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It has been a frustrating start to the campaign for Gian Piero Gasperini and Atalanta as they try and evolve their squad once again and they now have what may well be described a must win clash against a struggling Hellas Verona side in Bergamo.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Saturday 26th October, 2024 - UK – 7:45pm / US ET – 2:45pm / US PT – 11:45am
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: GENIUS OF GIAN PIERO
As mentioned, it has been a frustrating and inconsistent start to the season for Atalanta and that continued in midweek as the Bergamasci were held to a goalless draw by Scottish champions Celtic in Bergamo in the third game of the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League league phase.
Atalanta have started the campaign with just five victories in their opening 12 matches across all competitions so far this season. Prior to that 0-0 draw with Celtic in midweek, Atalanta had defeated Venezia by two goals to nil last weekend with goals in either half from Mario Pasalic and Mateo Retegui.
HELLAS VERONA PREVIEW: THE FADING MIRACLE
In January, Hellas Verona had to sell several key first-teamers due to the Italian financial police seizing the assets of their ownership group. Marco Baroni, though, somehow steered Verona away from the bottom three and the relegation places before departing for Lazio in the summer and he was replaced by former Empoli boss Paolo Zanetti.
Zanetti remains in charge but the Yellow and Blues come into this one on the back of a 3-0 hammering at the hands of previously winless Monza in their most recent outing at the Marcantonio Bentegodi last weekend with goals coming from Antonio Bianco as well as a brace from Dany Mota.
ATALANTA TEAM NEWS: ISSUES IN DEFENCE
Italy internationals Giorgio Scalvini and Gianluca Scamacca were key to Atalanta winning the UEFA Europa League last season but they are both still sidelined with ACL injuries.
As well as those two, both Odilon Kossounou and Marco Brescianini are also out injured, whilst defender Rafael Toloi is an injury doubt for the home team as he nears his return.
PREDICTED XI (3-4-2-1): Carnesecchi; De Roon, Hien, Djimsiti; Bellanova, Pasalic, Ederson, Zappacosta; De Ketelaere, Lookman; Retegui
UNAVAILABLE: Kossounou (Injured), Scalvini (Injured), Brescianini (Injured), Scamacca (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Toloi (Injured)
HELLAS VERONA TEAM NEWS: KEY ISSUES
Slovakia international and key central midfielder Ondrej Duda, formerly of Norwich City, is unavailable for this one against Atalanta due to suspension.
As well as the absence of Duda, Poland international Pawel Dawidowicz is also unavailable due to injury alongside the likes of Martin Frese and Abdou Harroui.
PREDICTED XI (4-4-2): Montipo; Tchatchoua, Magnani, Ghilardi, Bradaric; Lazovic, Belahyane, Serdar, Suslov; Daniel Mosquera, Tengstedt
UNAVAILABLE: Dawidowicz (Injured), Juan Manuel Cruz (Injured), Frese (Injured), Harroui (Injured), Duda (Suspended)
QUESTIONABLE:
ATALANTA VS HELLAS VERONA PREDICTION
Atalanta have been inconsistent so far this season but comfortable victories either side of the October international break has helped them move back up the Serie A table. They now face a struggling Hellas Verona side that are expected to be in the relegation battle throughout the campaign, winning just one of their last five matches since a bright-ish start. Atalanta, with their home advantage, should record another comfortable win in this one.
ATALANTA VS HELLAS VERONA TIP: ATALANTA TO WIN