Serie A | Preview: Atalanta BC vs Fiorentina
FIy999 2024/09/14 06:04
Both with three points from as many Serie A matches this season, Atalanta BC and Fiorentina will target victory on Sunday, just before kicking off their respective European campaigns.
preview
Including their UEFA Super Cup loss to Real Madrid last month, Atalanta have come away empty-handed from three of their first fixtures this season, following a turbulent summer in the transfer market.
Gian Piero Gasperini's side began the 2024-25 campaign with a win against Lecce, but two failures against Torino and Inter Milan were to follow - and the latter loss was particularly chastening.
Within 10 minutes of kickoff at San Siro, the Europa League winners were two goals down and staring at defeat to their Lombardy rivals, and by the final whistle they had conceded four times without managing a response.
Having secured another top-four finish last term and claimed the club's first-ever European trophy, Gasperini agreed to extend his stay in Bergamo, but Teun Koopmeiners then forced his way through the exit - and Ademola Lookman almost followed him - while star striker Gianluca Scamacca was struck down by an ACL injury.
After some frantic pre-deadline recruitment, Atalanta now reconvene after the international break, to begin the task of rebuilding some confidence before their return to the Champions League; Arsenal will be their first opponents next week.
The Nerazzurri have lost as many as three of their first four Serie A matches only once in the Gasperini era, back in 2016 and are intent on avoiding that fate this weekend, when they seek some revenge for last season's double defeat to Fiorentina.
Including a delayed season finale - as the teams played out a previously postponed fixture in early June, due to both taking part in UEFA finals - Fiorentina beat Atalanta 3-2 twice last term.
However, La Dea came out on top in the clubs' Coppa Italia semi-final before going on to taste European glory in Dublin, while the Viola had to absorb another Conference League final heartbreak.
Vincenzo Italiano then stepped aside, having come so close to claiming some elusive silverware for the Tuscan side, but new boss Raffaele Palladino has yet to get Fiorentina fully firing.
Only a stoppage-time equaliser from recent arrival Robin Gosens staved off defeat to Palladino's old club Monza just before international football intervened, and the Viola are yet to win domestically in 2024-25.
Indeed, their only success so far came via a penalty shootout in last month's Conference League playoffs, after two draws with Puskas Akademia sent that tie down to spot kicks.
Fiorentina may have drawn their first five games in all competitions for the first time ever, but - stretching back to the tail-end of last season - they have also lost just one of their last 11 in Serie A.
player injuries:
Atlanta
Player’s reason for absence
6 (midfielder) I.Sulemana
23 (centre-back) Kolasinac
19 (Central Defender) Bette Gimsiti
9 (Center) Gianluca Scamaca
42 (centre defender) Giorgio Scalvini
possible starting lineup:
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Fiorentina
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Atalanta
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