Esposito gives Inter the lead, but Atalanta snatch a draw late as Krstovic scores amid protests and Inter coach Chivu is sent off on Serie A Matchday 29.
Inter dropped more points in the Serie A title race after a dramatic 1–1 draw against Atalanta at San Siro, a match that burst into life only in the final minutes.
Still reeling from their derby defeat, Inter struggled to find rhythm and ultimately conceded a controversial late equalizer that sparked protests from the home bench. The result could allow rivals to close the gap in the Scudetto race as Matchday 29 continues.
Cristian Chivu made several lineup adjustments, including handing Denzel Dumfries his first start since returning from injury. Alessandro Bastoni was rested, with Carlos Augusto stepping into the back line. In midfield, Luka Sucic started ahead of Henrikh Mkhitaryan, while young striker Pio Esposito partnered Marcus Thuram in attack.
Atalanta coach Raffaele Palladino also rotated his squad. Charles De Ketelaere began on the bench, while Lazar Samardzic and Nicola Zalewski supported Gianluca Scamacca in the attacking line.
The opening phase of the match offered little excitement. Inter dominated possession but struggled to create meaningful chances, while Atalanta threatened only sporadically—most notably through Scamacca, who had two attempts in the first 25 minutes, one following a mistake by Sucic during buildup.
The first real moment of quality arrived in the 26th minute. Pio Esposito showed determination inside the penalty area and managed to turn his shot into a goal, helped by a slow reaction from Atalanta goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi. The goal gave Inter a 1–0 lead and was the main highlight of an otherwise uneventful first half.
After the break, Atalanta tried to inject energy into the match with the introduction of Nikola Krstovic and Ederson. Inter nearly doubled their advantage around the hour mark, but Carnesecchi redeemed himself with a crucial save in a one-on-one situation against Thuram, who continues to look short of sharpness.
For long stretches the game remained forgettable, until the final minutes produced sudden drama. With five minutes left, a physical challenge between Ibrahim Sulemana and Dumfries sparked the action that led to Atalanta’s equalizer. Krstovic finished the move to make it 1–1, but Inter players and staff immediately protested, believing Dumfries had been fouled in the buildup.
Referee Manganiello allowed the goal to stand, and the VAR confirmed the decision. The call ignited chaos on the sidelines, with Inter coach Chivu receiving a red card for his protests.
Inter pushed forward in the closing minutes, also appealing for a potential penalty after a collision between Giorgio Scalvini and Davide Frattesi in the box. However, the referee waved play on, judging that the Atalanta defender had touched the ball first.
Despite six minutes of stoppage time, the score remained unchanged, leaving Inter frustrated and potentially vulnerable in the ongoing battle at the top of the Serie A standings.
Match Report
Inter 1-1 Atalanta
Goals:
26’ Esposito (Inter), 83’ Krstovic (Atalanta)
Inter (3-5-2):
Sommer; Bisseck, Akanji, Carlos Augusto; Dumfries, Barella (76’ Frattesi), Zielinski, Sucic (46’ Mkhitaryan), Dimarco (65’ Luis Henrique); Thuram, Esposito (65’ Bonny).
Coach: Cristian Chivu
Atalanta (3-4-2-1):
Carnesecchi; Scalvini, Djimsiti, Kolasinac (65’ Hien); Zappacosta, De Roon (76’ De Ketelaere), Pasalic, Bernasconi; Samardzic (52’ Ederson), Zalewski (65’ Sulemana); Scamacca (52’ Krstovic).
Coach: Raffaele Palladino
Referee: Manganiello
Yellow Cards: Sucic, Kolasinac, Carlos Augusto
Red Cards: Chivu (Inter coach)
