As Serie A approaches the midpoint of this season, 2025-26, the scene is set for one of the most awaited encounters in the league, which takes place in Bergamo. Atalanta readies itself for the challenge posed by Inter Milan, as the visitors, in this case, are expected to take advantage, but one would see that the challenge is one that tests not just passion but also prestige. This is an opportunity for Atalanta to prove this second-half surge with Raffaele Palladino and relaunch themselves among Italy’s best. Inter, who are league leaders and are constantly in contention for title honors, have yet another chance to prove their dominance, and with this team, it has been nothing short of ruthless.
Key Match Details
- Competition: Serie A - Match 17
- Date: 28th Dec 2025
- Time: 19:45 (UTC)
- Location: Gewiss Stadium, Bergamo
Atalanta: Pumping the Brakes, Getting back to Square One
The story of Atalanta in this season has focused on getting back to square one, re-evaluating who they are, and how to come back from the loss of a season, which led to making changes to the coaching staff and re-evaluating the team's philosophy. Over the past month, they have recorded five wins and two losses in all competitions, an improvement in their overall play. They have been consistently playing well offensively; however, they have also returned to being very solid in their defensive approach. In their last asphalt game, Atalanta dominated possession with 71%, displayed good patience in the build-up phase of the game, and continued to put pressure on Genoa until they could finally score via Isak Hien's last-minute header. It was not a very good goal by any means, but more importantly, it extended their goal-scoring streak to six games, during which they have scored 12 goals and conceded only five goals.
Now ninth in the table with 22 points, the pressure is off Atalanta, who are no longer looking over their shoulder but edging closer to the European conversation, sitting just a handful of points off the top six. Home form has quietly improved, too, with them being unbeaten in their last two league matches at the Gewiss Stadium, a venue that traditionally thrives on atmosphere and momentum. Yet, for all the optimism, there was an elephant in the room: Inter Milan. Atalanta had not beaten the Nerazzurri in the league in their last 13 attempts—a streak that has loomed over this fixture like some sort of unshakable shadow.
Inter Milan: Control, Consistency, and Championship Calm
Inter Milan goes into Bergamo as the team to beat in Serie A. With 33 points from 16 matches, Cristian Chivu's team sits atop the standings, blending attacking efficiency with defensive maturity. Their recent Supercoppa exit on penalties at Bologna was disappointing, but that has done little to dent their league authority. The performance of Inter over their last half dozen games is quite impressive; 14 goals scored with only four conceded. They have been especially formidable on the road, as they remain unbeaten in their last three away matches and have won seven of their last ten away contests. Inter is adept at both controlling the pace of the game, absorbing pressure, and then capitalizing on any opportunities that present themselves.
Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram are forming one of the most effective partnerships among European players. Martinez has scored or assisted against Atalanta numerous times, while the midfield led by Hakan Calhanoglu and Nicolo Barella allows for continued dominion during the transitions of play, and Alessandro Bastoni is the leader amongst those on defense withholding any urgency. Importantly, Inter have shown a definitive superiority over Atalanta in all their head-to-head competitions. They have won eight consecutive matches against Atalanta, recorded four clean sheets over the last four meetings, and captured score lines that reflect that of a controlled game rather than a disorganized match—thus, this match will provide Inter the opportunity to showcase their superiority.
Tactical Formations and Key Missing Players
Atalanta plans to use Palladino's favorite 3-4-2-1 formation, which prioritizes width and free-flowing movements on the pitch through the spaces between the lines. With both Adelma Lookman and Odilon Kossounou missing the match, the creativity of Atalanta’s style will rely on both Charles De Ketelaere and Daniel Maldini playing behind Gianluca Scamacca. The presence of a strong target man (the body of an Italian striker) and an improved capability with linking with teammates should be highlighted, especially because Atalanta’s opponent (Inter's three-back formation) plays a 3-back system.
Without wingbacks such as Raul Bellanova and Mitchel Bakker, Atalanta may not be able to stretch the field on a regular basis. As such, Davide Zappacosta and Lorenzo Bernasconi must find the right balance between being solid defensively while still providing the necessary width for an attack. Inter will stick with their standard 3-5-2 formation, despite not having Denzel Dumfries and Francesco Acerbi, as Coach Chivu has a lot of depth on his roster to enable him to rotate his players easily. Federico Dimarco's ability to provide attacking width and Hakan Çalhanoğlu's ability to control the game from the deeper areas of the field will prove invaluable to Inter’s success against Atalanta’s pressing style. Inter’s approach will aim to apply intense pressure through the center of the pitch, forcing players into losing possession of the ball, before looking to attack back into the wide areas of the pitch via quick vertical passes. Over the last three years, Inter has proved to be a difficult opponent for Atalanta using this approach.
Head-to-Head: One-Sided - Recent
The past does not support the local team much. Starting from May 2023, the Bergamo club has not achieved any win against Inter, having allowed 17 goals while scoring just three. It was a dominating 2-0 away win for Inter in the last league encounter in Bergamo, as goals from Augusto and Lautaro Martinez settled the score.
What is striking about these encounters is not only the attacking prowess that Inter boasts but also the defense that is unfazed under pressure. Atalanta seems unable to turn their possession advantage into threatening opportunities against Inter’s solid defense.
Players to Watch
- De Ketelaere (Atalanta): The Belgian forward who is speedy and has quick thinking has raised the spirits of Atalanta, and it will be his responsibility to discover the means to overcome the strong Inter backline.
- Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan): Martinez is always a threat in big games, and he scores goals with finesse and power. Martinez's pedigree against Atalanta makes him the most likely difference-maker in this game.
Prediction of Both Teams
Expect Atalanta to play aggressively in this matchup. They will use a pressing strategy, move the ball quickly, and use their home field advantage to gain energy from the crowd. Inter Milan is built to succeed in this type of environment. They play well without the ball, are accustomed to operating on the counter, and have a tactical organizational structure that works in all phases of play. Atalanta looks like they will be highly competitive and have the ability to score in this match; however, based on history and the superior management skills of Inter, the weight of history and superior game management cannot be overlooked. It will be a close contest that will ultimately be won by fine margins and either through one moment of exceptional quality or by one moment of lack of concentration and/or clinical finishing on the part of Inter.
- Final Prediction: Inter Milan by a score of 0–1
It will be a highly competitive and close match, where Inter's composure and ability to finish will ultimately be the difference-maker. This matchup between Atalanta and Inter Milan represents the match of the round in Serie A and is not only a meeting of two teams in great form, but it is also a test of the potential for momentum to finally create an opening for one team to disrupt the dominance of another, as has been the case historically.
