Juventus and Atalanta will lock horns in a pivotal clash at the top end of the table, with both sides aiming to keep the pressure on the Milan clubs.
Gian Piero Gasperini will want his side to show consistency ahead of a tricky run of games. Despite Atalanta occupying the fourth spot on the table, the Bergamo side have not showcased the certain form that makes them title contenders or even top-four challengers, for that matter, ahead of a critical game against Juventus.
As things stand, Gasperini’s men can disrupt the top order and apply ample pressure on the Milan clubs who occupy the spots at the summit. Atalanta have not had a consistent run of results, losing twice in their six games so far. But they have managed victories in their last two.
A midweek win over Hellas Verona took them into the top four, as they sit a point below Sunday’s opponents Juventus. Gasperini will pray for the Milan clubs to drop points as it will allow the Bergamo side to close the gap, which currently stands at only three points entering into matchday seven.
Massimiliano Allegri, on the other hand, will have been left scratching his head at the outcome of last weekend’s clash against Sassuolo. A bizarre own goal late in the game all but ended Juventus’s hopes of securing a draw that resulted in their first loss of this season.
L'energia di un abbraccio: buongiorno, Bianconeri! 🤍🖤🫂 pic.twitter.com/hmxAwyRPQu
— JuventusFC (@juventusfc) September 28, 2023
Juventus did respond with a narrow 1-0 win over ten-man Lecce in midweek, which took them closer to the Milan clubs. Currently, the Bianconeri sit in third and two points behind the top two, meaning a positive result over Atalanta could bring them closer to the summit.
Incidentally, a win over Atalanta and losses for the Milan clubs could result in Juventus finishing the weekend with a one-point lead at the summit. However, the form of those two sides would ensure at least one of them gets a positive result, and as things stand, Juventus will likely remain where they are in the standings right now.
Team News & Tactics
Atalanta
For Gian Piero Gasperini, there are not too many problems with the squad. The only two players missing are summer signings El Bilal Toure and Gianluca Scamacca, and nothing has come out of the ordinary in the last few games.
Carichi per domani? 👌🏼🔥
Ready for #AtalantaJuve? 👌🏼🦾#GoAtalantaGo ⚫🔵 pic.twitter.com/97mxLTSRqQ
— Atalanta B.C. (@Atalanta_BC) September 30, 2023
The manager will ring some changes to his side following the midweek clash against Verona. Gasperini chose Mario Pasalic in a false-nine role but could revert at the weekend with the two-prone partnership of Charles De Ketelaere and Ademola Lookman.
Top-assister Teun Koopmeiners will play behind those two and should pull the strings in the attacking third. Gasperini will continue to prefer a back three, with Rafael Toloi, Giorgio Scalvini, and Sead Kolasinac the likely starters there.
On the wings, Davide Zappacosta and Matteo Ruggeri will take charge and look to stretch the Juventus backline with their forward forays. In central midfield, the manager is unlikely to change anything as of now, with Marten de Roon and Ederson set to keep their partnership alive.
Probable Lineup (3-4-1-2): Musso; Toloi, Scalvini, Kolasinac; Zappacosta, De Roon, Ederson, Ruggeri; Lookman, Koopmeiners; De Ketelaere
Juventus
Massimiliano Allegri, too, does not have any fresh concerns with his squad, with Alex Sandro, Mattia De Sciglio, and Paul Pogba the current absentees. The only other doubt is with main striker Dusan Vlahovic, who continued to train separately but is expected to recover from a back problem in time for this game.
🏃♂️🆙 Allenamento in vista di #AtalantaJuve ️💪 pic.twitter.com/NYIpKuHmyX
— JuventusFC (@juventusfc) September 28, 2023
If the Serb makes himself available, then Allegri will have a selection dilemma, as midweek matchwinner Arkadiusz Milik will have knocked on the manager’s door with that performance against Lecce. However, the Juventus boss is likely to stick with Vlahovic and the in-demand Federico Chiesa if the former is fit to start.
Other than that, Allegri is likely to retain all personnel that started against Lecce, including the three defenders at the back. In midfield, he will once again rely on Manuel Locatelli to pull the strings and support from Nicolo Fagioli and Adrien Rabiot.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Szczesny; Rugani, Bremer, Danilo; McKennie, Fagioli, Locatelli, Rabiot, Cambiaso; Vlahovic, Chiesa
Key Stats
- Atalanta have won all their matches at home in Serie A this season.
- Atalanta have only one victory in their last ten games against Juventus at home.
- Atalanta have won four of their six Serie A games this season.
- Juventus are undefeated in 35 of their last 38 matches against Atalanta in all competitions.
- Juventus have only one loss in their Serie A campaign this term.
Player to Watch
Federico Chiesa
🦶 Federico Chiesa has had more touches in the opposition box (40) than any other player in Serie A this season pic.twitter.com/Q486jfCmu5
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) September 27, 2023
A stellar start to the campaign will have boosted the winger’s confidence after a sub-par season last time out. Chiesa has never started a professional campaign with his current numbers and will hope to build on this in the coming games.
However, he and his Juventus teammates have somewhat struggled at times, and the loss against Sassuolo showed just that. Massimiliano Allegri will hope that loss was just a blip in their form, as he completely expects Chiesa & Co. to bounce back and put in a solid performance against Atalanta.
Prediction
Atalanta 1-2 Juventus
This clash between the third and fourth placed team offers very little in terms of productivity from either side, but surely promises to be an entertaining encounter. Both teams have had a similar run of form since the campaign began, and this does have the elements of being a cagey clash.
Yet, Juventus could rely on their experience, especially Massimiliano Allegri’s against Gian Piero Gasperini, to get three points here. Both sides have the quality in all areas. But Juventus may have that slight edge to dictate the direction of the win in this encounter.
