Atalanta BC hopes to quickly recover from last week’s loss of their unbeaten streak when they travel to Empoli at Stadio Carlo Castellani on Sunday.
La Dea lost 2-0 to Lazio at home, dropping them to fourth in the Serie A standings, but they have won four and drawn one of their away games thus far. Despite suffering a severe loss the last time out, their hosts are currently positioned in the middle of the table.
Atalanta was aware that an in-form Lazio team would challenge that status last Sunday when the teams met in Bergamo. Atalanta is one of only four clubs in the top five European leagues that have yet to experience defeat this season.
Ciro Immobile, La Dea’s capocannoniere, was injured and couldn’t play, but the visitors were still able to crack the previously impenetrable defence more than once, and goals early in both halves sent Maurizio Sarri’s team back to Rome with all three points. Atalanta, on the other hand, was unable to get a single shot on goal, and their misery was made worse when Luis Muriel was dismissed late in the game.
La Dea are now five points behind unrelenting leaders Napoli but remain in the mix for the top-four race, sitting above Juventus, Inter, and Roma. They are level with Lazio on 24 points from 11 games.
Gian Piero Gasperini will expect his team to resume their winning ways in Tuscany this weekend after losing and going scoreless for the first time this season. This is because they have clearly improved since ending the 2021–22 season with back-to-back losses in May, one of which came against Empoli.
Since Atalanta must play both Napoli and Inter in their final three games before the World Cup, the need to win at Stadio Castellani is even more urgent.
Gasperini has had more time to work with his team on the training field this season, which has been one of the few advantages of being barred from European competition. As a result, they should be in top shape for Serie A’s early Sunday kickoff.
Empoli now has the opportunity to win back-to-back matches in the top division against Atalanta after their 1-0 victory in their most recent meeting in Bergamo.
Success was scarce for the Tuscan team in 2022 after a promising start to life back in the Italian elite. However, under new coach Paolo Zanetti, things have slowly started to turn around.
The Azzurri are five points clear of the Serie A drop zone going into the 12th round despite a 4-0 loss to fallen giants Juventus last weekend. Their only defeats since August have come against Roma, Milan, and Juve.
While Atalanta will not be taken lightly and their final away game is at Napoli’s intimidating southern stronghold, Stadio Maradona, there is still time for them to improve their situation before all attention turns to Qatar.
Zanetti’s most obvious limitation, however, remains a negligible goal threat: Empoli have scored just 10 goals this season across 12 league and cup games, despite dominating possession against Juventus.
Team News
Atalanta’s captain Rafael Toloi’s return to full training this week was welcomed news, but it was effectively negated by a medical update on Marten de Roon, a Dutch midfielder who is currently out with a hamstring injury.
Davide Zappacosta’s participation on Sunday is also in doubt, and Luis Muriel must serve a suspension after being kicked out of the game against Lazio. Duvan Zapata, a fellow Colombian who scored during his prior visit to the Castellani in October 2021, is expected to take the lead for the latter.
The competition to replace Merih Demiral in the visitors’ back three will be between young players Giorgio Scalvini, Caleb Okoli, and Berat Djimsiti, who finished his injury comeback by starting last week.
Sam Lammers, an ex-Atalanta striker, meets with his former teammates in the meantime in an effort to sharpen his shooting technique for the occasion. Of all Serie A forwards who have only scored once this season, he has taken the most shots thus far.
Lammers and Nicolo Cambiaghi will be in the running after Martin Satriano and Mattia Destro started up front against Juventus but both drew blanks once more. Ardian Ismajli and Lorenzo Tonelli, the hosts’ defensive pairing, may be out due to injury, and midfielder Alberto Grassi is also under question.
Empoli possible starting lineup:
Vicario; Stojanovic, De Winter, Luperto, Parisi; Haas, Marin, Bandinelli; Bajrami; Satriano, Sam Lammers
Atalanta BC possible starting lineup:
Sportiello; Okoli, Demiral, Djimsiti; Hateboer, Pasalic, Koopmeiners, Soppy; Ederson; Lookman, Duvan Zapata
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