[Serie A] Atalanta - Juventus (12 Viewers)
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Serie A Preview: Atalanta-Juventus
1/29/2005 3:24:00 PM
The Bianconeri travel to bottom-placed Atalanta as they continue their march towards the Scudetto.
BACKGROUND
This match posts the Serie A leader, Juventus, against the last place team Atalanta, who already have a foot in Serie B. Atalanta will be hard pressed to play against Juventus, as their awful record will likely get worse after the final whistle. The teams standings are not the only statistic that posts ‘first’ against ‘last’. As Atalanta’s offensive record is the lowest in the league, with only 14 goals to show for will be against a Juventus defense which has conceded the lowest in Serie A, 11 goals. Juventus can not slip up against Atalanta and want to keep pace with Milan, hoping that their Coppa Italia midweek match will leave the ‘Rossoneri’ tired considering they played a difficult match against Udinese.
This match will show midfield changes for both teams, as Juventus starting midfield will be slashed, as Nedved, Blasi and Emerson will not start, giving room for fresh new players. For the Atalanta midfield, Abertini and Montolivo will be missing. Given these facts, bench players will be given the start they so desperately want, and these players will want to prove to management that they should be given a regular call up. This game has a recipe for either an exciting attacking play because of the new players, or a dull Juventus victory with Capello worried about efficiency over flare.
FORM GUIDE
Juventus: DDWDW
The Turin side is showing again they are a dominant force. The striking partnership of Trezeguet and Ibrahimovic will again want to prove they are the right choice upfront. For Juventus anything less then 3 points against last place Atlanta will be a horrible result.
Atalanta: LWLDL
Atalanta continues to struggle, it is unlikely they will be able to stop a dominating Juventus team. Taibi will be expecting a bombardment of shots of net, pity the same can’t be said for Buffon. Atalanta will have to play a perfect match to be competitive against the Turin side.
TEAM NEWS
Juventus:
Juventus will lack the ever present Nedved on the pitch, after his bruised knee from last week, he will be out for two weeks minimum. Zambrotta is also suffering from muscle problems and is unlikely to start. In midfield Emerson will be evaluated at game time whether he is fit to play, and Blasi is disqualified for the encounter. Given that Juventus are playing Atalanta, Capello is more than likely to rest these questionable starters, giving others players the opportunity to play the 90 minutes.
Atalanta:
Albertini has finally left for Barcelona, leaving a significant void in midfield. If it couldn’t get worse for the midfield of Atalanta, Montolivo is disqualified for the match, which could have been an excellent opportunity for him to show his talent. Atalanta will have to tighten up in the midfield if they are to stand a chance against Juventus.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Juventus:
With the injury to Nedved, and Emerson’s fitness a game time decision, the midfield will look very different to the usual starting eleven. Olivera will get a deserved start, he has played well when called upon, and he will have to capitalize on his rare starts to show management whether he will be a key figure for Juventus in the long term. Nedved’s presence is hard to replace and the Juventus midfield will have to be very active to keep the pair of Trezeguet and Ibrahimovic happy.
Atalanta:
As with Juventus, the midfield of Atalanta will be missing the starting presence of Albertini and Montolivo. The midfield of Atlanta will have to play well or else this will be a training session for the experienced Juventus midfield. Zenoni will have to play well. and look for him to step it up and supply Atlanta with passes and crossed from the wing.
PROBABLE STARTING XIs
Atalanta (4-4-2):
Taibi – Innocenti, Sala, Natali, Bellini - Zenoni, Bernardini, Migliaccio, Marcolini – Lazzari, Budan
Juventus (4-4-2):
Buffon - Zebina, Thuram, F.Cannavaro, Birindelli - Camoranesi, Appiah, Tacchinardi, Olivera – Trezeguet, Ibrahimovic
PREDICTION
Juventus should dispose of Atalanta easily enough while continuing to lead Serie A and pushing Atalanta further into relegation. Look for Juventus to seal up the victory early in the game and then run down the clock.
