Lukaku leads Inter to Champions League, Atalanta 3-2

Mission accomplished for Inter who beat Atalanta at San Siro for 3-2 dragged by a Romelu Lukaku deluxe format and centers the mathematical qualification for the next Champions League, returning momentarily also to second place. A convincing victory in a game at a high pace for Simone Inzaghi's men, good at immediately unlocking the challenge, containing the fury of a tough and never tame Atalanta, and then closing the race in the second half. No feat for Gasperini's men but the high level of performance remains, even with many absentees, and the satisfaction of having centered the qualification for the cups waiting to find out in the last 90 minutes of the championship if it will be Europa League or Conference League. Comforting messages for the Inter coach two weeks before the Champions League final against Manchester City, also because the success against the Bergamo allows to make little more than a friendly the last day of the championship against Torino. But the strongest message for Inzaghi undoubtedly came from Romelu Lukaku, author of a performance like those of the Conte era between goals, assists, useful plays and combinations with Lautaro: the race that the Belgian needed to relaunch himself in the ballot with Dzeko for a starting shirt in Istanbul. On the other hand, Lukaku needed just under 40 seconds to unlock the result, launched by Lautaro alone in front of Sportiello, with the dribble to the goalkeeper and then the goal with an empty goal. Inter were able to take advantage of Bergamo's skidding immediately, finding the double with a close-range right from Barella after two consecutive saves by Sportiello on Dimarco. The Nerazzurri then also found the 3-0 with Calhanoglu, but the goal was canceled for irregular position of the Turk. Atalanta gradually regained confidence, awakened by a left-footed Holjund well parried by Onana. And in the final of the first half, in fact, Pasalic thinks to shorten the distances, solving a beat and beat in the area with a right touch. The second half opened with Atalanta immediately taking the ball in hand, raising the pressure and crushing Inter in their own area. But it is also a choice of Inzaghi's men, because on the counter-attack they risk hurting with a Lautaro right fouled by the defense and then again with the Argentine who narrowly misses an assist from Lukaku, while Sportiello saves on a poisonous right by Calhanoglu. Gasperini plays the cards Lookman and Muriel to raise the offensive danger, but it is still Lukaku to take his teammates on his shoulders: the Belgian with a great play puts Brozovic on goal, who then serves Lautaro for the 3-1 that explodes San Siro coloring him in celebration in the last season of the Nerazzurri at home. It seems closed, but Muriel in the final gives some further thrills to the 72 thousand of the Meazza with a right that slams on the crossbar, then on Onana and enters the goal. But there is no more time for the comeback, Inter flies to the Champions League and prepares for the final against Manchester City.