Inter head coach Cristian Chivu takes his team to Atalanta knowing victory will secure top spot in Serie A as 2025 ends. Inter lead the Scudetto race with 33 points before this round. AC Milan, Napoli and Roma sit within three points. The Nerazzurri therefore cannot afford a slip at New Balance Arena on Sunday.
Inter have enjoyed a strong recent record in final league fixtures of the year. They have won their last Serie A match in six of the previous seven calendar years, drawing the other. Atalanta’s record in those games is weaker, with four failures to win from the last five, including defeat against Inter in 2022.
Chivu’s reign started with problems, including a shock loss to Fluminense at the Club World Cup. Inter then dropped two of the opening
three Serie A matches in August. The Supercoppa Italiana also brought frustration, with Bologna winning their semi-final last week. Despite that, Inter approach 2026 with clear improvement and renewed belief in their work.
Atalanta’s campaign has been turbulent as well. The club started under former Southampton manager Ivan Juric but struggled. Juric left the role in November after only 15 games in charge. Successor Raffaele Palladino has instantly lifted performances, winning six of eight matches and guiding Atalanta up to ninth, seven points behind the top four.
Chivu reflected on Inter’s journey after taking over the squad. "I never like to talk about myself, Chivu told reporters at his pre-match press conference. After the end of last season, there were a difficult few months at the beginning of this campaign, but we've done everything we can to put ourselves back on the right track. There are ups and downs, and we are not perfect. We're trying to improve, we've done some things well and others less well. We are trying to remove certain defects on a collective and individual level. The team has to keep the same ambition. " Those comments underline both satisfaction and caution heading into Bergamo.
Discussing the challenge posed by the hosts, Chivu highlighted Atalanta’s long-term identity. Games against Atalanta have always been tough. They built well under [Gian Piero] Gasperini and tried to maintain that same mentality that won them the Europa League, Chivu continued. They've found continuity under Raffaele. It's never easy against Atalanta with their intensity, verticality and man-to-man defence. We have to be brave, win the second balls, and try to be solid. Inter therefore expect a physical and tactical test.
Mister Chivu pic.twitter.com/gxsImNsFyqInter (@Inter) December 26, 2025
Inter vs Atalanta Serie A key players to watch
The attacking battle will feature two forwards in strong form. Since matchday 12, when Palladino first took charge, Gianluca Scamacca has scored four league goals. No player has more in that period, matching Lautaro Martinez and Nikola Vlasic. Scamacca has also found the net in the last two Serie A meetings with Inter, in February 2022 and November 2023.
Martinez remains central to Inter’s attacking threat. The Argentina international has been involved in nine goals across 12 Serie A games against Atalanta, with seven goals and two assists. Only against Salernitana and Cagliari has Martinez contributed more goal involvements in the competition. Martinez has also scored in three straight league matches, last exceeding that mark in late 2021, when netting in five consecutive games.
Inter vs Atalanta Serie A history, trends and prediction
Recent league meetings strongly favour Inter. The Nerazzurri have won six successive Serie A matches against Atalanta and are unbeaten in 13, recording eight victories and five draws. Their previous longer winning streak over La Dea dates back to 1967, when they achieved eight straight top-flight wins. Atalanta, meanwhile, kept just two clean sheets in their last 27 home league games against Inter.
Scoring has also been a problem for Atalanta when hosting Inter. They have failed to score in four of the last eight home Serie A clashes with the Nerazzurri. However, Atalanta’s recent home form under Palladino is positive. They have won both Serie A home matches since the coaching change. The only Atalanta coach to open with three straight home wins was Carlo Alberto Quario in October 1963.
Inter are still favourites according to the model data. OPTA rates Inter’s chance of victory at 46 per cent, significantly higher than Atalanta’s 28.2 per cent. The probability of a draw stands at 25.8 per cent. Those figures reflect Inter’s current league position, head-to-head dominance and consistent end-of-year results.
OPTA’s projections, the recent winning run against Atalanta and Inter’s pursuit of the Scudetto combine to shape expectations for Sunday. Atalanta’s improvement under Palladino, backed by Scamacca’s goals and two straight home wins, suggests a competitive contest. Inter, led by Chivu and Martinez, head to New Balance Arena with clear targets and a chance to close 2025 still leading Serie A.
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