Marcus Thuram shows the way as Inter Milan brush aside Atalanta

Marcus Thuram impressed as Serie A leaders Inter Milan beat Atalanta 4-0 on Friday.

The Frenchman netted twice in the second half, after prompting the Berat Djimsiti own goal that opened the scoring inside the first three minutes at San Siro.

Nicolo Barella extended the hosts advantage seven minutes later with a cracking volley.

Thuram made it three with a close-range effort two minutes after the restart before scoring his second in a similar fashion nine minutes later to round off a comfortable victory over the Europa League champions.

The champions took an early lead when Thuram’s low cross took a deflection off the unfortunate Djimsiti and beat Marco Carnesecchi at his near post.

The Atalanta keeper was able to punch away Hakan Calhanoglu’s attempt from a free-kick moments later but Barella made it 2-0 to the hosts in the 10th minute from the edge of the box. The ball had broken to him after Benjamin Pavard had beaten Marten de Roon in an aerial challenge and the Italy international gave Carnesecchi no chance with his fine finish.

Atalanta looked for an instant reply, first from Davide Zappacosta at the near post then Mateo Retegui from Yann Sommer’s parried save.

Retegui scuffed a chance to level in the 24th minute with an effort from distance, while Thuram was inches away from extending Inter’s advantage with a crossbar-clipping effort – again deflected by Djimsiti.

Lazar Samardzic looked to pull one back for the visitors before the break but he directed his effort just wide of Sommer’s right post.

Thuram made it three two minutes after the restart from a set-piece, the visitors were unable to clear a throw-in and the Frenchman poked the ball past Carnesecchi from six yards out.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Lautaro Martinez and Barella all had opportunities to get their names on the scoresheet before Thuram made it 4-0, bagging his brace in a similar fashion to his first.

This time it was set up by Mkhitaryan’s flick for another close-range finish in the 56th minute, following a near-miss seconds earlier.

Atalanta boss Gian Piero Gasperini turned to his substitutes as he sought to find a way back into the contest.

However, by the time Mario Pasalic skied an effort Inter were comfortably in control of the contest.

The visitors’ struggle to create chances continued, with Retegui without a team-mate to target when he found himself inside the hosts’ six-yard box just before a drinks break.

Atalanta never really looked close to clawing one back and had a penalty shout for a handball ignored.

Both bosses rung more changes, Marko Arnautovic coming closest to changing the scoreline when he directed an effort just over the bar on the stroke of full-time.