Inter Milan's joy was short-lived at the top of Serie A since Atalanta remained on its throne by snatching a draw against Lazio (1-1) on Saturday during the 18th day. But Bergamo stopped at eleven consecutive victories in the Italian Championship, coming very close to ending its historic year 2024 with a defeat: while it has not lost since September 24, the “Dea”, winner of the Europa League last May, the second title in its long history, has long suffered the law of Lazio at the Olympic Stadium in Rome.
Brescianini's entry saved Bergamo
Perfectly launched in the axis by the Argentinian Taty Castellanos, the Nigerian Fisayo Dele-Bashiru opened the scoring in the 27th minute. But Atalanta woke up in the second half and logically equalized in the 88th minute thanks to Marco Brescianini, who entered shortly before.
Atalanta remains in the lead with its 41 points, one more than Inter who dislodged it from the leader's chair for three hours after its 3-0 victory at Cagliari. After this fifth consecutive victory, the reigning champion totals 40 points, only one point ahead.
But Atalanta, who have won their last eleven Serie A matches, can return to the lead on Saturday evening (8:45 p.m.) if they beat Lazio or draw at the Olympic Stadium in Rome.
Inter accelerate in the second half
For its last match of the year, Inter showed a long labored face in the first period, before logically taking the upper hand but without shining on Cagliari after returning from the locker room.
Italian international Alessandro Bastoni opened the scoring in the 53rd minute with a lofted header which surprised the Sardinian goalkeeper. Argentinian Inter captain Lautaro Martinez doubled the lead in the 71st minute for his first league goal in almost two months. Hakan Calhanoglu brought the score to 3-0 on a penalty (78th) and definitively knocked out Cagliari which remains in a precarious position (18th, 14 pts).
In the other matches, Genoa won at Empoli (1-2) and Parma won on the wire against Monza (2-1).
