Atalanta-Lecce is a match valid for the 18th day of Serie A and is played on Saturday at 12:30 p.m.: odds, predictions, TV, streaming.
Atalanta a week ago got the worst of it in their direct clash with Bologna, pierced by a goal from Scotland’s Ferguson in the final (1-0). A match that undoubtedly confirmed the exponential growth of the Felsinei, now ready to fight for a goal as important as Europe, but also the discontinuity of a Dea that has to deal with a new stop after the double success with Milan and Salernitana.
Disappointment was clearly visible on Gian Piero Gasperini’s face at the end of the match: his team would probably have deserved something more but compared to the Felsinei they were not very cynical, wasting a couple of really good chances to take the lead and forcing the Rossoblù to revise their plans. However, the coach reiterated that Atalanta’s goal must be the Champions League, currently five points away. It will not be easy for the Nerazzurri to come out on top in a fight that so far has proven to be tight and involving at least six teams. Not to be missed, then, is the last challenge of 2023 with Lecce at the Gewiss Stadium, where the orobici have lost only two matches this year, against Inter and Napoli. For Roberto D’Aversa’s Salentini it will be the second away match in a row, another prohibitive one after the one with Inter in the pre-Christmas round. The 2-0 loss at San Siro interrupted a very long positive streak of the Giallorossi, who had not lost since the beginning of November and in which they had recorded four draws and one win. Lecce, for now, keeps a good distance from the relegation zone: it is +7 over third-last Cagliari.
Atalanta-Lecce: the latest lineup news
Gasperini will once again be able to count on Scamacca, who played a brief spell in Bologna. However, the former West Ham man is unlikely to start from 1′: he is likely to be used in the match, taking the place of one of Muriel or Lookman. In defense de Roon will move back a few meters again, completing the defensive trio with Djimsiti and Scalvini.
Two disqualified in the Lecce house, they are Pongracic and Banda. D’Aversa will prefer former Piccoli to Krstovic: with him in attack will be Strefezza and Oudin, the latter in the right outside role. In defense it’s the turn of Touba, who arrived in the summer on loan from Basaksehir.
The prediction
Lecce broke a long winning fast with Atalanta last February, returning with the three points from the away trip to Bergamo. It will be difficult to replicate that feat against a team that needs to get back on track after the Bologna misstep: Dea favored in a match in which the total goals could be at least three, a statistical trend that has been going on at Gewiss Stadium since mid-October.
The probable formations of Atalanta-Lecce
ATALANTA (3-4-1-2): Carnesecchi; Djimsiti, Scalvini, de Roon; Zappacosta, Ederson, Pasalic, Ruggeri; Koopmeiners; Muriel, Lookman.
LECCE (4-3-3): Falcone; Gendrey, Baschirotto, Touba, Dorgu; Gonzalez, Ramadani, Rafia; Oudin, Piccoli, Strefezza.
