Bologna vs Atalanta Preview & Prediction | 2024-25 Italian Serie A
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These two sides finished last season magnificently with them achieving fifth and fourth placed finishes and, as a result, UEFA Champions League qualification but they have both struggled to cope at the start of this season.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Saturday 28th September, 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+
BOLOGNA PREVIEW: MUCH-NEEDED WIN
Following their first qualification for Europe’s elite club competition in over 60 years last season, Bologna lost their manager Thiago Motta to Juventus as well as a couple of key players such as Riccardo Calafiori and Joshua Zirkzee. That has led to a difficult start to Vincenzo Italiano’s tenure.
In their opening five matches of the campaign across all competitions, Bologna failed to win a single game but they now come into this one on the back of a much-needed three points. The home team come into this one on the back of a 2-1 victory away to Monza last weekend with Kacper Urbanski and Santiago Castro scoring the goals.
ATALANTA PREVIEW: BERGAMASCI BLOWING
Gian Piero Gasperini has had to evolve Atalanta three or four times since his appointment as manager of the club back in 2016. The Bergamasci won the UEFA Europa League last season and were magnificent in doing so but the departure of Teun Koopmeiners as well as injuries to several key players has left them floundering at the start of this season.
It did appear as though they had turned the corner after the September international break with a victory against Fiorentina followed up by a goalless draw with Arsenal but they come into this one on the back of a surprise 3-2 defeat at home to newly-promoted and previously winless Como in their most recent outing on Tuesday.
BOLOGNA TEAM NEWS: KEY INJURY ISSUES
Bologna are without several key first-teamers this weekend ahead of facing Atalanta with the likes of Tommaso Pobega, Lewis Ferguson and Oussama El Azzouzi all unavailable.
The hosts have finally struck upon a winning formula with their victory over Monza so the expectation is that Italiano names an unchanged eleven for this one.
PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): Ravaglia; De Silvestri, Casale, Jhon Lucumi, Lykogiannis; Urbanski, Freuler, Aebischer; Odgaard, Castro, Ndoye
UNAVAILABLE: Pobega (Injured), Ferguson (Injured), El Azzouzi (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
ATALANTA TEAM NEWS: NO SCALVINI OR SCAMACCA
As mentioned, Atalanta have been dealing with injuries too key players Giorgio Scalvini and Gianluca Scamcca with the Italy duo both dealing with ACL injuries.
As well as those two, Atalanta are also without Italy international defender Rafael Toloi, who remains sidelined alongside former Everton defender Ben Godfrey.
PREDICTED XI (3-4-2-1): Carnesecchi; Djimsiti, Kossounou, Kolasinac; Bellanova, De Roon, Ederson, Zappacosta; De Ketelaere, Lookman; Retegui
UNAVAILABLE: Godfrey (Injured), Scalvini (Injured), Toloi (Injured), Scamacca (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
BOLOGNA VS ATALANTA PREDICTION
Bologna played a proactive and innovative, front foot style of football under the management of Thiago Motta last season and they will be expected to continue that as Italiano gets to grips with his squad. Atalanta are, of course, always fun to watch with their five Serie A matches so far this season consisting of 21 goals. As a result, a high-scoring and entertaining affair is to be expected this weekend.
BOLOGNA VS ATALANTA TIP: OVER 2.5 GOALS
