Chievo will be looking to secure a victory over Atalanta at the Stadio Bentegodi in their final home game of the 2014-15 campaign on Sunday.
The Flying Donkeys have already guaranteed their Serie A safety this season as they currently sit in 14th place with 42 points and will now only be looking to slightly improve their ranking in their final display in front of their home fans.
Rolando Maran’s men had gone unbeaten in six games up until their most recent 2-0 away loss to Torino on May 17 and haven’t lost at home since their 2-1 defeat to Napoli on February 1.
The Orobici had also gone unbeaten in six straight matches up until their poor 4-1 defeat to Genoa at home on May 17 and will be focused on continuing their string of positive results on the road as they prepare to head to Verona, having been able to secure points in their last five away matches.
Despite their loss to the Grifone, the 17th place Bergamo outfit have still earned a spot in the Serie A next term due to their eight point lead over 18th place Cagliari, which puts them fully out of the Isolani’s reach regardless of the results in these final two games of the campaign.
Atalanta have the advantage over their hosts when it comes to their ability to secure a positive result in recent years, winning three times and drawing twice in their last five meetings with the Gialloblu. The previous clash between the two sides this season resulted in a 1-1 draw, while Chievo haven’t been able to secure a victory over La Dea since managing a 1-0 win at home in January 2013.
Rolando Maran will have almost his entire squad available to him with the exception of Federico Mattiello, who will be out until next season, and Perparim Hetemaj, who will need to be evaluated ahead of the clash with La Dea.
None of the Chievo players are currently suspended, though Mariano Julio Izco, Dario Dainelli, Cristiano Biraghi, Bostjan Cesar, Ivan Radovanovic and Ervin Zukanovic all sit one yellow card away from picking up a temporary ban.
Atalanta boss Edy Reja will have to build his squad without several key players due to a number of injuries and suspensions, with Cristian Raimondi, Marcelo Estigarribia and Andrea Masiello all expected to miss out on the match.
Key players German Denis, Mauricio Pinilla, Giulio Migliaccio and Carlos Carmona will all be out serving a one-match ban, while Richmond Boakye, Boukary Drame and Maximiliano Moralez all remain one booking away from receiving suspensions of their own.
Form Guide: Chievo (L-D-D-W-D-D), Atalanta (L-W-D-D-D-D)
Expected Starting XIs
Chievo: Bizzarri; Biraghi, Cesar, Dainelli, Frey; Birsa, Christiansen, Radovanovic, Schelotto; Meggiorini, Paloschi.
Atalanta: Sportiello; Drame, Cherubin, Stendardo, Bellini; Emanuelson, Cigarini, Baselli; Gomez, Bianchi, D’Alessandro.
