Bologna v Atalanta – Preview: Donadoni hopes for perfect start to Rossoblu tenure

Date: 31st October 2015 at 10:41am
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Alejandro Papu Gomez AtalantaNew Bologna coach Roberto Donadoni will want to start his tenure in charge with a win when his side face Atalanta on Sunday afternoon at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara.

Outgoing coach Delio Rossi was sacked after a narrow 1-0 defeat against Inter, which was the final straw for the Bologna board.Rossi’s difficult start to the season has left Bologna in a relegation battle as they are four points away from safety, with only two wins on the board.

Donadoni’s challenge on the weekend will not be easy as he faces an in-form Atalanta team who have started Serie A brightly after ten games. The Orobici sit pretty in seventh place in the table after a late strike from Alejandro Gomez ensured all three points against Lazio, as the Bergamo side came back to win 2-1. The win was also coach Edy Reja’s 100 in Serie A and another victory on Sunday could put La Dea into a Europa League qualification spot should results go their away.

Atalanta fans will have fond memories of this fixture as the last time the two sides meet in March 2014 it was 2-0 win for the Orobici which signified a record six wins in a row in Serie A.

Sporticos_com_bologna_fc_vs_atalanta_bergamasca

Donadoni is expected to continue with Angelo Da Costa in goal, with Antonio Mirante still out injured. Bologna will be hoping €10 million man Mattia Destro may finally get off the mark for the club under a new coach.

Reja, meanwhile, is expected to make only one change from their win against Lazio. Defender Rafael Toloi who was suspended against the Biancocelesti should come back into the starting line-up.

Form Guide: Bologna (L-W-L-L-L) Atalanta (W-L-W-L-W)

Expected Starting XIs

Bologna: Da Costa; Ferrari, Rossettini, Gastaldello, Masina; Donsah, Diawara, Rizzo; Mounier, Destro, Giaccherini

Atalanta: Sportiello; Masiello, Toloi, Paletta, Drame; Grassi, De Roon, Cigarini; Moralez, Pinilla, A. Gomez

Infographic from www.sporticos.com

 

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