Back to Bergamo for their latest UEFA Champions League assignment, Atalanta seek to justify their strong favoritism against Celtic. Wednesday’s showdown at the Gewiss Stadium finds two teams in conflicting spirits pursuing an all-important three points.
Atalanta set themselves up perfectly for their first-ever encounter against a Scottish club with a 2-0 Serie A win against newly promoted Venezia on Sunday. Goals either side of halftime from Mario Pasalic and Mateo Retegui propelled Gian Piero Gasperini’s free-firing squad to their third consecutive victory in all competitions.
Retegui’s phenomenal lob fired him to the top of the Serie A scoring charts with eight goals. The only bleak spot in the Italian center-forward’s outstanding start to life at Atalanta was a missed penalty in a scoreless draw against Arsenal on the opening Champions League matchday. However, that setback didn’t faze La Dea.
Gasperini’s team delivered a telling performance in round two to obliterate Shakhtar Donetsk 3-0 at the Veltins Arena. In contrast to Atalanta’s remarkable day-two showing, Celtic fell victim to one of the most incredible turnarounds in Champions League history when Borussia Dortmund humbled them 7-1 at Signal Iduna Park.
Few would’ve guessed Brendan Rodgers’ side would collapse in such disturbing fashion barely a fortnight after demolishing Champions League debutants Slovan Bratislava 5-1 in Parkhead. Bergamo is hardly a place for Celtic to seek redemption, given that Atalanta may still be holding grudges after a long-running Matt O’Riley transfer saga in the summer.
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Atalanta
Despite leaking goals in Serie A almost on a frequent basis, Atalanta have been the embodiment of a rock-solid defensive unit on the grandest continental stage. Gasperini’s charges enter the Champions League round three as one of only six teams yet to concede a goal this season.
Another shutout would be a welcoming boost for La Dea’s lofty European ambitions following last season’s historic UEFA Europa League triumph. Like in that 3-0 thumping of Bayer Leverkusen in Dublin, Atalanta held Venezia at bay over the weekend, registering only their second clean sheet in Serie A this season.
Against the backdrop of their troubling defensive record on the domestic front, Atalanta cannot stop scoring. They have piled on an eye-catching 15 goals across their last six competitive outings in Bergamo despite drawing a blank against Arsenal in that sequence.
Eyes will be on Atalanta’s Europa League hat-trick hero, Ademola Lookman. Indeed, 15 of the Nigerian’s last 19 goals have come at the Gewiss Stadium.
Celtic
During the abovementioned rout in North Rhine-Westphalia, Celtic met an unwanted piece of history, becoming the first team since Welsh minnows Cwmbran Town in 1997 to concede five first-half goals in a UEFA fixture. Unfortunately for the Hoops, the effects of that defeat are still lingering.
Throwing away a two-goal cushion at halftime of their dismal 2-2 home draw against Aberdeen on Saturday was hardly an ideal warm-up for this daunting trip. Celtic boss Rodgers blasted his team’s second-half approach after their perfect seven-game Scottish Premiership start ended abruptly (W7).
Leaving the home comforts of Celtic Park for a European contest often spells trouble for the record-time Scottish champions. They have lost their last six away matches in the Champions League proper, ominously conceding an average of 4.17 goals per game.
Team News
In addition to long-term absentees Gianluca Scamacca and Giorgio Scalvini, Atalanta coach Gasperini cannot call upon the services of Rafael Toloi, Marco Brescianini, and Odilon Kossounou. Meanwhile, Sead Kolasinac should be fit despite missing out on his team’s trip to Venezia over the weekend.
As for Celtic, a hamstring problem has ruled Greg Taylor out of contention for this trip. Dependable center-back Cameron Carter-Vickers has been out of action since sustaining a foot injury on the opening matchday, meaning Auston Trusty will likely fill the USMNT defender’s shoes again.
Atalanta vs Celtic Potential Starting XI
Atalanta (3-4-2-1): Marco Carnesecchi; Berat Djimsiti, Isak Hien, Sead Kolasinac; Davide Zappacosta, Ederson, Marten de Roon, Matteo Ruggeri; Lazar Samardzic, Ademola Lookman; Mateo Retegui.
Celtic (4-3-3): Kasper Schmeichel; Alistair Johnston, Auston Trusty, Liam Scales, Alex Valle; Arne Engels, Callum McGregor, Reo Hatate; Nicolas Kuhn, Kyogo Furuhashi, Daizen Maeda.
Atalanta vs Celtic Prediction
With Atalanta seemingly clicking into gear after a topsy-turvy start, another disaster looms over Celtic. But Rodgers will likely change his approach after being obliterated in Germany, which could lead to a less attractive affair.
Nevertheless, we expect Atalanta to seize three points in a multi-goal margin triumph.
Prediction: Atalanta to Win
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