Head-to-Head
Atalanta and Bologna have played to a draw once, and each won twice in the last five head-to-head meetings.
Atalanta (home)
- Atalanta Bergamo are seventh in Serie A with 58 points from 36 games, six ahead of Bologna F.C. in eighth place, and there will be a European place at stake on Sunday when these two clubs square off.
- Atalanta have been in inconsistent form in recent weeks, winning one, drawing two and losing two of their last five Serie A matches, but they did win 3-2 away from home at AC Milan last time out, a huge scalp and a fine performance.
- Raffaele Palladino has steered a new tactical course at the club since Gian Piero Gasperini’s departure, implementing a more selective, trigger-based approach to pressing with a 3-4-2-1 or 3-4-1-2 system that loads up the half-spaces, explodes in transition, and protects defensively.
- Atalanta have won nine of 18 home games this term, drawing six and losing only three, but are winless in their last two at the Gewiss Stadium, drawing once and losing once.
Bologna (away)
- Bologna F.C. have also been in mixed form, winning one, drawing one and losing three of their last five Serie A contests, although their win was a terrific 3-2 success at Napoli and their draw was a disappointing 0-0 draw at home with Cagliari.
- Vincenzo Italiano’s side are a possession side, but they set up in a compact 4-2-3-1 and stretch wide, with a man-oriented high press that is highly coordinated and a vertical style of attacking play that has created momentum over the past few months.
- Bologna have won nine of 18 away games this Serie A campaign, so it’s not as if they’re not up for this game at all.
Key Players
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So expect to see Teun Koopmeiners and Ademola Lookman driving Atalanta’s half-space overloads and vertical play, while Bologna F.C. will have Joshua Zirkzee moving off the ball and Lewis Ferguson running into the channels.
- Teun Koopmeiners
- Ademola Lookman
- Joshua Zirkzee
- Lewis Ferguson
Betting Insights
- Atalanta are favourites here, but the odds are short and this is a tough matchup.
- Back Over 2.5 goals at 1.71, and Both Teams to Score - Yes at 1.66.
