Serie A Preview: Atalanta - Juventus
What: Serie A Championship, Week 34
Who: Atalanta - Juventus
When: Sunday April 20th 2008, 15:00CET
Where: Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia, Bergamo
Old Lady Flying High
The Bianconeri travel to Bergamo and take on mid-table Atalanta on Sunday afternoon. And with back-to-back wins against both Milan and Parma in just the space of three days, things are going very well for the grand Old Lady of Calcio. Last Sunday they came back from a 2-1 deficit against the Rossoneri to win 3-2 and against the Gialloblu, the Bianconeri won 3-0. If they can show their high-flying form in the Stadio Azzurri d’Italia then the Champions League will be guaranteed for next season. Although their European future was in doubt at the beginning of 2008 with some atrocious results, the side from Turin have shown all their strength and character to silence those who had their doubts.
The Bianconeri are eight points above fourth placed Fiorentina heading into the game against the Nerazzurri and maximum points will ensure that Giovanni Cobolli Gigli’s objective of Champions League football is well reached. Although many believed the scudetto was a realistic target, the Bianconeri seemed to slip up where it was least expected against the so-called small teams. A win against Atalanta should be straight forward, however Gigi Del Neri’s men have only lost three times at home and they have made the Atleti d’Italia stadium a fortress, just ask Milan.
Juventus will only be too aware of their opponent’s strengths at home and the Bianconeri will need to be wary of the Nerazzurri’s midfield. The regular quartet of Langela, Doni, Pinto and Padoin have scored a massive 25 goals between them this season which is a high turn over. Compare that to Juventus’ 15 goals coming from midfield this season and it goes to show just where Atalanta may hurt Juve the most. It’s not going to be easy for the Old Lady, they just about scrapped a narrow 1-0 win when both sides met in December and so Claudio Ranieri will be hoping his team can continue to fly high in Bergamo.
Atalanta Looking For Europe
At the start of the season Atalanta’s objective was Serie A survival. However throughout the course of the season they have shown that Serie B football was never really an issue and instead they have floated within the Champions League and UEFA Cup places. However a lack of consistency has seen Del Neri’s men drop off the European pace and now they are hovering mid-table but with every possibility of a push for UEFA Cup football.
The Orobici are just four points off 7th placed Genoa and with five games to go, the club from Bergamo are in with a shout of squeezing themselves into Europe for next season and there would be no better place to start than against Juventus. The last time the Nerazzurri beat Juventus in Serie A was in 2001 when a late goal by Nicola Ventola was enough to see his side take maximum points. A win against the Bianconeri will be a massive boost for the club as they try and string together a good run until the end of the season.
Although Atalanta have been excellent at home, they have not managed to beat any of the top four teams at home this season apart from Juventus who travel to the Atleti d’Italia on Sunday afternoon. Del Neri has proved his worth at the helm and no doubt he will be looking forward to getting one over his opposite number come 16:45 on Sunday afternoon.
Form Guide
Atalanta
Serie A: Napoli 2-0 Atalanta
Serie A: Atalanta 0-2 Inter
Serie A: Milan 1-2 Atalanta
Serie A: Atalanta 0-0 Catania
Serie A: Cagliari 1-0 Atalanta
Serie A: Atalanta 4-1 Empoli
Juventus
Serie A: Juventus 3-0 Parma
Serie A: Juventus 3-2 Milan
Serie A: Palermo 3-2 Juventus
Serie A: Inter 1-2 Juventus
Serie A: Empoli 0-0 Juventus
Serie A: Juventus 1-0 Napoli
Team News
Atalanta: Gigi Del Neri will be without top-scorer Cristiano Doni after the player picked up a two match ban for his red card against Inter a fortnight ago. Antonio Langela, Zlatan Muslimovic and Costinha are all out injured but Manuel Belleri is back and may start in defence.
Juventus: Ranieri will be without Momo Sissoko and Cristiano Zanetti who are both out with minor knocks so Mauro Camoranesi is likely to be drafted into a more central role with Anonio Nocerino.
Likely Starting XI’s
Atalanta: Coppola; Belleri, Carrozzieri, Manfredini, Bellini; Ferreira Pinto, Guarente, Tissone, Padoin; Paolucci, Floccari.
Juventus: Buffon; Grygera, Legrottaglie, Chiellini, Molinaro; Salihamidzic, Camoranesi, Nocerino, Nedved; Del Piero, Trezeguet.
Players To Watch
Atalanta: Keep an eye on Ferreira Pinto, The Brazilian has skill in abundance and he can turn any game around with his unpredictability.
Juventus: All eyes, including Donadoni’s, will be on Alessandro Del Piero. The Juventus legend is hell-bent on making the final 23 man Azzurri squad which will play at the Euros, so expect a big performance by the striker.
Prediction
Atalanta will fancy themselves of causing an upset against the Bianconeri but no doubt the Old Lady has other ideas. It should be business as usual for Juve given their recent explosive form.
Atalanta 0-2 Juventus
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