Atalanta are on the comeback path forward of Sunday night time’s go to of Serie A leaders Inter Milan, with coach Raffaele Palladino main the cost for the revitalized 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, stage 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 high half of Italy’s high flight and solely three factors off the European spots.
“It wasn’t one in all our higher performances however right this moment successful was what counted,” mentioned 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 suitable finish of the desk.”
Sunday’s conflict in Bergamo is the primary of three fixtures in opposition to 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 suitable alternative for Gian Piero Gasperini than Juric ever did.
Nonetheless, Palladino might 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 preserve scaling a mountain {that a} month in the past appeared unattainable,” mentioned Palladino.
“Let’s benefit from the second as a result of we have got three large matches arising and we will take them on in the suitable spirit.”
Inter lead native rivals AC Milan — who host Verona — by a single level on the high of the desk with champions Napoli an extra level again in third forward of their tough 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 recreation in hand in opposition to 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 last fixtures of the Champions League’s expanded league section.
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 remedy desk.
Man to look at
De Rossi will make an emotional return to the Stadio Olimpico on Monday night time when his Genoa group travels 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 might 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 recreation extra.
