Atalanta-Inter: 0-0 - Serie A 2021/2022. Final result and commentary from the game

Where the match is played:
Stadium: Gewiss Stadium
City: Bergamo
Capacity for: 26724 people20:05

Hello! Welcome to our live text commentary on this Serie A match between Atalanta and Inter at Gewiss Stadium.20:05

The latest weekend of Serie A action ends with fourth-placed Atalanta hosting league leaders Inter. Atalanta are on track for another top-four finish but need to improve their home form having picked up just 12 points at Gewiss Stadium so far this season. With Juventus breathing down their necks, the side from Bergamo can't afford to be soft touches, especially on their own turf.20:18

Defending Serie A champions Inter enjoyed a late Supercoppa Italiana win over Juventus midweek and could extend their lead at the top of the table to four points with a win here. Simone Inzaghi's team are one of only two sides in Europe's top five leagues to have scored in all of their league games so far this season. As things stand they look in good shape to retain their title.20:22

ATALANTA (3-4-3): Juan Musso; Merih Demiral, Jose Luis Palomino, Berat Djimsiti; Remo Freuler (c), Marten de Roon, Teun Koopmeiners, Giuseppe Pezzella; Matteo Pessina, Luis Muriel, Mario Pasalic.20:24

SUBS: Aleksey Miranchuk, Marco Sportiello, Giorgio Cittadini, Roberto Piccoli, Simone Panada, Federico Zuccon, Davide Zappacosta, Giorgio Scalvini, Francesco Rossi.20:24

INTER (3-5-2): Samir Handanovic (c); Danilo D'Ambrosio, Milan Skriniar, Alessandro Bastoni; Matteo Darmian, Nicolo Barella, Marcelo Brozovic, Hakan Calhanoglu, Ivan Perisic; Edin Dzeko, Alexis Sanchez.20:26

SUBS: Federico Dimarco, Denzel Dumfries, Lautaro Martinez, Aleksandar Kolarov, Roberto Gagliardini, Stefan de Vrij, Arturo Vidal, Stefano Sensi, Matias Vecino, Ionut Radu, Andrea Ranocchia, Joaquin Correa.20:27

There are three changes to Atalanta from their 2-0 victory over Venezia in the Coppa Italia a few days ago. Djimsiti, De Roon and Pasalic return to the starting 11.20:29

Inter also make three changes to their starting line-up following their dramatic 2-1 victory in the Supercoppa. D'Ambrosio and Darmian come in for De Vrij and Dumfries. Sanchez, who scored the winner in the last kick of that game, also starts ahead of Martinez.20:33

Inter are unbeaten in their last six Serie A meetings with Atalanta, who have a lower win percentage against these opponents than any other side under Gasperini. However, Atalanta and Inter have both recorded two wins from their last eight league matches here in Bergamo, drawing four of those. Will the Nerazzurri march on, or can La Dea take advantage of any Inter fatigue?20:38

Inter, playing in their white away kit, get things underway! Atalanta are wearing their usual black and blue home colours.20:46

The game gets off to a feisty start as Pezzella shoves Darmian off the ball in Inter's half. Atalanta are playing a high pressing game.20:48

Inter are seeing plenty of the ball but haven't been able to get very far up the pitch yet. Atalanta are swarming all over them as soon as they approach the halfway line.20:50

Atalanta eventually pressure Inter into ceding possession. Freuler holds up the ball well to earn the hosts a throw-in down their right.20:52

Atalanta get caught in transition and Darmian crosses in from the right. Palomino spots the danger and carries the ball away from his keeper Musso before an Inter forward can get a sniff of it.20:53

Atalanta earn the first corner of the game down their left. Skriniar can only head the ball behind him and out for another corner. This one bounces harmlessly out of play.20:54

Inter slip up in midfield and Atalanta counter! Unfortunately Pessina can't find the right pass to send Muriel free on goal.20:56

Koopmeiners muscles his opponent off the ball to send Atalanta forward. Freuler's speculative shot from the edge of the box clatters against an Inter defender.21:03

Muriel can't get his feet together in time to test Handanovic as his teammates find him in the box. Atalanta have started this game with typical energy.21:02

Inter manage to beat Atalanta's press to progress down their right. Dzeko leaps up to nod a high cross wide of the right-hand post.21:02

Inter are finding it hard to enjoy any time on the ball at all. They're resorting to direct passes which go nowhere. On the latest occasion that Atalanta force a turnover, Muriel darts across the face of the box and the hosts have another shot blocked.21:06

