Bologna v Atalanta is a Serie A Week 17 match to be played on Monday at 20:45: odds, predictions, TV and streaming.
In one fell swoop Atalanta can retake Lazio and Roma and return to fifth place. The two Roma sides failed to make the breakthrough yesterday – the Biancocelesti were caught in the last minute by Empoli, while the Giallorossi drew with AC Milan at the San Siro at the end of the match – and the Bergamaschi have the chance, in the event of a victory in the post-match match in Bologna, to join them on 31 points and breathe Champions League air again.
The problem is that Gian Piero Gasperini’s team have been unable to win for four days now. The downturn which began in November, before the break for the world championships, and which was characterised by three consecutive defeats (Napoli, Lecce and Inter), has continued into the new year. The Nerazzurri took a big risk in the home game against Spezia, forced to come back from a two-goal deficit in the last quarter of an hour: the goal of the final 2-2 in the middle of the second half by Croatian midfielder Pasalic saved the day. Dea’s defence, among the least beaten in the first rounds, is now no longer a guarantee of safety. Since the home match against Napoli, Atalanta have never conceded less than two goals per game. Gasperini will have to find a solution to this worrying defensive haemorrhage as soon as possible if the objective is to return to compete in the most important cup.
In any case, the external performance continues to be better than the internal one: away from home Dea have scored 17 points, doing worse only than Napoli and Roma.
Motta
They will, however, find a team who have always won in front of their own public in their last three outings – four if we also consider the Coppa Italia match against Cagliari – as Thiago Motta’s Bologna. The Felsinei, on the other hand, are less effective away: after the 6-1 win over Inter last November, in their first match of 2023 they lost narrowly (1-0 with Pellegrini’s penalty) at the Stadio Olimpico against Mourinho’s Roma, remaining goalless after nine official matches. At the back, finally, the Rossoblù are not very solid: they have already conceded 26 goals.
Bologna-Atalanta: latest line-up news
Motta loses his striker Arnautovic, who has a foot problem and will definitely miss the match with Atalanta. The Austrian goes to crowd the infirmary, in which there are already Bonifazi, De Silvestri, Barrow and Zirkzee. The Italian-Brazilian is thinking of a 4-1-4-1 with Orsolini, Ferguson, Dominguez and Soriano behind the only forward Sansone. On the left flank Lykogiannis seems to be ahead of Cambiaso.
Gasperini also has some dilemmas in attack, considering that Zapata took a knock to the knee in the match against Spezia and is unlikely to recover for Bologna. He will be replaced by Hojlund, who is ready to flank Lookman: behind them Pasalic should win out over ex-Salerno man Ederson. On the flanks Hateboer and Ruggeri will most likely be preferred to Maehle and Zappacosta. Muriel is unavailable
The prediction
The absence of Arnautovic is a big problem for Bologna, who may also have to reckon with Atalanta’s desire to return to success after four games. La Dea have not impressed in recent outings but are slight favourites, also taking into account their excellent away numbers. Even the record seems to flirt with the Bergamasks, who have picked up ten points out of fifteen on their last five visits to Emilia. The total number of goals is likely to be at least two, as the two respective defences are proving far from impenetrable.
Bologna v Atalanta matchday squad
- BOLOGNA (4-1-4-1): Skorupski; Posch, Soumaoro, Lucumì, Lykogiannis; Medel; Orsolini, Ferguson, Dominguez, Soriano; Sansone.
- ATALANTA (3-4-1-2): Musso; Toloi, Palomino, Scalvini; Hateboer, de Roon, Koopmeiners, Ruggeri; Pasalic; Lookman, Hojlund.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-2
