Lautaro Martinez scores the winner as Inter beat Atalanta 1-0, reclaim top spot in Serie A and finish 2025 one point clear.
Inter ended 2025 back on top of Serie A after a hard fought 1-0 win away at Atalanta. Lautaro Martinez scored the decisive goal midway through the second half. The result moved Inter one point clear of AC Milan at the summit. Napoli sit two points back, highlighting how tight the Serie A title race remains.
Cristian Chivu’s side were the better team in the first half. They controlled possession and territory but lacked a cutting edge. Nicolo Barella wasted the clearest opening after being picked out unmarked by Alessandro Bastoni. Inter also saw a Marcus Thuram goal ruled out after VAR spotted Martinez offside in the buildup.
Atalanta struggled to impose themselves before the break. Their energy was there, but quality in the final third was missing. Inter’s defensive shape limited space between the lines. Yann Sommer was rarely tested in the opening 45 minutes.
The second half brought more drama. Atalanta briefly thought they had taken the lead when Charles De Ketelaere scored from close range. The goal was disallowed for offside after Sommer had denied Nicola Zalewski. It was a warning moment for Inter, but they responded calmly.
The breakthrough arrived in the 65th minute. Berat Djimsiti’s loose pass was intercepted by substitute Pio Esposito, who had just come on. He released Martinez clean through on goal. The Inter captain finished confidently to silence the home crowd.
Atalanta pushed late in search of an equaliser. Lazar Samardzic went closest, firing wide from eight yards after a clever pass by De Ketelaere. It summed up a frustrating night for the hosts. They could not find the target when it mattered.
Despite Atalanta’s recent form, they drew a blank. They recorded an expected goals figure of just 0.78 compared to Inter’s 1.16. More tellingly, they failed to register a single shot on target. Inter’s defensive control was decisive.
Martinez again led by example. He had four shots, two on target, and five touches in the opposition box. He has now been involved in 10 goals in 13 Serie A games against Atalanta. Only against Cagliari does he have more goal involvements.
The goal continued Martinez’s rich vein of form. He has now scored in four consecutive league matches for the first time since 2021. With nine goals, he finishes the year as Serie A’s leading scorer, one ahead of Christian Pulisic.
Pio Esposito’s impact off the bench stood out. The 20-year-old provided the assist with his first touch. He now has two Serie A assists this season. No younger Italian player has matched that tally.
Inter’s defence also deserves credit. This was their eighth clean sheet of the league campaign. Only Lazio have managed more so far. Atalanta never found a way through.
Inter head into 2026 with momentum and a narrow lead at the top. They have now won their final league game of the calendar year in six of the last seven seasons. With Milan and Napoli close behind, the pressure remains intense. For now, Inter hold the advantage.
Inter hosts Bologna on January 4th, before facing Parma on January 7th. The Nerazurri will host championship rivals Napoli on January 11th. Atalanta will play fourth placed Roma on January 3rd.