Inter have had 63 per cent of possession, but only 11 per cent of the game has been played in Atalanta's defensive third. The visitors are being pinned.21:15

Atalanta are unhappy as the referee blocks one of their passes near the centre circle. Muriel carries the ball towards the byline and wins his team a corner.21:09

The corner's cleared ably by Inter. Pezzella just manages to keep a loose pass in play. Inter break upfield and Sanchez is dispossessed in the box by Demiral. The Chilean is offside anyway.21:11

Chance for Inter! Muriel is dispossessed in his own half and Sanchez takes the opportunity to lash the ball at Musso to earn his team a corner. Muriel remonstrates with the referee as he feels he should have had more protection.21:13

Atalanta see out the corner, but Inter are gaining confidence. The visitors put an end to La Dea's latest attack down their left.21:14

Atalanta still aren't giving Inter much room to play in. Handanovic goes long and promptly gives the ball away.21:17

Freuler catches Barella in Inter's half but no free-kick is given. Dzeko gets a rare opportunity to dribble towards the penalty area and forces a corner.21:18

While Barella is off the pitch receiving treatment, Calhanoglu takes the corner. It's a poor effort that goes straight out for a goal-kick.21:19

Inter are getting more impatient. Dzeko blazes into the stands from just outside the box. He raises a hand in apology to his teammates.21:20

Atalanta earn a free-kick in Inter's half. It ends in Inter winning a free-kick of their own which they take quickly to no avail.21:21

Bastoni drifts inside from the left and gets taken out by De Roon. A yellow card is the Dutchman's reward.21:22

From the free-kick Inter cross the ball into the box for Dzeko. The Bosnian can't keep his header down.21:23

Inter think they've bypassed Atalanta's backline with a clever backheel flick from Calhanoglu. Perisic is just unable to keep the ball in play to scamper down the left though.21:25

Chance for Atalanta! Handanovic gets down low to stop Pessina's header from Freuler's cross. Seconds later the hosts pass through Inter's midfield as if it isn't there and Muriel gets a shot off from inside the box. Inter make a vital block to prevent their goalkeeper from being tested again.21:29

Pasalic goes down in the box under a challenge. The referee waves a penalty appeal away. Brozovic is booked for a cynical tackle on Koopmeiners.21:29

Inter send another cross towards Dzeko from the left but it's nothing that Musso can't handle. They might need to change their approach at half-time.21:30

HALF-TIME: ATALANTA 0-0 INTER21:31

This game hasn't been of the highest quality but it has been high tempo. Atalanta have done a great job of unsettling Inter and pressuring them into making errors in their own half. However, Inter have had the best chances, most notably Sanchez's drive which Musso saved acrobatically. More to come!21:32

Inter have opened the scoring 16 times in Serie A this season, more often than any other team. They're looking to score in their 40th consecutive league game for what would be just the third time in Serie A history, but have been unsuccessful so far. Can the champions find a way of beating Atalanta's press in the second half?21:36

Atalanta get the second half going. No changes at half-time, apart from Barella now sporting a bandage on his nose.21:48

Atalanta start the second half brightly, forcing Handanovic into action right away. The Inter captain comfortably catches Freuler's drive from distance.21:51

Atalanta are knocking on the door! Handanovic slides in to block Pessina's effort from the centre of the box. The hosts get a corner which Muriel takes. It doesn't work out and Inter counter. Barella crosses towards the far post and Inter force a corner of their own.21:53

Dzeko is winning the aerial battle with Atalanta's defenders as he heads over another Inter cross. He looks Inter's likeliest source of a goal at present.21:54

Muriel approaches the corner of the box but has his run curtailed by Bastoni. The game's starting to open up a little more.21:55

De Roon puts an end to Inter's move down their left. Inter's attempt to play the ball forward again quickly breaks down. Koopmeiners skips into the box, slipping between Bastoni and Skriniar. He wants a penalty but won't get one.21:58

Musso grabs the ball inside the six-yard box when Inter bring it too close to him for comfort. Atalanta are no longer pinning Inter back as well as they did in the first half.22:00

Dzeko smashes the ball at Musso from the right of the box. The Atalanta keeper blocks the shot at his near post to hand Inter a corner.22:02

Atalanta get to the corner first and Muriel gallops forward. He almost picks out a teammate running free in the centre. Inter get back in time to intercept the pass.22:03

Koopmeiners yelps in pain as Calhanoglu scythes him down from behind near the touchline. Calhanoglu lands his name in the referee's book.22:05

