Atalanta host Fiorentina at the Stadio Atleti Azzuri D’Italia on Sunday in Serie A.
The two teams have started the new season in an indifferent manner, as the Orobici had not yet tasted defeat, while the Viola are still looking for their first victory.
Last weekend, Stefano Colantono’s men grabbed an important 2-1 victory at Cagliari that now sees them sitting in sixth place at the table with four points. Following the 2-0 defeat to Roma on opening day, the team led by Vincenzo Montella managed only to a 0-0 draw at home against a 10-man Genoa side.
The Viola completed a sweep over their opponents last season with two 2-0 victories, the goals in Bergamo coming from Matias Fernandes and Giuseppe Rossi. There is a tendency for the matches between these two teams to end with a winner, and recent history heavily favors the visitors, with the Viola having won the last four matches with a combined goal difference of 10-1.
If the Orobici aim at finishing any higher than the 11th position at which they found themselves at the end of last season, it would be crucial to make their home ground a fortress. Also, timing might be just right to face Fiorentina, who competed in the Europa League on Thursday, defeating French side Guingamp 3-0.
On the other hand, in order to break into the Champions League spots this campaign, the Viola must make the most of their full squad to find the perfect balance between Europe and Serie A, and any points against teams from the bottom half would be deemed a setback in their motivated coach’s eyes.
Expected Starting XIs
Atalanta – Sportiello; Drame, Blava, Benalouane, Zappacosta; Carmona, Cigarini, D’Alessandro, Estigarribia; Denis; Boakye
Fiorentina – Neto; Alonso, Savic, Rodriguez, Tomovic; Pizarro, Valero, Aquilani, Babacar, Cuadrado; Gomez
