Atalanta will hope to hold onto their hopes of a top-four finish when they travel to AC Monza on Sunday.
At opposite ends of the Serie A spectrum, AC Monza and Atalanta BC face off on Sunday in a match that could simultaneously confirm relegation for the hosts and revitalise La Dea’s pursuit of a top-four finish. As the season enters its final stretch, the stakes couldn’t be clearer. Atalanta must win to stay in control of their Champions League destiny, while Monza are clinging to Serie A status by the thinnest of threads.
Gian Piero Gasperini’s Atalanta arrive at the U-Power Stadium having dropped crucial points at home to Lecce last weekend, a result that further tightened an already congested race for the top four. The match, which was delayed following the death of Lecce’s club doctor, proved to be an emotional and frustrating affair for La Dea, who fell behind before Mateo Retegui salvaged a 1-1 draw with a second-half penalty.
Retegui’s strike was his 24th of the campaign, bringing him level with Pippo Inzaghi’s single-season club record from the 1996/97 season. With four matches still to play, the Italy international is on the cusp of history — and Atalanta will need his finishing touch more than ever.
While recent home results have left much to be desired, including underwhelming draws with Cagliari and Venezia, Atalanta have been a force away from Bergamo. Gasperini’s men have won five of their last six on the road, scoring an impressive 2.8 goals per game in that stretch while conceding just twice. In fact, only Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool have amassed more away points across Europe’s top five leagues in 2024/25.
With 65 points on the board, this is Atalanta’s third-best tally at this stage of a Serie A campaign. Defensively, they have also been superb, boasting their best goals-conceded record since 1965. For Gasperini, there is still plenty to celebrate, but only if his side avoid slipping out of the top four during the final weeks.
Monza, by contrast, have reached the point of no return. Following a 2-0 defeat to a 10-man Juventus last weekend, Alessandro Nesta’s team are now 12 points adrift of safety. Relegation will be officially confirmed on Saturday if results elsewhere go against them, potentially making Sunday’s match a mere formality.
Their recent form is damning: five straight losses, no goals scored in their last three matches, and just 15 points from 34 fixtures. Only two teams have posted fewer at this point in a Serie A season this century. If they lose on Sunday, Monza will match an unwanted club record of six consecutive top-flight defeats.
To make matters worse, Monza face an Atalanta side that has thoroughly dominated them in recent history. La Dea have won all five Serie A meetings between the sides, outscoring the Biancorossi 14-3 in the process. Adding to the concern, Monza’s defensive frailties from set-pieces and aerial duels remain glaring: they have conceded a league-high 18 headed goals, while only Inter Milan have scored more from headers than Atalanta’s 12.
With Monza’s exit from Serie A looming and Atalanta’s Champions League dream still alive, Sunday’s encounter feels like a clash of two teams heading in starkly different directions. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how both sides could line up and what tactics they might employ on the day.
Team News & Tactics
AC Monza
Monza enter Sunday’s clash against Atalanta BC with no major new injury concerns, but remain unable to field a full-strength squad. Manager Alessandro Nesta is still without Gianluca Caprari, who has endured a frustrating stop-start campaign due to persistent muscle problems. Additionally, Armando Izzo remains unavailable, sidelined through a long-term injury that have significantly limited Monza’s defensive options throughout the season.
The Biancorossi’s struggles in front of goal have also been exacerbated by the inconsistency of their attacking unit, with Andrea Petagna recently dropped in favour of a more mobile frontline. With relegation looming, Nesta may again opt for experience and defensive balance in a bid to stifle Atalanta’s high-octane forward line.
Monza are expected to continue with their 3-5-2 formation, a system that aims to provide defensive compactness while utilising width from wing-backs. In goal, Stefano Turati should retain his place as the first-choice shot-stopper. The back three will likely feature Pedro Pereira on the right, Luca Caldirola in the central role, and Tomas Palacios on the left side of the defensive trio.
In midfield, Samuele Birindelli is expected to start as the right wing-back, while Georgios Kyriakopoulos will operate on the left flank. The central trio is set to include Gaetano Castrovilli, Alessandro Bianco, and Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro, combining a mix of ball progression and defensive resilience.
