Internazionale 4-0 Atalanta: Lautaro Martinez strikes again as Nerazzurri extend Serie A lead to 12 points

Inter extended their lead at the top of Serie A to 12 points after they romped to a comfortable 4-0 home win against Atalanta.

Simone Inzaghi’s side are yet to drop a point since the turn of the year but almost found themselves a goal behind when Charles De Ketelaere slammed home after just 11 minutes.

The Milan loanee’s strike, though, was ruled out after a VAR check and the hosts took full advantage when Matteo Darmian opened the scoring with his first league goal of the season.

The hosts doubled their lead on the brink of half-time with Lautaro Martinez’s superb strike from the edge of the box and the Argentine had a chance to find his second shortly after the break when Hans Hateboer was adjudged to have handled the ball following another lengthy VAR check.

Martinez saw his effort saved by Marco Carnesecchi but Federico Dimarco was on hand to fire home the rebound before substitute Davide Frattesi headed home Alexis Sanchez’s cross to round off a superb night for the league leaders.

Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini must surely feel that, on another day, this game could have been awfully different for his side. Without a win in their last 10 games against Inter, Atalanta were in need of some luck away from home but received no help from the VAR officials.

De Ketelaere’s early goal was chalked off for what appeared a harsh handball call on Aleksey Miranchuk in the build-up, while Inter’s game changing third not only felt harsh on Hateboer, who seemed to move his hand away from Denzel Dumfries cross, but lenient on Dimarco who appeared to be in the penalty area as Martinez struck the subsequent penalty.

In the end, those tight calls may not have made the difference but few could begrudge the visitors if they felt slightly aggrieved with the decisions that went against them at San Siro.

Inter’s wing-backs are instrumental to their style of play under Inzaghi and there was no clearer display of that then in tonight’s victory. Dimarco got forward well down the left at every possible opportunity, whipping in five crosses as well as making one key pass and tormenting his opposite number, Hateboer, at every opportunity.

The Italian reacted well from Martinez’s missed penalty to slot home Inter’s crucial third goal after the break, meaning he now has 10 goal contributions for the season.

Inter: Sommer 7, Bastoni 7, De Vrij 7, Pavard 7, Dimarco 8, Mkhitaryan 6, Asllani 7, Barella 7, Darmian 8, Martínez 8, Arnautovic 6. Subs: Dumfries 7, Frattesi 7, Sanchez 7, Augusto 6, Klaassen 6.

Atalanta: Carnesecchi 7, Kolasinac 6, Djimsiti 6, Scalvini 6 Zappacosta 6, Ederson 7, Pasalic 6, Hateboer; Koopmeiners 5, De Ketelaere 6, Miranchuk 6. Subs: Adopo 6, Lookman 6, Hien 6, Bakker 5, Toure 6.

11′ DISALLOWED GOAL! A huge let off for Inter and Pavard as Atalanta have a goal ruled out. Pavard gifts the ball away to Pasalic trying to play out from the back and it’s De Ketelaere who strikes home past Sommer when the midfielder’s effort is initially saved. There is a VAR check, however, for a handball in the build-up. The referee heads to the monitor and the goal is ruled out due to a handball by Miranchuk. That looked harsh.

19′ OFFSIDE – Barella rounds Carnesecchi and slots home into the empty net but the linesman’s flag goes up shortly after and the Italian midfielder is clearly offside.

26′ GOAL! INTER 1-0 ATALANTA (DARMIAN) – The hosts hit the front as Darmian slots home! Martinez slides through Mkhitaryan with a superbly weighted pass and although Carnesecchi is quick off his line to prevent that chance, he can do nothing to stop the onrushing wing-back from slotting into the empty net from the edge of the box.

40′ OFF THE BAR! Another great chance for Inter to double their lead after Pasalic is caught in possession on the edge of his own box. The loose ball falls to Martinez but his half-volley grazes the top of the crossbar before going over.

45+2′ GOAL! INTER 2-0 ATALANTA (MARTINEZ) – The hosts double their lead on the stroke of half-time with a goal out of nothing! Pavard slides it across to Martinez on the edge of the box who shimmies to the left of Hateboer before unleashing a wonderful left-footed strike past Carnesecchi and into the top corner.

54′ GOAL! INTER 3-0 ATALANTA (DIMARCO) – Martinez’s penalty is saved but Dimarco slams in the rebound! It’s a good save from Carnesecchi but he can do nothing to prevent the wing-back’s follow-up strike. There is a quick check but the Italian is deemed to be outside the area when Martinez strikes the kick.

71′ GOAL! INTER 4-0 ATALANTA (FRATTESI) – Frattesi’s nods home at the near post and Inter have a fourth! Sanchez takes the free-kick quickly, dinking the ball towards the near post where Frattesi is on hand to head past Carnesecchi.