Inter Milan remained at the summit of Serie A on Sunday after grinding out a crucial 1-0 win away at Atalanta, a result that underlined both their resilience and growing confidence in a tight title race. Lautaro Martinez scored the decisive goal in Bergamo to ensure Inter kept a narrow one point advantage over city rivals AC Milan, who responded with a dominant 3-0 victory over Verona earlier in the day.
The win was far from straightforward for Inter. Atalanta pushed hard throughout an intense contest and created chances that could easily have changed the outcome. However, Martinez once again delivered when it mattered most, extending his impressive scoring run and reinforcing his importance to Simone Inzaghi’s side.
Martinez’s goal was his ninth of the league campaign and his fourth in as many Serie A matches. It capped a strong personal turnaround after what he described as a physically demanding period. Reflecting on his recent struggles, the Inter captain said, “I ended last season in a lot of pain… I kept going during the Club World Cup and international duty and I had a very short summer break.” Despite those challenges, he has now scored 15 league goals across the calendar year and is playing with renewed sharpness.
The match itself was finely balanced. Both teams saw goals ruled out for offside, with Marcus Thuram and Charles De Ketelaere denied at key moments. Nicolo Barella also passed up a golden chance for Inter shortly after Atalanta goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi kept out a dangerous effort from Luis Henrique. Atalanta continued to threaten, but a costly mistake proved decisive.
Berat Djimsiti conceded possession just outside his own penalty area, allowing Martinez to pounce. The Argentine rifled a left footed strike past Carnesecchi, giving Inter a lead they would not relinquish. From that moment, Atalanta faced a steep uphill battle and ultimately suffered only their second home defeat of the season.
Despite the loss, there were positives for Atalanta. Since Raffaele Palladino replaced Ivan Juric last month, the team has shown signs of improvement. They currently sit 10th in the table, five points adrift of the European qualification places. Their performance against Inter suggested progress, even if the result did not reflect it. They came agonisingly close to a late equaliser, but Lazar Samardzic slipped at a crucial moment when presented with a clear chance by De Ketelaere in the final minutes.
How did AC Milan respond in the title race?
AC Milan ensured Inter’s lead at the top remained slender by producing an authoritative display at the San Siro. A 3-0 win over Verona extended their unbeaten league run to 15 matches and kept them firmly in the hunt for the Scudetto. The standout figure was Christopher Nkunku, who finally broke his Serie A scoring drought in emphatic fashion.
Nkunku doubled Milan’s advantage two minutes after the restart with a penalty he had won himself, ending a league goal drought that dated back to February during his time at Chelsea. Five minutes later, he tapped in his second of the night to put the result beyond doubt. It was a significant moment for the 28 year old, whose only previous goal for Milan since his August move from Chelsea had come in the Italian Cup against Lecce.
Christian Pulisic set the tone just before half time, continuing his outstanding form with his eighth Serie A goal in 11 appearances. Despite missing around a month of the campaign through injury, Pulisic has now been involved in 50 league goals since joining Milan in 2023, highlighting his consistency and influence.
For Verona, the defeat was a setback after recent wins against Atalanta and Fiorentina. They remain in the relegation zone, two points behind Genoa, who have a game in hand against Roma.
What does Napoli’s win mean for the top three?
Napoli also kept pace near the top with a convincing 2-0 win away at Cremonese, a result that leaves the reigning champions two points behind Inter in third place. Fresh from lifting the Italian Super Cup in Saudi Arabia, Napoli looked sharp and composed from the opening whistle.
Rasmus Hojlund continued his impressive form, taking his all competitions tally for Napoli to nine. He opened the scoring in the 13th minute after reacting quickest to a deflection, finishing from close range. Just before half time, he struck again, calmly converting after Alessio Zerbin redirected Matteo Politano’s cross into his path.
Hojlund has now scored six times in 12 Serie A appearances, already surpassing his output from his entire Premier League campaign with Manchester United last season. Reflecting on his development, the Denmark striker said, “I’m getting better every season. Obviously when I was at Atalanta I was a bit younger and I’ve got a bit more experience now. I’ve played in the Premier League and in the Champions League and I’m playing with very good players now.”
Elsewhere, Bologna’s inconsistent run continued as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Sassuolo, leaving them seventh and without a win in four league matches.
As the season progresses, the margins at the top of Serie A remain tight. Inter’s ability to grind out results under pressure, Milan’s attacking depth, and Napoli’s renewed momentum are setting the stage for a compelling title race that shows no signs of slowing down.
By Yockshard Enyendi