Atalanta vs Arsenal Preview & Prediction | 2024-25 UEFA Champions League | League Phase
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Last season's UEFA Europa League winners Atalanta re-enter the highest stage in European football as they welcome Mikel Arteta's impressive Arsenal side to Bergamo.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Thursday 19th September, 2024: UK – 8:00pm / US ET – 3:00pm / US PT – 12:00pm
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – TNT Sports / US – Not televised
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – discovery+ / US – Paramount+ & TUDN USA
ATALANTA PREVIEW: EUROPA LEAGUE WINNERS ENTER THE BIG STAGE
A 4-0 win at Lecce and a come-from behind 3-2 victory over Fiorentina have sandwiched defeats to Torino and Inter Milan in Atalanta’s somewhat inconsistent start to the season.
Last year’s UEFA Europa League winners now turn their attention to Europe’s elite club competition in what will be their first appearance in the UEFA Champions League since the 2021-22 campaign. That was the Italian side’s third straight appearance in the competition, a span which included a run to the quarter-finals in 2019-20.
ARSENAL PREVIEW: UNBEATEN START FOR THE GUNNERS
Arsenal enter the new league phase of the Champions League in high spirits after their hard-fought North London Derby victory over rivals Tottenham on Sunday.
Mikel Arteta’s men are currently unbeaten in all competitions since they were eliminated by Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals of last season’s Champions League campaign.
ATALANTA TEAM NEWS: TOLOI & GODFREY OUT
Defenders Rafael Toloi and Ben Godfrey are set to miss out with both having been absent for the victory over Fiorentina on Sunday.
Striker Gianluca Scamacca, who was a key part of their 2023/24 campaign, has not been included in Atalanta’s Champions League squad due to a long-term injury.
PREDICTED XI (3-4-3): Carnesecchi; De Roon, Hien, Kolašinac; Bellanova, Pašalić, Ederson, Ruggeri; Lookman, De Ketelaere; Retegui
UNAVAILABLE: Godfrey (Injured), Tolói (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
ARSENAL TEAM NEWS: ODEGAARD OUT BUT SAKA SHOULD MAKE IT
Declan Rice missed Sunday’s win over Spurs through suspension and will return to the heart of midfield here, but Martin Odegaard’s ankle issue will keep him out once again.
Bukayo Saka limped off near the end of the North London Derby but is expected to recover in time for this contest, but Riccardo Calafiori will not travel with the squad due to an injury picked up while on international duty with Italy.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, J. Timber; Partey, Rice; Saka, Trossard, Sterling; Havertz
UNAVAILABLE: Calafiori (Injured), Merino (Injured), Tierney (Injured), Tomiyasu (Injured), Zinchenko (Injured), Ødegaard (Injured),
QUESTIONABLE: Saka (Injured)
KEY STATS
- This is the first UEFA competition match between these two teams.
- Atalanta have won only one of their five UEFA competition matches at home against English teams (D2 L2). The sole victory was in their first such fixture, a 3-0 defeat of Everton in the 2017/18 Europa League group stage.
- Atalanta have lost only two of their last 14 UEFA competition matches (W8 D4).
- Atalanta have won four of their last six UEFA competition matches at home (D1 L1).
- Atalanta have won only one of their last eight matches in the UEFA Champions League competition proper (D3 L4).
- There has been a total of 83 goals scored in Atalanta’s previous 23 matches in the UEFA Champions League competition proper – an average of 3.6 goals per match.
- Arsenal have won their last four UEFA competition matches against Italian teams.
- Arsenal have lost only three of their last 17 UEFA competition matches against Italian teams (W12 D2).
- Arsenal have kept 11 clean sheets in their last 16 UEFA competition matches against Italian teams.
- Arsenal have lost only three of their last 31 matches in UEFA competition group stages (W24 D4).
- Arsenal have won their Matchday 1 fixture in each of their last six seasons in UEFA competition (UEL & UCL).
- Kai Havertz is set to make his 50th appearance in the UEFA Champions League competition proper.
ATALANTA VS ARSENAL PREDICTION
For many years now under Gian Piero Gasperini, Atalanta have been one of the more entertaining sides to watch in European football, with their high-energy, attacking style of football earning plenty of plaudits from onlookers. They achieved success in the Europa League last season, but the Champions League is a step-up in quality and Arsenal represent one of the most difficult teams to beat in European football.
Although the Gunners have been impressive in defence this season, Atalanta – under their own roof – will be keen to start on a positive note and have the quality in their ranks to cause problems for the Arsenal defence. They will be vulnerable at the other end of the pitch though, so over 2.5 goals could be the play here.
ATALANTA VS ARSENAL TIP: OVER 2.5 GOALS
