High-flying Atalanta look to add to their four-game win streak by taking on title contenders Roma in Bergamo.
Coach Gian Piero Gasperini’s Atalanta have been this season’s surprise package, currently sitting in fifth place, beating the likes of Napoli and Inter along the way. The seasoned tactician seems to have found the right balance in his side, highlighted by the fact that Atalanta have scored nine goals in their last five games, while keeping clean sheets in four of them.
Atalanta’s tactics fall into the traditional Gasperini mould, using a permutation of a 3-5-2 or a 3-4-1-2 to load the midfield, while stretching play out wide to open up opposition’s defences. Critical to the success of this plan is the work rate of the wide midfielders, who will try to exploit the Roman defence, especially on the flanks, while helping to keep Roma’s flying wingers at bay.
Gasperini will have to make do without his injured defenders Rafael Toloi, Abdoulay Konko and the suspended Andrea Conti, who played important roles in their team’s good run.
Roma are another of the league’s high fliers. The Lupi currently look like the only side that might actually put up a challenge for the title, and having won five of their last six matches, they will look to add to their Scudetto credentials by beating the hosts.
There is no doubt that Roma’s prowess lies in attack. Luciano Spalletti has found the right formula in the attacking trident of Diego Perotti, Edin Dzeko and Mohammed Salah, giving the Giallorossi the right balance of speed, skill, vision and finishing ability in front of goal.
That being said, the league’s most successful attack should not expect scoring against the hosts to be a foregone conclusion. Atalanta’s defensive trio of highly-rated Italian starlet Mattia Caldara, Andrea Masiello and ex-Romanista Ervin Zukanovic will provide a tough challenge to the visitors’ attacking ambitions.
Roma have not beaten Atalanta since November 2014, managing two draws and a defeat, home and away. Last term this fixture was a spectacular 3-3 draw in which the Giallorossi were leading 2-0 and then losing 3-2 until Francesco Totti’s late strike.
Keep an eye on: Alejandro Gomez (Atalanta) – The wily Argentinean forward has been key to Atalanta’s good form this season. Sliding into spaces and pulling defenders away to create opportunities for his attacking partners, it’s no wonder he’s been linked with a January move to Roma.
Form Guide: Atalanta (W W W W D) Roma (W D W W W)
Last season: Atalanta 3-3 Roma
Stat fact: Roma currently have the league’s top scorer and top assist maker in their squad in Edin Dzeko and Mohamed Salah respectively.
Atalanta (probable): Berisha; Masiello, Caldara, Zukanovic; Spinazzola, Freuler, Gagliardini, Raimondi; Kurtic; Gomez, Petagna
Suspended: Conti
Roma (probable): Szczesny; Rudiger, Fazio, Manolas, Peres; Strootman, De Rossi; Perotti, Nainggolan, Salah; Dzeko