Atalanta will aim to return to the top of the Serie A table when they take on Udinese at the Bluenergy Stadium on Saturday.
The second half of the 2024/25 Serie A season kicks off this week, and teams will start ramping up their efforts to achieve their objectives. Saturday will feature four matches, with the action on the day starting with two simultaneous games, including Udinese vs Atalanta at the Bluenergy Stadium.
Udinese could not have started the 2024/25 season better, embarking on a four-match unbeaten run that took them to the top of the table. However, Kosta Runjaic’s men have managed as many victories in their 12 subsequent top-flight games as they managed in their opening four outings. That has left the Le Zebrette in the ninth spot in the standings.
As for Atalanta, Gian Piero Gasperini continues to wield the magic wand despite operating on a shoestring budget. The Italian tactician has transformed another eye-catching team into a force to reckon with. However, interestingly, the start La Dea made to the 2024/25 season was a direct contradiction to Udinese’s, winning only two games on the first six matchdays to drop to 12th in the standings.
However, Gasperini’s men have not lost a Serie A game since September, dropping points only twice. The exceptional run of results has taken Atalanta to second in the standings, three points behind the table-topping Napoli with a game in hand.
The reverse fixture saw Atalanta come back from a one-goal deficit at half-time to beat Udinese 2-1, with Isaak Toure scoring an own goal to condemn his side to a defeat. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Udinese
Kosta Runjaic has a new roster issue hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. The Udinese manager will be bereft of the services of as many as four first-team players vs Atalanta on Saturday.
Lorenzo Lucca is the latest absentee after picking up his fifth booking of the 2024/25 Serie A season against Hellas Verona last week. The Italian striker has joined Maduka Okoye (wrist), Gerard Deulofeu (knee), and Keinan Davis (muscle injury) on the sidelines.
Razvan Sava will take his spot between the sticks, with Udinese lining up in a 3-5-2 formation in front of him vs Atalanta on Saturday. The central defensive unit should feature Oumar Solet, Jaka Bijol, and Thomas Kristensen. Kingsley Ehizibue and Jordan Zemura will likely start as the two wing-backs.
The duo will provide width in the final third, with the duo taking charge of the creative workload. As for the midfield unit, Sandi Lovric, Jesper Karlstrom, and Martin Payero will line up in the middle of the park, looking to keep things tight and initiate swift transitions. Finally, Alexis Sanchez will replace Lucca as Florian Thauvin’s strike partner.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Sava; Solet, Bijol, Kristensen; Ehizibue, Lovric, Karlstrom, Payero, Zemura; Thauvin, Sanchez
Atalanta
Unlike his counterpart in the Udinese dugout, Gian Piero Gasperini has greeted a positive update on the team news front ahead of his side’s latest fixture. The Atalanta manager might be without only two first-team players on Saturday.
Mateo Retegui is closing in on returning from a hamstring injury, although Saturday’s game against Udinese might have come too soon for him. Meanwhile, Gianluca Scamacca (knee) and El Bilal Toure (ankle) remain on the sidelines.
Marco Carnesecchi will be the automatic pick between the sticks, with Atalanta lining up in a 3-4-1-2 formation in front of him vs Udinese on Saturday. The central defensive unit should feature Odilon Kossounou, Berat Djimsiti, and Sead Kolasinac. Raoul Bellanova and Matteo Ruggeri will start as the two wing-backs.
The duo will provide width in the final third and drop deep during the defensive phases. As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Ederson and Marten de Roon in the double pivot. Former Udinese playmaker Lazar Samardzic will reprise the no. 10 role, pulling the strings from the advanced positions. Finally, Charles De Ketelaere and Ademola Lookman will be the two strikers for the away side.
Probable Lineup (3-4-1-2): Carnesecchi; Kossounou, Djimsiti, Kolasinac, Bellanova; Ederson, de Roon, Ruggeri; Samardzic; De Ketelaere, Lookman
Key Stats
- Atalanta are undefeated in their last 14 matches vs Udinese in all competitions.
- Atalanta are on a 14-game unbeaten run vs Udinese, claiming nine wins and five draws since a 2-1 defeat in October 2017.
- Atalanta have not faced a defeat in their last 13 matches in Serie A.
- Udinese have failed to win their last four home matches, picking up only one point from a possible 12 since the start of November.
- Atalanta are unbeaten in seven away games, claiming five wins and two draws since a 4-0 loss at Inter Milan on August 30.
Player to Watch
Charles De Ketelaere
Ademola Lookman, Alexis Sanchez, and Florian Thauvin were viable candidates for this section, but we have picked Charles De Ketelaere as the Player to Watch for Saturday’s game. The Belgian international has gone from strength to strength since joining Atalanta from AC Milan. He has been exceptional thus far this term, amassing ten goals and nine assists in 26 outings.
The youngster’s exploits have also piqued the attention of several high-profile clubs across Europe. Amid all the noise surrounding him, De Ketelaere’s focus remains on the task at hand, and he will aim to guide Atalanta back to winning ways after last week’s defeat in the semi-final of the Supercoppa Italiana.
Prediction
Udinese 1-3 Atalanta
Atalanta will be itching to return to action after going down to Inter Milan in the Supercoppa Italiana semi-final, and an inconsistent Udinese will present a superb opportunity to return to winning ways.
A measured look at things suggests Atalanta’s form in other competitions seldom affects the team in Serie A. So, with Udinese struggling in the final third and in the middle of a four-game winless run at the Bluenergy Stadium, a straightforward victory is on the cards for the away side. The Hard Tackle predicts a 3-1 win for Gian Piero Gasperini and his charges.
