Atalanta vs Empoli Preview: Team News & Prediction

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Atalanta are dreaming of something special this season in all competitions with Gian Piero Gasperini’s Bergamasci heading into Christmas with a game against Empoli in Bergamo.

Kick-off date/time: Sunday 22nd December, 2024: UK – 5:00pm / US ET – 12:00pm / US PT – 9:00am

How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – Select matches will be televised on CBS Sports so it is worth checking their schedule

How to watch online: UK – OneFootball / US – Paramount+

Atalanta Preview: Brilliant Bergamasci

Gian Piero Gasperini’s Atalanta are genuinely trying to challenge for the treble this season as one of the strongest teams in the UEFA Champions League and beginning the 17th match day of the 2024/25 Serie A campaign sitting at the top-of-the-table.

They also annihilated Serie B side Cesena by six goals to one in the Round of 16 of the Coppa Italia in midweek, too, to back up a hard-fought 1-0 win in Sardinia against Cagliari last weekend thanks to a second-half strike from Nicolo Zaniolo.

Empoli Preview: Fading Empoli

Former Benevento coach Roberto D’Aversa took charge of an Empoli side that narrowly avoided relegation on the final day of last season with the Florence-based club starting the campaign well but too many draws have stunted their progress and they now sit firmly in mid-table.

Last weekend, they suffered a 1-0 loss at home to a struggling and out of form Torino side in Florence with a long-range goal scored by Che Adams. That defeat means the visitors have now managed just one win in their last five matches in Serie A.

Atalanta Team News: De Roon suspension

Netherlands international midfielder Marten de Roon is missing through suspension for this weekend. Defender Giorgio Scalvini recently returned from an ACL injury he sustained over the summer but is now a doubt due to a shoulder injury.

Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Carnesecchi; Kossounou, Hien, Kolasinac; Bellanova, Pasalic, Ederson, Ruggeri; De Ketelaere, Lookman; Retegui

Unavailable: De Roon (Suspended), Scamacca (Injured)

Questionable: Scalvini (Fitness), Ruggeri (Injured)

Empoli Team News: De Sciglio suspension

In that 1-0 loss to Torino last weekend, former Juventus defender Mattia De Sciglio was sent off late on and he is now missing through suspension for this one. They also have some key injury issues in attack such as Ola Solbakken and Pietro Pellegri.

Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Devis Vasquez; Goglichidze, Ismajli, Viti; Gyasi, Anjorin, Maleh, Pezzella; Esposito, Cacace; Colombo

Unavailable: Fazzini (Injured), Haas (Injured), De Sciglio (Suspended), Solbakken (Injured), Pellegri (Injured)

Questionable: Ebuehi (Injured), Sazonov (Injured), Fazzini (Injured), Zurkowski (Injured)

Atalanta vs Empoli Prediction

Atalanta have been utterly relentless in the last few months, despite their 3-2 loss to Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League in Bergamo about ten days or so ago. The hosts have one of the best coaches in European football at the helm with a now genuinely deep and impressive squad. They face an Empoli side that have been fading ever since that aforementioned bright start so a comfortable Atalanta victory is to be expected for this one.

Atalanta vs Empoli Tip: Atalanta to win -1 handicap