For the first time in 40 Serie A games, Inter failed to score and possibly lose grip on the title race. The Nerazzurri also ended an eight-match winning streak in the league after being held by Atalanta to a barren draw at the Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo.In a fiercely contested first half, these two Italian heavyweights largely canceled each other out. The guests had the two best chances of the first period coming from the vast majority of possession held. First, it was Bosnian striker Edin Dzeko who uncharacteristically missed the target from a free header which was followed by Alexis Sánchez shot at goal – the Chilean was denied by Juan Musso and his acrobatic save.Dybala helps Juve to Udinese win as contract spat bubbles underIn a frustrating opening 45 minutes, the hosts struggled to break through Inter’s stubborn defence. But after the half-time break, Gian Piero Gasperini’s side deployed an even higher press and it nearly paid off immediately. Croat midfielder Marcelo Brozović lost the ball in his own third and Matteo Pessina had a clear path towards Samir Handanovic, but the effort was magnificently stopped by the Slovenian goalkeeper.The reigning champions and league leaders kept carrying plenty of offensive threat, but Dzeko – who is usually clinical – wasn’t in his own element.Inter’s forward spurned another glorious chance when he missed the target with a close-range header. In the closing stages, Atalanta gathered momentum but Mario Pašalić and Merih Demiral missed massive opportunities while Luis Muriel was denied by Handanovic and his world-class save.FT: Atalanta 0-0 InterInter’s run of 40 games where they’ve found the back of the net comes to an end… ❌ pic.twitter.com/cznen9sKSQ— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) January 16, 2022 Atalanta failed to win at home for the seventh time this season which leaves them vulnerable to a resurgent Juventus, who are now just a single point behind them in the race for the Champions League spots.And as far as the table-toppers go, this is the first time since November’s draw with AC Milan that Simone Inzaghi’s side have dropped points in Serie A. As there are now just two points separating the city rivals, AC Milan surely enjoyed watching the tonight’s clash in Bergamo.SERIE A – ROUND 22SaturdaySampdoria – Torino 1-2 (1-1)/Caputo 18 – Singo 27, Praet 67/Salernitana – Lazio 0-3 (0-2)/Immobile 7, 10, Lazzari 66/Juventus – Udinese 2-0 (1-0)/Dybala 19, McKennie 79/SundaySassuolo – Verona 2-4 (0-2)/Scamacca 54, Defrel 67 – Caprari 37, Barak 44, 57 pen, 90+4/Venezia – Empoli 1-1 (0-1)/Okereke 73 – Zurkowski 26/Roma – Cagliari 1-0 (1-0)/Oliveira 33 pen/Atalanta – Inter 0-0Monday20:30: (3.80) Bologna (3.50) Napoli (2.10)20:30: (1.35) Milan (5.50) Spezia (9.50)22:45: (1.50) Fiorentina (4.30) Genoa (7.75)***odds are subject to change
