Serie A Round 15: Atalanta Roars Like a Dinosaur, Inter Milan Seeks to Break Home Curse

The highly anticipated 15th round of Serie A kicks off on December 7 with two early matches, featuring Atalanta against AC Milan and Inter Milan hosting Parma. Both matches carry intriguing narratives: Atalanta’s meteoric rise continues to redefine their identity from dark horse to genuine contender, while Inter Milan looks to end a decade-long home drought against Parma.

Atalanta vs. AC Milan: Will It Be a Stalemate or a Statement?

Atalanta enters this matchup riding high on a wave of momentum. Since their lone Serie A defeat to Como on September 25, Gian Piero Gasperini’s men have been virtually unstoppable, stringing together an unbeaten streak of 11 wins and two draws across all competitions. Their current eight-match winning run highlights a team that has truly ascended to the ranks of Serie A’s elite.

Last weekend, Atalanta dispatched Roma with an impressive 2-0 victory, dominating both possession and opportunities. This followed a 6-1 demolition of Swiss side Young Boys in the Champions League, marking Atalanta's largest margin of victory in Europe’s elite competition.

The key figure in their success this season has been Mateo Retegui. The Argentine-born forward, who joined Atalanta from Genoa, has silenced critics questioning his place in Serie A. Leading the league’s scoring charts with 12 goals, Retegui has rapidly developed into Italy’s top striker, shedding earlier doubts about his suitability for international football.

AC Milan, meanwhile, have quietly turned their fortunes around after a shaky start to the season. Unbeaten in their last seven matches across all competitions, Stefano Pioli’s men have revived their Champions League campaign with three consecutive victories following two opening losses.

Domestically, Milan cruised to a 3-0 victory over Empoli last weekend, with Álvaro Morata and Tijjani Reijnders combining for a clinical performance. Reijnders, in particular, has been a revelation this season, surpassing his goal tally from the previous year across Serie A, Coppa Italia, and the Champions League. Milan fans may be critical of Paulo Fonseca’s managerial tenure, but his role in nurturing Reijnders has left a lasting impact.

However, Milan’s midweek Coppa Italia commitments could tilt the balance in Atalanta’s favor. Both Rafael Leão and Reijnders started that game, while Atalanta enjoyed a full week of rest. That said, with a critical Champions League clash against Real Madrid looming for Atalanta, Gasperini may rotate his squad, much as Milan will likely do against Red Star Belgrade. This sets the stage for a match where both teams might hold back, possibly resulting in a tactical stalemate.

Inter Milan vs. Parma: Breaking the Curse

Defending champions Inter Milan find themselves in an intriguing position. Despite earning four fewer points than they had at this stage last season, they are only four points off the top spot with a game in hand, trailing leaders Napoli. Inter's strong Champions League campaign further highlights their progress, with Simone Inzaghi’s men yet to concede a goal in Europe despite facing heavyweights like Manchester City, Arsenal, and RB Leipzig.

Inzaghi’s tactical acumen has elevated him to the status of one of the world’s elite managers, steering Inter to compete effectively on multiple fronts. However, a peculiar statistic looms over this fixture: Inter have not defeated Parma at the San Siro in over a decade. Their last six home matches against Parma have yielded five draws and one loss.

Parma, newly promoted as Serie B champions, have experienced an uneven start to life back in the top flight. While they pulled off a shock 2-1 victory over Lazio last weekend, their overall position remains precarious, sitting just four points above the relegation zone.

Parma’s strategy relies heavily on a defensive setup and quick counterattacks, which paid off handsomely against Lazio. However, they will face a different challenge against Inter’s well-organized and defensively resilient side. The Nerazzurri have conceded just nine goals in Serie A this season and remain the only team in the Champions League yet to concede a single goal.

Inter’s midweek clash with Bayer Leverkusen in Europe may prompt Inzaghi to rotate his squad, but even at reduced capacity, they should have enough firepower to break Parma’s resistance. That said, Parma’s compact setup might frustrate Inter’s attack, and the weight of history could add psychological pressure on the hosts.

As Inter aim to break their home jinx against Parma and Atalanta seek to maintain their meteoric rise, this round of Serie A promises both high-stakes drama and tactical intrigue.