Up front, Dany Mota will likely be partnered by Gianluca Caprari, offering mobility and pressing intent. However, the duo will need to rediscover their finishing instincts if Monza are to pose any threat to one of Serie A’s best defences.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Turati; Pereira, Caldirola, Palacios; Birindelli, Castrovilli, Bianco, Akpa Akpro, Kyriakopoulos; Mota, Caprari
Atalanta BC
Atalanta BC remain without a number of key figures as they continue their push for Champions League qualification. Gianluca Scamacca is still sidelined with a long-term muscular injury, while defenders Sead Kolasinac and Giorgio Scalvini are also ruled out for the remainder of the campaign. All three are expected to return only in the summer.
On a more positive note, Mateo Retegui, who overcame a thigh problem to start and score against Lecce last weekend, is fully fit and will continue to lead the line. Despite his overall prolific form this season, the Italy international is yet to score in a Serie A game against Monza, having played 269 minutes across appearances without finding the net against the Brianzoli.
Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is expected to stick with his preferred 3-4-2-1 formation, which has served Atalanta well during their strong run of away form. In goal, Marco Carnesecchi remains the first-choice option. The back three should include Odilon Kossounou on the right of the trio, Isak Hien centrally, and Berat Djimsiti on the left.
The wing-back roles will be filled by Raoul Bellanova on the right and Davide Zappacosta on the left, providing width and attacking thrust from deep positions. In central midfield, Marten de Roon and Ederson are expected to anchor the team, offering balance, tackling strength, and vertical progression.
Ahead of them, Mario Pasalic and Ademola Lookman will operate just behind the lone striker, with license to drift between lines and support the attack. Leading the line will be Mateo Retegui, who not only carries the burden of goals but also remains in the race to finish the season as Serie A’s top scorer.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Carnesecchi; Kossounou, Hien, Djimsiti; Bellanova, De Roon, Ederson, Zappacosta; Pasalic, Lookman; Retegui
Key Stats
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Atalanta have won all five of their Serie A meetings with Monza, making the Brianzoli the opponent they have defeated most consistently without dropping points. The aggregate score from those encounters stands at 14-3 in Atalanta’s favour.
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With just 15 points from 34 matches, Monza are enduring one of the worst campaigns in modern Serie A history. Since the three-points-for-a-win era began in 1994–95, only four teams have earned fewer points at this stage of a season.
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The Brianzoli have lost five consecutive league games, a run that has them on the brink of setting an unwanted club record. One more defeat would mark their first-ever run of six straight losses in Serie A.
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Monza have failed to score in each of their last three league outings. If they draw a blank again on Sunday, it will be the first time in their Serie A history they’ve gone four straight matches without scoring.
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With 65 points on the board, this is Atalanta’s third-best Serie A campaign at this stage, behind only 2019/20 (71 points) and 2020/21 (69 points). Even more impressively, they’ve conceded just 31 goals, their lowest total after 34 games since 1964–65.
Player to Watch
Ademola Lookman
In a game that could determine Atalanta’s grip on a Champions League spot, Ademola Lookman is poised to be a decisive figure. The Nigerian international has quietly grown into one of La Dea’s most consistent attacking outlets under Gian Piero Gasperini, bringing pace, flair, and incisiveness to their forward line.
While much of the spotlight has been on Mateo Retegui and his record-chasing exploits this season, Lookman’s contribution has been vital in giving Atalanta a dynamic edge in the final third. His ability to take on defenders one-on-one, cut inside from wide areas, and create chances in tight spaces makes him an ideal weapon against a Monza side that has looked disjointed and vulnerable defensively, especially from wide areas.
Lookman’s versatility allows him to operate either off the left flank or in a more central role behind the striker, making him difficult to mark. With Monza conceding a league-high number of headed goals and struggling to contain wingers who can whip dangerous balls into the box, Lookman’s delivery and dribbling may prove pivotal in creating goal-scoring opportunities for Retegui and others.
Additionally, Lookman is known for stepping up in crucial matches. His composure in the final third and ability to exploit defensive lapses make him a natural threat in transition, especially given Atalanta’s recent success on the road.
Prediction
AC Monza 0-3 Atalanta BC
Monza’s lack of fight, leaky defence, and inability to score suggest a bleak afternoon for Nesta’s men, especially against an Atalanta side that thrives away from home. Expect Mateo Retegui to continue his record-chasing form as La Dea take another crucial step toward securing their place in next season’s UEFA Champions League.
