Gewiss Stadium forms the backdrop for a handsomely-looking Serie A showdown between European contenders Atalanta and Juventus on Sunday evening. Let’s look at our match preview for this contest.
After a mixed two-game start to the new league campaign (W1, L1), Gian Piero Gasperini’s men seem to be building a head of steam. Teun Koopmeiners’ first-half goal settled a nervy affair on Wednesday as Atalanta squeezed past Hellas Verona 1-0 at Marc’Antonio Bentegodi, maintaining an upturn in form.
La Dea have won three of their last four matches in Serie A, proving their top-four credentials. But there’s no room for complacency. Gasperini’s side cannot take anything for granted if they’re to return to the Champions League after finishing fifth or worse in the last two Serie A seasons.
Speaking of their top-four ambitions, Juventus will put them to a stern test on Sunday. Despite having a quiet transfer window by their standards, the visitors have enjoyed a promising start to the season. Last weekend’s disheartening 4-2 defeat at Sassuolo remains the only dark spot in an otherwise impressive 2023/24 for Bianconeri.
Massimiliano Allegri’s men responded well to that Mapei Stadium heartache as Arkadiusz Milik’s winner squeaked them past Lecce on Tuesday. But it wasn’t the most inspiring performance from Juventus by any stretch of the imagination. They suffered a lot in that 1-0 win, but given what’s at stake, they’d take it any day of the week.
Returning to European football is imperative for Juventus. Beating Atalanta in Bergamo would be a message of intent, yet it won’t be another day at the office.
Match Preview
Atalanta
Gewiss Stadium has turned into a fortress this season. After years of leaking points on home turf, Atalanta have imposed themselves as a dominant force in Bergamo, winning all three competitive games here in 2023/24 via multi-goal margins and without conceding. Cagliari, Monza, and Rakow have felt their wrath thus far.
However, Juventus, despite all the problems on and off the field, are a different beast. Atalanta know that well, considering they have emerged victorious just once in their last 18 home league meetings with Bianconeri (D5, L12), courtesy of a 1-0 win in April 2021. But Gasperini’s men have kept this fixture competitive down the years.
Before a 2-0 loss here last May, Atalanta had gone unbeaten in six consecutive Serie A matches against Juventus (W2, D4).
Player to Watch: Teun Koopmeiners
The Dutchman’s goal handed Atalanta three points at Verona in midweek. It was also his second game opener coming inside the first 20 minutes across the last three matches, with La Dea only losing once in his 11 scoring appearances for the club (W10).
Juventus
Except for the abovementioned rout at Sassuolo, Juventus have clocked up 13 points out of the 15 available in their remaining five league outings. More impressively, they had won their opening two away matches in Serie A by 2+ goals ‘to nil’ before losing at the Mapei, showing noticeable signs of promise compared to last season’s travel sickness.
Quick out of the blocks, Juventus have scored within the 25th minute on all three league travels this term. Another quick-fire start could be a recipe for breaching Atalanta’s fortress. Allegri has no reason to doubt his side’s prospects, as their 13-point tally is their best at this stage of a season since 2019/20.
If you’re interested in omens, the last time Juventus had such a promising Serie A start, they won the title.
Player to Watch: Federico Chiesa
Everything at Juventus is spinning around the ex-Fiorentina winger this season. He’s flourished since Allegri started deploying him in a center-forward role, racking up four goals and one assist in Serie A thus far.
Team News
This blockbuster will come too early for long-term absentee El Bilal Toure and his fellow newcomer Gianluca Scamacca, who’s out with a muscle problem. But it’s not the end of Atalana’s potential injury concerns, with Charles De Ketelaere’s availability hanging by a thread due to a muscle strain.
As for Juventus, suspended Paul Pogba is not the only high-profile absentee. Dusan Vlahovic will remain on the sidelines, as confirmed by Allegri in the build-up. Alex Sandro and Mattia De Sciglio are the remaining members of the injured contingent.
Atalanta vs Juventus Potential Lineups
Atalanta (3-4-2-1): Juan Musso; Rafael Toloi, Giorgio Scalvini, Sead Kolasinac; Davide Zappacosta, Marten de Roon, Ederson, Matteo Ruggeri; Ademola Lookman, Teun Koopmeiners; Luis Muriel.
Juventus (3-5-2): Wojciech Szczesny; Federico Gatti, Gleison Bremer, Danilo; Weston McKennie, Nicolo Fagioli, Manuel Locatelli, Adrien Rabiot, Cambiaso; Federico Chiesa, Moise Kean.
Atalanta vs Juventus Prediction
This fixture has all the makings of a low-scoring, keenly-contested affair. Both sides have shown flashes of attacking brilliance. But their good results have been based on impenetrable backlines. There’s a feeling that whoever scores first will take home three points.
It’s more likely they’ll share the spoils, though.
Prediction: Draw
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