Defender Milan Skriniar scored early in the second half and boosted Inter's chances of winning a first Italian league title in more than a decade.

The win restored the Nerazzurri's healthy advantage over second-place AC Milan.

It was the first time Atalanta have failed to score away from home in the league since 2019, with Gian Piero Gasperini's side remaining fifth, a point behind Roma.

Atalanta scored 11 goals in their previous three matches before facing Inter and came close to taking the lead at the end of a tense first half.

Inter goalkeeper Samir Handanovic pulled off a fantastic save to deny Duvan Zapata before Marcelo Brozovic had to clear he ball from practically on the goal line from the ensuing corner.

Inter broke the deadlock nine minutes after the break when Atalanta failed to properly clear a corner and Skriniar fired the loose ball into the bottom left corner.

"We expected a tough game against a great team who have been doing very well both in the home league and in the Champions League in recent years," Inter captain Handanovic said.

"It is not easy to meet them. We suffered a little but this is also a way to win.

"Details can decide games, they tried twice in the first half and we were clever on our first chance.

"It wan an important game in our path."

Inter's key striker Romelu Lukaku, who received the award for Serie A player of the month for February, was kept quiet and had no telling chances to remain two goals adrift of Juventus ace Cristiano Ronaldo, who tops the season's scoring chart with 20.

Australian Associated Press