Atalanta now need to regroup and take a peek at the deficiencies highlighted in this game. Still a great team, but today, it was an important lesson-a reminder that margins are minimal in Serie A, where one poor start can prove costly.
Conclusion
It was a tactical clinic coupled with its execution as Inter Milan hosted Atalanta. The early goals set the stage, and the relentless pressure applied by the team meant Atalanta never got a chance to get back into the match. As this season wears on, Inter will hope this win is one on which to build momentum, while defeat here is one that Atalanta must learn from if they are to have any hope of competing in Serie A.