Inter Milan 4-0 Atalanta: League leaders cruise past visitors to extend lead at the top of the tablevisitors to extend lead at the top of the table

Inter Milan cruised to a 4-0 home win over Atalanta in Serie A on Wednesday, increasing their lead at the top of the standings to 12 points and moving closer to a 20th league title.

Inter, who have won all eight league games in 2024, have 69 points from 26 games, comfortably ahead of second-place Juventus (57) and rivals AC Milan (53).

"It's nice at the moment, but we know that it was in the past month that we've gained these 12 points to move ahead," coach Simone Inzaghi told a press conference. "We have to stay focused."

Defender Matteo Darmian put Inter ahead in the 26th minute with a low strike from the edge of the box, and Lautaro Martinez doubled the lead in first-half stoppage time with a powerful shot inside the left post.

Federico Dimarco scored Inter's third goal in the 54th minute, after Atalanta goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi saved Martinez's penalty, and Davide Frattesi nodded home an Alexis Sanchez free kick to seal the victory.

Europe-chasing Atalanta thought they had taken the lead in the 10th minute through Charles De Ketelaere, but his effort was ruled out due to a handball in the buildup after a VAR review.

After Alessandro Bastoni's excellent cross from inside his own half found Nicolo Barella offside, Darmian gave Inter the lead after Atalanta keeper Marco Carnesecchi made a mistake.

Martinez made a nice pass, and Carnesecchi was quicker to the ball than Henrikh Mkhitaryan. However, the goalkeeper released the ball on the edge of the box, and Darmian capitalised on his error by striking low into the net.

Martinez hit the crossbar shortly after, before scoring in first-half stoppage time from a Benjamin Pavard cross to double Inter's lead.

When Inter were awarded a penalty for handball after the break, the Argentine striker had the opportunity to score his second goal of the night.

Carnesecchi, on the other hand, denied him from the spot before Italy defender Dimarco made it 3-0 from the rebound, and Inter's Frattesi sealed the victory with a header in the 71st minute.

"In the second half I didn't even see it that bad," said Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini.

"Then we made a lot of changes and it became more of a training session than a match, it degenerated. The third goal I don't think it was a Serie A match."

Atalanta, who will host Sporting in the Europa League last 16 next week, are in fifth place with 46 points, two points behind Bologna.

SportsLigue