Atalanta retained their Serie A lead on Saturday with a 1-1 draw in opposition to Lazio, halting their club-record 11-match league profitable streak however preserving Inter Milan at a distance.
Marco Brescianini tapped house into an open purpose with two minutes remaining to grab a degree from the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, the place a passionate crowd thought an enormous win was coming their method.
Instead, Atalanta will finish a historic yr a degree forward of Inter, who’ve a sport in hand, after the champions briefly drew degree on factors with a 3-0 win earlier at Cagliari.
Europa League holders Atalanta will lead the league even when Napoli beat Venezia on Sunday and draw degree on 41 factors with Gian Piero Gasperini’s aspect, who’ve a considerably higher purpose distinction than the 2023 champions.
Should two groups end degree on the prime of Serie A come the top of the season they may face off in a single match to resolve the vacation spot of the Scudetto, which Atalanta have by no means received.
“We struggled for long periods in the first half, but we were much better in the second,” mentioned Atalanta coach Gasperini.
“This year has been the best year in Atalanta’s history, let’s hope we can make 2025 the same.”
Atalanta confirmed nice character to battle again from Fisayo Dele-Bashiru’s Twenty seventh-minute purpose which got here in an intense opening interval from Lazio.
The away aspect had been initially blitzed by Lazio, with Marco Carnesecchi making two sensational stops earlier than Matteo Guendouzi curled an awesome strike off the publish within the eleventh minute.
But because the match wore on, Atalanta, who had been with out injured star striker Mateo Retegui, grew into the sport and deservedly drew degree in entrance of a boisterous and hostile crowd within the Italian capital.
Brescianini netted his third purpose of the season thanks largely to Ademola Lookman, who made up for earlier lacking from yards out by beating Lazio’s offside lure, assembly Nicolo Zaniolo’s hooked go and rolling throughout to his teammate to salvage a treasured level.
Next up, Atalanta journey to play the Italian Super Cup in Saudi Arabia, the place they may face Inter on Thursday.
Lautaro again in objectives
Lautaro Martinez ended an eight-match scoring drought at Cagliari, netting the second in a fascinating contest in Sardinia which Inter received with second-half objectives from the Argentina striker, Alessandro Bastoni and Hakan Çalhanoğlu.
Inter have received their final 5 in Italy’s prime flight, scoring 19 and conceding simply as soon as, a burst in kind which has re-established Inter as favorites to retain the Scudetto.
The solely factor lacking for Inter had been objectives from captain Martinez, who hadn’t scored since Nov. 3 earlier than he prodded house Nicolo Barella’s cross within the 71st minute on Saturday.
“The most important thing is that Inter win. If I get a goal too, then that’s a bonus,” mentioned Martinez.
“We work hard every day to win trophies and anyone who sets foot on the pitch will give their all for the team. We’ve just got to keep going and make 2025 like this year.”
Inter may have received by an much more convincing margin had captain Martinez not wasted nice probabilities in every half and Cagliari goalkeeper Simone Scuffet not pulled off very good saves to disclaim Marcus Thuram and Barella.
But Martinez did web his seventh purpose this season in all competitions and 7 minutes later Calhanoglu made completely positive of the factors from the penalty spot.
Cagliari are simply contained in the relegation zone after a fourth consecutive defeat for Davide Nicola’s aspect, a degree behind Verona and Como who each play on Monday.
Source: www.dailysabah.com