On Sunday night in Bergamo, two of the top six teams in Serie A square off when Atalanta BC welcomes Lazio to the Gewiss Stadium.
After the first 10 rounds, the teams were separated by three points and three positions; they now meet for a match between two of Calcio’s tightest defences. This is a significant turnabout for clubs that have long been praised for their attacking philosophy.
Following last week’s victory over Sassuolo, Atalanta—who are still unbeaten this season—have been reborn as potential Scudetto contenders, with an emphasis on both their defensive tenacity and their attack’s efficiency.
Gian Piero Gasperini, a shrewd coach, has guided his team to second place, just two points behind leaders Napoli. The opening goal conceded by their opponents last Saturday was only their sixth overall. After Sassuolo unexpectedly took the lead, goals from Mario Pasalic and Ademola Lookman either side of halftime put Atalanta on the way to winning seven of their previous ten league games. Lookman scored in three straight games for the first time in his Premier League career.
Atalanta has so far not been troubled by a string of absences from their defensive unit, which includes starter Juan Musso and a number of center-backs. Caleb Okoli and Giorgio Scalvini, two defenders from Italy’s Under-21 team, have played key roles in Gasperini’s team’s ascent to the top, defying preseason predictions.
Lazio have lost just one of their last ten Serie A games against Napoli, as they get ready for one of their toughest tests yet. The teams drew both of their league meetings last year, and they now appear destined to compete in June for a top-four finish.
Lazio hasn’t lost there in their last two trips, and on Sunday, they’ll try to make it three straight wins there for the first time since 2007.
The fact that Maurizio Sarri’s team has won three of their last four league games without giving up a goal gives them a good chance to do so, and they may even end their hosts’ unbeaten run in the process.
After last week’s scoreless draw with fellow in-form team Udinese, the Aquile have now kept a clean sheet in their last five Serie A games overall, and they could go six games without conceding for just the second time in their history.
In their previous three games, they had scored a total of 12 goals, including two goals in Europe. Sarri will be counting on his well-oiled offensive machine to get back to work this weekend.
Lazio is one of four teams tied for first place in Group F, which resumes play on Thursday, and is far from assured of moving on in the Europa League. However, the capital’s expectations are gradually rising, especially in light of Roma’s recent resurgence. However, breaking through Serie A’s second-toughest defence will be no easy task given that star striker Ciro Immobile has been suspended until 2023.
When Ciro Immobile is not available to play, the Aquile’s winning percentage drops in half (to 27%) since he joined Lazio in 2016, and they will have to manage without their captain on Sunday. Due to a hamstring injury, the Italy striker is expected to miss at least seven games. As a result, Felipe Anderson or Pedro will have to fill in as a “false nine.”
The remaining members of Maurizio Sarri’s team should be available, which leaves him with a difficult decision to make in the midfield, where Matias Vecino, Danilo Cataldi, Luis Alberto, and Toma Basic compete to partner chief creator Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.
Meanwhile, Atalanta’s defence is still without the suspended Jose Luis Palomino and the injured Rafael Toloi, and wingback Davide Zappacosta has once again joined them on the sidelines.
While Giorgio Scalvini and Caleb Okoli are anticipated to keep their positions alongside Merih Demiral in central defence, Berat Djimsiti was back on the bench last week. Even better news for Gasperini is that Colombian striker Zapata is back in the game after missing several weeks due to a thigh injury. While his countryman Luis Muriel partners Ademola Lookman up front, he should start on the bench for Atalanta.
Atalanta BC possible starting lineup:
Sportiello; Scalvini, Demiral, Okoli; Hateboer, De Roon, Koopmeiners, Soppy; Pasalic; Lookman, Luis Muriel
Lazio possible starting lineup:
Provedel; Lazzari, Patric, Romagnoli, Marusic; Milinkovic, Cataldi, Vecino; Pedro, Anderson, Mattia Zaccagni
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