Spezia-Atalanta is a Week 16 match of Serie A and will be played on Wednesday at 14:30: odds, predictions, TV and streaming.
Atalanta were also in flashes in the friendlies played during the World Cup break: they beat two European sides such as Nice and Betis 3-0, but also lost on penalties to Eintracht Frankfurt after a pyrotechnic 2-2 draw and narrowly (0-1) to Dutch side Az Alkmaar. An indecipherable trend, as it had been in the last months of the championship, from which Dea had bid farewell with three consecutive defeats.
Two of these came in direct clashes with Napoli and Inter, both played in front of their own public. The third, hardly predictable, on the pitch of a newly-promoted team like Lecce. The long unbeaten streak, which had continued for the first ten matches, had ended with the home defeat against Lazio: like last year, the Gewiss Stadium continues to be a factor – but a negative one – for Gian Piero Gasperini’s men, who, not by chance, have collected five more points away from home, conceding less than half the goals conceded at their own stadium. Fourth place ambitions downsized? In part yes, but it must be considered that despite having slipped to sixth place, Atalanta remain three points behind Lazio and Inter in fourth place.
Luca Gotti’s Spezia, on the other hand, are fighting for completely different goals. Before the break, they had ended their winless streak by winning 2-1 at home to Verona, taking them to +6 over the relegation zone. The Ligurians thus broke the away taboo: before the Bentegodi match they had not even collected a point away from the ‘Picco’, winning 10 of their 13 points exclusively at home.
Spezia-Atalanta: latest line-up news
Gotti can count on the entire squad at his disposal, with the exception of goalkeeper Dragowski. After the big scare in Verona, the Polish extreme defender, despite missing the World Cup, has almost recovered and should be back by mid-January. Zoet will play in his place.
Nzola’s exultation
Striker Verde is also in doubt and will be assessed a few hours earlier. Up front, the former Udinese coach relies on the tried and tested Nzola-Gyasi pair, while in midfield Holm and Amian and Kovalenko and Reca are competing for a place. Atalanta’s goalkeeper Musso could be out – Sportiello is on the alert – as well as the injured Demiral and Hateboer. Palomino will be back in defence, while Maehle and Soppy will play on the outside lanes. The knots to untie are from the midfield upwards, where Ederson is being challenged by Pasalic and Muriel is vying for a shirt with compatriot Zapata.
The Prediction
Atalanta should start in another mood in their first match of 2023 and there is a good chance they will return from Liguria with three points in their pockets. Gasperini’s Nerazzurri are especially strong away from home and have the third best performance in the league after Napoli and Roma. Since Spezia’s return to Serie A, they have never managed to beat La Dea, picking up barely a point in four matches. Likely, however, Gotti’s team will score at least one goal in a potentially prolific match.
The likely team line-up for Spezia-Atalanta
- SPEZIA (3-5-2): Zoet; Ampadu, Kiwior, Nikolaou; Holm, Agudelo, Bourabia, Kovalenko, Bastoni; Nzola, Gyasi.
- ATALANTA (3-4-1-2): Sportiello; Toloi, Palomino, Djimsiti; Maehle, de Roon, Koopmeiners, Soppy; Ederson; Lookman, Zapata.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-2
