Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez celebrates after scoring a objective in the course of the Italian Serie A soccer match between Atalanta and Inter on the Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo, Italy, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (Stefano Nicoli/LaPresse by way of AP)
MILAN — Inter Milan took a big step to protecting its Serie A crown on Sunday with a 2-0 win at title rival Atalanta.
Carlos Augusto and Lautaro Martinez scored within the second half to raise the league chief three factors above second-placed Napoli and 6 factors above third-placed Atalanta.
Napoli had earlier been held 0-0 at relegation-threatened Venezia.
The struggle for the ultimate Champions League spot can be tight, with simply six factors separating six groups within the race for fourth place after extra distress for Juventus, which misplaced 3-0 at Fiorentina.
READ: Inter Milan wins Serie A title in derby thriller with AC Milan
High spot
It was a head-to-head conflict for high spot in Bergamo, with Atalanta realizing that victory would transfer it stage on factors with Inter and Napoli.
Either side had nice probabilities in an entertaining first half, with Inter going closest with lower than seven minutes on the clock.
Marcus Thuram was on the verge of wheeling away in celebration as he swept a end previous Atalanta goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi and towards the far nook, following good play with Lautaro Martinez. However his effort bounced off the bottom of the appropriate publish.
On the different finish, Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer pulled off a improbable save to fingertip Mario Pasalic’s header over the bar.
Inter broke the impasse within the 54th minute, instantly after play resumed following a delay of a number of minutes as a fan obtained medical therapy within the stands.
READ: Inter Milan profitable run ends with shock Sampdoria defeat
A nook was whipped in from the appropriate and Carlos Augusto rose comparatively unmarked to move into the underside left nook.
It was solely his third objective for Inter in two seasons on the membership.
Lautaro thought he had doubled Inter’s lead within the 71st however the whistle had already been blown for a foul by him on Berat Djimsiti.
Atalanta’s possibilities of getting again into the match diminished 9 minutes from time. Éderson was booked for dissent after which sarcastically applauded the referee, who confirmed the Atalanta midfielder a second yellow card after which a purple.
Lautaro sealed the match six minutes later. Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini was nonetheless protesting the Ederson resolution and he was additionally despatched off.
Inter defender Alessandro Bastoni was additionally despatched off following a second yellow card.
Napoli held once more
It was one other draw for Napoli — its fifth in its final seven matches.
Napoli nearly obtained off to the right begin in Venice however Giacomo Raspadori’s effort got here off the left publish within the fourth minute.
Venezia additionally had loads of probabilities, with the very best alternative coming three minutes from the break. Alex Meret did effectively to parry from Kike Pérez and Daniel Fila’s follow-up was cleared off the road by Napoli defender Amir Rrahmani.
Napoli went even nearer on the stroke of halftime however Ionut Radu pulled off an excellent save to know Romelu Lukaku’s header on the goalline.
It was a fourth straight draw for Venezia — with two of these coming in opposition to Atalanta and Lazio — nevertheless it remained in penultimate place within the standings, 5 factors from security.
Motta below strain
Juventus coach Thiago Motta is below much more strain after his group slipped out of the highest 4, delivery seven targets in two matches and scoring none.
Robin Gosens and Rolando Mandragora scored inside two minutes of one another within the first half and Albert Guðmundsson added one other after the break as Fiorentina moved to inside 5 factors of the highest 4.
Juve’s season was already in tatters after a dismal 4-0 loss at house to Atalanta final weekend. The Bianconeri had additionally been eradicated from the Champions League and Italian Cup.
Motta’s former group, Bologna, changed Juventus in fourth after a formidable 5-0 drubbing of sixth-placed Lazio.
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Seventh-placed Roma beat Cagliari 1-0.
