MILAN:
Atalanta are on the comeback path forward of Sunday evening’s go to of Serie A leaders Inter Milan, with coach Raffaele Palladino main the cost for the revitalised Bergamo membership.
Since Palladino changed Ivan Juric final month Atalanta have rediscovered their groove, as witnessed by the best way they handled Eintracht Frankfurt and Chelsea within the Champions League.
Atalanta sit fifth within the Champions League, degree on factors with mega-bucks Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester Metropolis, and now they’re heading again up the Serie A desk.
A final-gasp win at Genoa final weekend put Atalanta again within the prime half of Italy’s prime flight and solely three factors off the European spots.
“It wasn’t considered one of our higher performances however at this time profitable was what counted,” stated Palladino after the victory over Genoa.
“These three factors had been massively essential for us to maintain our run going and get us up the best finish of the desk.”
Sunday’s conflict in Bergamo is the primary of three fixtures towards direct rivals for Champions League soccer.
Fourth-placed Roma, who’re eight factors away from Atalanta, journey north on the flip of the 12 months earlier than the quick journey to Bologna, who sit within the Convention League spot.
Atalanta have gained six of their eight matches in all competitions beneath Palladino, who already seems to be extra like the best substitute for Gian Piero Gasperini than Juric ever did.
Nonetheless, Palladino will probably be with out key attacker Ademola Lookman and defender Odilon Kossounou who’re representing Nigeria and Ivory Coast on the Africa Cup of Nations.
“We hold scaling a mountain {that a} month in the past appeared unattainable,” stated Palladino.
“Let’s benefit from the second as a result of we have three huge matches developing and we are able to take them on in the best spirit.”
Inter lead native rivals AC Milan — who host Verona — by a single level on the prime of the desk with champions Napoli an additional level again in third forward of their difficult journey to Jamie Vardy’s Cremonese.
However Inter have been on a visit to Saudi Arabia for a failed try and win the Italian Tremendous Cup, a event gained by Napoli which has additional clogged up their schedule and left them, Milan, Napoli and Bologna with a sport in hand on Roma and fifth-placed Juventus.
The primary two weeks of January every have midweek rounds of matches in retailer for the Tremendous Cup golf equipment, with the next two weeks containing the decisive closing fixtures of the Champions League’s expanded league part.
Inter coach Cristian Chivu has misplaced Ange-Yoan Bonny to a knee damage picked up in coaching, the Frenchman becoming a member of Denzel Dumfries, Franceco Acerbi and Hakan Calhanoglu on the therapy desk.
Man to observe: Daniele De Rossi
De Rossi will make an emotional return to the Stadio Olimpico on Monday evening when his Genoa crew journey to the Italian capital hoping to bounce again after two unlucky defeats to Inter and Atalanta.
The Roma icon and World Cup-winning midfielder took his boyhood membership to the 2024 Europa League semi-final however was fired after a poor begin final season.
He was sacked following a draw at Genoa in September final 12 months, sparking livid protests from Roma followers, and he will probably be given a hero’s welcome from house supporters.
Genoa sit two factors above the drop zone whereas Roma are three factors behind Inter having performed a sport extra.
Key stats
4 – The variety of factors which separate leaders Inter from fifth-placed Juventus.
3 – Atalanta have already gained yet another league match beneath Palladino than the 2 gained with Ivan Juric.
Fixtures (instances GMT)
Saturday
Parma v Fiorentina (1130), Lecce v Como, Torino v Cagliari (1400), Udinese v Lazio (1700), Pisa v Juventus (1945)
Sunday
AC Milan v Verona (1130), Cremonese v Napoli (1400), Bologna v Sassuolo (1700), Atalanta v Inter (1945)
Monday
Roma v Genoa (1945)
