Sports Mole previews Tuesday’s Coppa Italia clash between Inter Milan and Atalanta BC, including predictions, team news and possible line-ups.
A place in the Italian Cup the semi-finals will be in play when the holders InterMilan be the host of Atalanta BC tuesday.
Inter have lost just one of their last nine matches in all competitions, while Atalanta are unbeaten in six competitive matches.
Match preview
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Inter have already added a trophy to their collection this season, winning the Italian Super Cup earlier this month with a comfortable 3-0 win over rivals AC Milan in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
They earned their place in the Super Cup by winning the Coppa Italia last year, and they are looking to win the cup competition in consecutive seasons, which they achieved in the 2009-10 and 2010-11 campaigns.
After suffering a surprise loss to Empoli, Simone InzaghiThe side returned to winning ways last weekend, earning a narrow 2-1 away win against Cremonese thanks to a Lautaro Martinez spacer.
Victory leaves Inter in second place, but with 13 points separating them from league leaders Napoli, they will recognize that the Coppa Italia and the Champions League represent their best hopes of earning more silverware this season.
Inter have already beaten Atalanta in the current campaign, recording a 3-2 away league win when the two sides met in November, and having progressed to the last four of the Coppa Italia in each of the last three seasons they will be confident. secure their place in the semi-finals.
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Atalanta ended 2022 with four defeats in five games, but they have returned to their best form since the winter break, embarking on a six-game unbeaten streak in all competitions.
Impressive, Gian Piero GasperiniThe team scored 22 goals in that six-game span, where they recorded four wins and two draws.
The Dea also managed to keep their first clean sheet since October this weekend, with goals from Joakim Maehle and Ademola Lookman guiding them to a 2-0 win at home to Sampdoria.
Atalanta are currently well positioned in fourth place but will put their quest for Champions League qualification on hold to focus on the Coppa Italia as they dream of winning the competition a second time after winning the trophy in 1963 .
Although they were knocked out by Fiorentina in the quarter-finals last season, Atalanta have reached the semi-finals in three of the last five seasons.
Form of Inter Milan Coppa Italia:
Inter Milan form (all competitions):
Atalanta BC Coppa Italia form:
Atalanta BC form (all competitions):
Team News
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Marcelo Brozovic has returned to training following a calf problem, and while he shouldn’t be risked against Atalanta, he could enter the matchday squad for Sunday’s Milan derby.
Veteran Guardian Samir Handanovic has been out in recent games with a leg injury but could be fit enough to take a place on the bench.
After missing the victory over Cremonese by suspension, Milan Skriniar and Nicholas Barella should be in the starting lineup.
As for visitors, Jose Luis Palomino and Davide Zappacosta must miss due to leg and hamstring injuries respectively.
Berat Djimsiti replaced the injured Palomino in the backline against Sampdoria, and the Albania international is expected to retain his place in the squad, with Gasperini set to name an unchanged line-up.
Lookman will operate in the final third for Atalanta, and he will be looking to continue his impressive form having scored seven goals in Atalanta’s last four matches in all competitions.
Inter Milan’s possible starting line-up:
Onana; Skriniar, Acerbi, Bastoni; Darmian, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Dzeko, Martinez
Possible starting line-up of Atalanta BC:
Musso; Toloi, Djimsiti, Scalvini; Hateboer, De Roon, Koopmeiners, Maehle; Lookman, Boga; Hojlund
We say: Inter Milan 2-2 Atalanta BC
Atalanta are in the mood to score for free and we expect them to continue their impressive form in front of goal against Inter.
However, having conceded at least two goals in each of their last three competitive away games, they may struggle to keep Inter at bay, and while we have an entertaining game that will finish level after 90 minutes, we think the hosts will edge out Atalanta on top of that. -time.
For a data analysis of the most likely outcomes, scores and more for this match, please click here.
