Preview: Inter Milan vs. Atalanta BC - prediction, team news, lineups

Both Lombardy clubs are battling for a top-four finish in Serie A, but Inter lead their visitors by four points with just two rounds remaining - leaving La Dea playing catch-up as the campaign nears its conclusion.

Match preview

Claiming their second consecutive Coppa Italia, Inter's win over Fiorentina on Wednesday took them one step closer to completing a cup treble of the Coppa, Supercoppa Italiana and - the final, most prestigious piece of the puzzle - the Champions League.

After falling behind after just three minutes at Rome's Stadio Olimpico, the Nerazzurri turned to star striker Lautaro Martinez for inspiration, and 'El Toro' duly scored twice as his side fought back for a 2-1 victory over the Viola.

Inter, of course, will play Manchester City in the Champions League decider next month, but between now and then they must focus on securing a return to Europe's top club competition for next season.

Despite losing 12 league games already - their fifth-highest total in history and worst tally for a decade - Simone Inzaghi's side sit third in the Serie A standings, following the latest installment of an ongoing saga at old foes Juventus.

While their Bianconeri counterparts have now been docked points again, the Nerazzurri have recently roared into form, with last week's 3-1 defeat to new champions Napoli being the only blot on a run of eight wins from nine games - and Inzaghi named a weakened side in Naples.

Ahead of Atalanta's arrival this weekend, Inter have scored seven goals across their last two Serie A home matches - as many as in their previous eight - and they will now aim to do the double over their regional rivals for the first time since 2015.

Beaten 3-2 by Inter in Bergamo when the clubs met in November's reverse fixture, Atalanta now make the short trip to Milan needing points to retain hope of a return to the Champions League, after missing out on Europe entirely this year.

Four points behind Saturday's hosts, they also trail Milan by three, so their fate in that regard is not in their own hands.

That they are still contenders is due to a run of four wins from their last six matches - as many as in their previous 12 - and after suffering back-to-back defeats earlier this month, Gian Piero Gasperini's men kept the flame flickering with a 3-1 victory over Verona last time out.

One of Europe's hottest properties, Rasmus Hojlund struck La Dea's third and final goal at the Gewiss Stadium, and due to Juve's points deduction and results elsewhere, that was enough to move up to fifth and well clear of eighth-placed Monza, who they host on the final day.

A spot in either the Europa League or Conference League would still come as welcome reward for Serie A's serial overachievers, and trends suggest that could ultimately be their fate: Atalanta have conceded goals in each of their last six games on the road and have also failed to score in five of their last eight meetings with Inter at San Siro.

Inter Milan Serie A form:

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Atalanta BC Serie A form:

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Team News

Having increasingly rotated his squad in recent weeks - and to good effect - Simone Inzaghi is set to make some more changes on Saturday, for Inter's final home fixture of the season.

In goal, Andre Onana should replace captain Samir Handanovic, who collected the Coppa Italia in midweek after being selected to face Fiorentina.

Edin Dzeko has scored nine goals against Atalanta in Serie A, including a brace in the reverse fixture, but both he and top scorer Lautaro Martinez - who trails leader Victor Osimhen by three goals in the Capocannniere race - could be rested; Romelu Lukaku and Joaquin Correa would then be promoted to the starting lineup.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Milan Skriniar are still ruled out by injury, while Roberto Gagliardini will be absent due to suspension after his red card against Napoli last weekend.

Atalanta, meanwhile, must deal with a much longer list of absentees, as Davide Zappacosta is struggling to overcome an ankle sprain and may have to join Matteo Ruggeri, Jose Luis Palomino, Brandon Soppy, Hans Hateboer and Duvan Zapata on the sidelines.

Jeremie Boga, though, has now returned to training and could make the bench; leaving Ademola Lookman, Rasmus Hojlund and Luis Muriel - who has scored five league goals against Inter to date - to compete for two possible places up front.

Inter Milan possible starting lineup:

Onana; Darmian, De Vrij, Acerbi; Dumfries, Barella, Brozovic, Calhanoglu, Gosens; Correa, Lukaku

Atalanta BC possible starting lineup:

Sportiello; Toloi, Djimsiti, Scalvini; Zappacosta, De Roon, Koopmeiners, Maehle; Pasalic; Lookman, Hojlund

We say: Inter Milan 2-1 Atalanta BC

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