Aiming to extend their impressive start to 2023, Atalanta BC welcome Serie A strugglers Sampdoria to the Gewiss Stadium on Saturday evening.
While the Bergamaschi shared six goals with Juventus in a thrilling contest last weekend, Samp slumped to their fourth straight loss in all competitions.
Match preview
© Reuters
An incredible rebirth for Ademola Lookman continued in Turin last week, as a remarkable start to his Calcio career hit its highest peak to date, with the winger bagging a brace against fallen giants Juventus at the Allianz Stadium.
The Nigeria international's 10th and 11th goals of his debut campaign helped Atalanta to a 3-2 lead heading into the final half-hour of a lively affair, but Danilo's equaliser hauled Juve level and denied La Dea all three points.
Nonetheless, Gian Piero Gasperini's men have now racked up 16 goals in their last three games; keeping them on the trail of Serie A's top four and seeing them through to the Coppa Italia quarter-finals too.
Lombardy neighbours Inter await in the last eight of a competition they came so close to winning in 2021, and just three days after entertaining Sampdoria, an all-Nerazzurri battle takes place at San Siro.
Having smashed eight goals past Salernitana in their most recent league fixture at the Gewiss Stadium before holding Juventus, Atalanta are just three points adrift of second-placed Milan and remain in contention for a return to the Champions League next term: five clubs are bunched behind runaway leaders Napoli.
They will surely fancy their chances of making further progress on Saturday night, as not only are their latest opponents mired in the relegation zone, but the Bergamaschi have won the teams' last four Serie A meetings by an aggregate scoreline of 11-1.
© Reuters
On their most recent trip to Bergamo, Sampdoria suffered a 4-0 defeat almost 12 months ago, and the Blucerchiati's long-suffering supporters may be fearing a repeat result this weekend.
While, Atalanta have recorded the most goals across the top 10 European leagues in January, Samp have scored the fewest in Serie A since the turn of the year - a mere two. Indeed, Saturday's hosts have also fired home the most goals from outside the box this season (eight) - as many as Sampdoria have scored in total.
Such a lack of firepower led to Samp's 14th league loss last week, when they were edged out late on by Udinese, who stunned the Marassi crowd by stealing maximum points and leaving the home side sitting second-bottom of the standings with half the season played.
A total of nine points from 19 games represents the club's worst start to any Serie A season, and only one of eight sides with so few points at this stage have defeated the drop since 1994.
Coach Dejan Stankovic, therefore, is under no illusions as to the size of his task in preventing the Ligurians following city rivals Genoa down to Serie B come the summer.
Time is still on the Serbian's side, at least, but his work is truly cut out to frustrate free-scoring Atalanta on home soil.
Team News
© Reuters
While Atalanta can welcome back midfield regular Teun Koopmeiners from a ban on Saturday, first-choice centre-back Jose Luis Palomino was forced off with an injury against Juventus and is set to miss out; Merih Demiral or Berat Djimsiti should replace the latter.
Davide Zappacosta's thigh problem could keep him sidelined until next month, so Joakim Maehle and Matteo Ruggeri are the main candidates for selection on the hosts' left flank.
Up front, Ademola Lookman became only the fourth man to reach double figures at the halfway stage of his first Serie A campaign for Atalanta by scoring twice in Turin, and young Rasmus Hojlund is his most likely partner.
Colombian duo Duvan Zapata and Luis Muriel may therefore be consigned to the bench again, and the latter's last league goal at the Gewiss Stadium was back in April of last year. He scored 21 times in 79 Serie A appearances for Sampdoria and has four in six against his former club since leaving.
Samp striker Fabio Quagliarella has also been short of his best form this term, having failed to score in 13 league outings so far: equalling his longest start to a season without a goal. However, he has 12 top-flight strikes against Atalanta already under his belt across a lengthy career.
Quagliarella should start on the bench, though, as Sam Lammers and Manolo Gabbiadini have been Dejan Stankovic's preferred pairing since Francesco Caputo left for Empoli.
Andrea Conti (tendon) and Ignacio Pussetto (knee) are still doubts due to injury, but English midfielder Harry Winks made a long-awaited first Serie A start last week and hopes to retain his place in the visitors' engine room.
Atalanta BC possible starting lineup:
Musso; Toloi, Demiral, Scalvini; Hateboer, De Roon, Koopmeiners, Maehle; Boga, Lookman; Hojlund
Sampdoria possible starting lineup:
Audero; Murillo, Nuytinck, Amione; Zanoli, Rincon, Winks, Augello; Djuricic; Lammers, Gabbiadini
We say: Atalanta BC 2-1 Sampdoria
Having apparently reverted to the Atalanta of old, the hosts should have few difficulties in picking their way through Samp's porous defence, but could also get caught on the counter themselves. Though not always as comfortable at home as on the road, La Dea's hot streak will continue with another win.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Jonathan O'Shea