Muriel's delivery from wide left isn't great. Inter clear. Atalanta still have the ball though. Pezzella's cutback is booted away.22:06

Barella latches onto a ball down the line and loops it across goal for one of his forward to chase. Atalanta get to it first.22:07

Dzeko powers down the left for Inter and hangs a dangerous cross towards the far post. Pezzella bravely clears it under pressure from Darmian, winning a free-kick in the process.22:11

Inter decide to make changes. Calhanoglu is hooked first. Vidal replaces him.22:11

Darmian also heads off for Inter. He's replaced at right wing-back by Dumfries.22:11

Sanchez is the last Inter player to leave the pitch for now. Correa is his replacement.22:10

Correa gets a sniff of an Inter cross into the box. He's not ready for it though, and it bounces off him safely into Musso's arms.22:12

Chance for Inter! It's that man Dzeko again. Dumfries nods a crossfield pass back across the face of goal, and the Bosnian powers a header over from inside the six-yard box. That might be Inter's best opportunity to break the deadlock yet.22:13

Atalanta enjoy a spell of possession for the first time in a while. Inter remain in no mood to let them get close to goal.22:16

Inter regain the ball and keep passing it around calmly. Handanovic stands still with it for several seconds before launching it forward. Atalanta's energy levels are definitely starting to dip.22:17

Inter are getting closer to scoring. Vidal unleashes a thunderbolt straight at Musso which the Atalanta keeper tips aside. D'Ambrosio's follow-up shot whistles over the crossbar.22:22

Atalanta make their first substitution of the match. Their Russian forward Miranchuk replaces Pessina. 22:21

Now it's Atalanta who nearly score! Pasalic's header from inside the six-yard box is deflected out for a corner by Dumfries. The corner comes in and Demiral heads over from it.22:23

Muriel is through on goal but can't beat Handanovic! Inter get caught upfield and Atalanta find the Colombian quickly. He beats Bastoni to the bouncing ball and only has Handanovic to beat, but the Slovenian gets down low to stop Muriel from finding the net.22:25

Atalanta's latest corner is comfortably defended by Inter. Demiral's sweeping shot from just inside the box whistles wide to the right. The way this game is going, it may well end with a winner.22:27

Inter make a few more changes. Martinez replaces Dzeko, who's unlucky to go off.22:26

Bastoni's game is also over. He's been caught out by Atalanta a few times. De Vrij replaces him for the last few minutes.22:27

Palomino picks up a late yellow card for stopping the run of Correa. 22:28

De Vrij heads well over from Barella's free-kick. Inter haven't played badly, but they've been a little flat after playing 120 minutes in the Supercoppa midweek.22:31

Atalanta substitution. The hardworking Muriel heads off. Piccoli takes his place up front.22:29

Handanovic is earning his keep here. Pasalic robs D'Ambrosio and blasts the ball towards goal from the left of the box. The Inter captain raises his hands to block the shot. Pasalic's follow-up is also kept out.22:31

This game has in part been a tale of two keepers. Correa gets a free-kick as he's stopped by Demiral. Inter take it quickly and D'Ambrosio wriggles free to the right of the box. It looks like Musso keeps the defender's shot out with his feet, but it might have gone just wide as a goal-kick is given.22:51

Atalanta decide to protect what they have. Zappacosta, a defender, comes on for Pasalic.22:36

Inter are still trying to break down Atalanta but the hosts are standing firm. They've been great value for a point. Vidal's shot from outside the box is blocked.22:38

Inter try one last time to unlock Atalanta's defence. Barella passes out wide to Dumfries who's strayed offside. And that's that!22:38

FULL-TIME: ATALANTA 0-0 INTER22:39

Atalanta have taken advantage of Inter's post-Supercoppa comedown to hold the champions to a draw. La Dea gave the Serie A leaders as good as they got, forcing Handanovic into action on several occasions. Inter took a while to get up to speed and were guilty of missing a few good chances. In the end they'll settle for a point.22:43

The draw means that Inter extend their lead over AC Milan at the top of Serie A to just two points instead of four. Inzaghi's men might consider the result a missed opportunity, as their goalscoring run ends at 39 games, but then again so might Atalanta. Gasperini's men stay a point above Juventus in fourth, missing the chance to leapfrog Napoli in third. 22:52

Inter return to Coppa Italia duty midweek, while Atalanta face Lazio next in the league. If either side wants to achieve their goals this season, they need to make sure they keep their momentum. That's all for now. Goodbye!22:50