Atalanta vs Udinese: Team News, Preview & Predicted Lineups | Serie A

Bergamo, Italy – Atalanta BC will host Udinese on Saturday evening in a Serie A contest with significant implications for European qualification. Coming off their first domestic defeat of the year, Atalanta aims to regain momentum as they navigate a busy schedule encompassing league play, the Coppa Italia and the Champions League. The match, set for 17:00 UTC at the New Balance Arena, pits a side desperate for points against a resilient Udinese team looking to solidify their mid-table position.

Atalanta’s recent form has been a rollercoaster. After a remarkable February that saw them advance to the Coppa Italia semi-finals, defeat Napoli in Serie A, and eliminate Borussia Dortmund from the Champions League, a 2-1 loss to Sassuolo brought them back down to earth. Their subsequent 1-1 draw with Lazio in the first leg of their Coppa Italia semi-final, featuring a late equalizer from Yunus Musah, leaves the tie delicately poised. Now, six points shy of the Champions League places, Raffaele Palladino’s side knows a slip-up could prove costly.

Udinese, meanwhile, arrives in Bergamo having found form themselves. A recent 3-0 victory over Fiorentina, fueled by goals from Christian Kabasele, Adam Buksa, and Keinan Davis, halted a three-game losing streak and propelled them back into the top ten of the Serie A standings. Kosta Runjaic’s team appears to have stabilized after a worrying dip in form, and are now focused on securing a comfortable mid-table finish.

Head-to-Head History Favors Atalanta

Historically, the fixture has favored Atalanta, particularly in Bergamo. Udinese has lost six of their last eight away games against Atalanta, being outscored 19-5 in those encounters. However, Udinese secured a 1-0 victory in the reverse fixture in November, raising the possibility of consecutive league wins over Atalanta for the first time in two decades. Fotmob provides detailed head-to-head statistics for the matchup.

Team News and Potential Lineups

Atalanta will be without Charles De Ketelaere due to injury. There are also concerns over the fitness of Ederson (muscular issue), Giacomo Raspadori (recently resumed training), and Giorgio Scalvini (knock sustained on Wednesday). Should Ederson be unavailable, Mario Pasalic, who has four Serie A goals against Udinese, could deputize in midfield. Nikola Krstovic is expected to challenge Gianluca Scamacca for a starting spot up front.

Udinese welcomes back Keinan Davis, who has been directly involved in 11 Serie A goals this season, a significant improvement from his previous tally of three. Davis is expected to partner with former Atalanta player Nicolo Zaniolo in attack. Defenders Oumar Solet and Nicolo Bertola remain sidelined, along with long-term absentee Alessandro Zanoli. Arthur Atta is also doubtful with a muscle strain.

Atalanta BC possible starting lineup: Carnesecchi; Kossounou, Djimsiti, Ahanor; Zappacosta, De Roon, Pasalic, Bernasconi; Samardzic, Zalewski; Scamacca

Udinese possible starting lineup: Okoye; Kristensen, Kabasele, Mlacic; Ehizibue, Ekkelenkamp, Karlstrom, Piotrowski, Zemura; Zaniolo, Davis

What to Watch For

The midfield battle will be crucial, with Atalanta’s Pasalic potentially playing a key role if Ederson is unable to feature. Udinese’s ability to exploit Atalanta’s potential defensive vulnerabilities, particularly on the flanks, will also be a key factor. The return of Keinan Davis provides Udinese with a potent attacking threat, and his partnership with Zaniolo will be closely watched.

Analysts predict a closely contested match, with a 1-1 draw a likely outcome. While Atalanta’s need for points is greater, Udinese’s recent form and two extra days of rest deliver them a competitive edge. The outcome could significantly impact Atalanta’s chances of securing a Champions League spot.

The match promises to be a captivating encounter as both teams vie for crucial points in the Serie A standings. Fans can expect a hard-fought battle with potential implications for the European qualification race. Share your predictions and thoughts in the comments below!