Atalanta-Juventus 0-2
1/29/2005 3:24:00 PM
The Bianconeri travel to bottom-placed Atalanta as they continue their march towards the Scudetto.
BACKGROUND
This match posts the Serie A leader, Juventus, against the last place team Atalanta, who already have a foot in Serie B. Atalanta will be hard pressed to play against Juventus, as their awful record will likely get worse after the final whistle. The teams standings are not the only statistic that posts ‘first’ against ‘last’. As Atalanta’s offensive record is the lowest in the league, with only 14 goals to show for will be against a Juventus defense which has conceded the lowest in Serie A, 11 goals. Juventus can not slip up against Atalanta and want to keep pace with Milan, hoping that their Coppa Italia midweek match will leave the ‘Rossoneri’ tired considering they played a difficult match against Udinese.
This match will show midfield changes for both teams, as Juventus starting midfield will be slashed, as Nedved, Blasi and Emerson will not start, giving room for fresh new players. For the Atalanta midfield, Abertini and Montolivo will be missing. Given these facts, bench players will be given the start they so desperately want, and these players will want to prove to management that they should be given a regular call up. This game has a recipe for either an exciting attacking play because of the new players, or a dull Juventus victory with Capello worried about efficiency over flare.
FORM GUIDE
Juventus: DDWDW
The Turin side is showing again they are a dominant force. The striking partnership of Trezeguet and Ibrahimovic will again want to prove they are the right choice upfront. For Juventus anything less then 3 points against last place Atlanta will be a horrible result.
Atalanta: LWLDL
Atalanta continues to struggle, it is unlikely they will be able to stop a dominating Juventus team. Taibi will be expecting a bombardment of shots of net, pity the same can’t be said for Buffon. Atalanta will have to play a perfect match to be competitive against the Turin side.
TEAM NEWS
Juventus:
Juventus will lack the ever present Nedved on the pitch, after his bruised knee from last week, he will be out for two weeks minimum. Zambrotta is also suffering from muscle problems and is unlikely to start. In midfield Emerson will be evaluated at game time whether he is fit to play, and Blasi is disqualified for the encounter. Given that Juventus are playing Atalanta, Capello is more than likely to rest these questionable starters, giving others players the opportunity to play the 90 minutes.
Atalanta:
Albertini has finally left for Barcelona, leaving a significant void in midfield. If it couldn’t get worse for the midfield of Atalanta, Montolivo is disqualified for the match, which could have been an excellent opportunity for him to show his talent. Atalanta will have to tighten up in the midfield if they are to stand a chance against Juventus.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Juventus:
With the injury to Nedved, and Emerson’s fitness a game time decision, the midfield will look very different to the usual starting eleven. Olivera will get a deserved start, he has played well when called upon, and he will have to capitalize on his rare starts to show management whether he will be a key figure for Juventus in the long term. Nedved’s presence is hard to replace and the Juventus midfield will have to be very active to keep the pair of Trezeguet and Ibrahimovic happy.
Atalanta:
As with Juventus, the midfield of Atalanta will be missing the starting presence of Albertini and Montolivo. The midfield of Atlanta will have to play well or else this will be a training session for the experienced Juventus midfield. Zenoni will have to play well. and look for him to step it up and supply Atlanta with passes and crossed from the wing.
PROBABLE STARTING XIs
Atalanta (4-4-2):
Taibi – Innocenti, Sala, Natali, Bellini - Zenoni, Bernardini, Migliaccio, Marcolini – Lazzari, Budan
Juventus (4-4-2):
Buffon - Zebina, Thuram, F.Cannavaro, Birindelli - Camoranesi, Appiah, Tacchinardi, Olivera – Trezeguet, Ibrahimovic
PREDICTION
Juventus should dispose of Atalanta easily enough while continuing to lead Serie A and pushing Atalanta further into relegation. Look for Juventus to seal up the victory early in the game and then run down the clock.
Atalanta-Juventus 0-2
