Serie A | Gameweek 19

Jan 14, 2025 at 7.45pm UK

Gewiss Stadium

Atalanta vs Juventus

Match preview

Perhaps suffering a hangover from their mid-season trip to Saudi Arabia, where they were knocked out of the Supercoppa by Inter Milan in the semi-finals, Atalanta were fortunate to avoid defeat on their return to Italian soil.

Even Gian Piero Gasperini admitted that luck was on La Dea's side on Saturday afternoon as mid-table Udinese hit the woodwork twice in the first half.

The result leaves the Bergamaschi off the pace at the midway point of the Serie A campaign, but they are still very much in contention for their first ever Scudetto.

After a run of 12 wins from 13 games - including wins over Napoli and AC Milan - Atalanta are now on a three-match winless run as they head into a crucial few weeks that could decide their fate.

Last season's Europa League winners have a couple of Champions League games coming up at the end of the month - the first away to Barcelona - and two tough league fixtures before they face Bologna in the Coppa Italia quarter-finals.

Ahead of their visit to title rivals Napoli next weekend, Gasperini's men will be looking for a 15th consecutive Serie A win when they take on Juventus.

Meanwhile, Juve travel to Bergamo having gone through the first half of the Serie A season unbeaten, but coach Thiago Motta is under pressure.

Just days after losing to Milan in the Supercoppa semi-finals, the Bianconeri boss was sent off in the derby draw with Torino, leaving his side outside the top four.

The first Derby della Mole of the year ended in a draw, with Kenan Yildiz's spectacular strike cancelled out by an equally spectacular equaliser from Torino's Nikola Vlasic on the stroke of half-time.

Juventus have now drawn five of their last six league games, continuing a trend that has undermined the Turin giants since long before Motta's appointment.

While in other circumstances a share of the spoils would be an acceptable outcome on Tuesday, Juve's increasingly frustrated supporters will be demanding maximum points.

Motta's men have to face Milan again next weekend before taking on Club Brugge in the Champions League and then visiting Napoli, so the next fortnight will certainly be a test for them.

Recent Performance

Atalanta BC Serie A form:WWWWDD

Atalanta BC form (all competitions):WWWDLD

Juventus Serie A form:DDDWDD

Juventus form (all competitions):DWWDLD

Team News

Atalanta's top scorer Mateo Retegui returned to training last week and, after missing Saturday's goalless draw in Udine, could be in contention to face Juventus.

Ex-Juventus wing-back Juan Cuadrado is also expected to recover from a thigh problem, but long-term absentee Gianluca Scamacca could be joined on the sidelines by Berat Djimsiti, who was forced off with a head injury that required stitches.

With Retegui unlikely to start, Charles De Ketelaere should continue his role up front, supported by Ademola Lookman. The latter needs just one more goal to reach double figures in each of the last three Serie A seasons.

Meanwhile, Thiago Motta - who is serving a touchline ban - will be hoping to welcome back Dusan Vlahovic and Francisco Conceicao from muscular injuries.

Arkadiusz Milik, Juan Cabal and Bremer are all long-term absentees, while veteran defender Danilo is negotiating an early release from his contract.

With Vlahovic's availability still in doubt, Nico Gonzalez is again available as a false nine, while in midfield Manuel Locatelli's return from suspension should see Douglas Luiz drop back to the bench.

Possible starting lineup

Atalanta BC possible starting lineup:

Carnesecchi; Scalvini, Hien, Kolasinac; Bellanova, De Roon, Ederson, Zappacosta; Pasalic; Lookman, De Ketelaere

Juventus possible starting lineup:

Di Gregorio; Savona, Kalulu, Gatti, McKennie; Locatelli, Thuram; Yildiz, Koopmeiners, Weah; Gonzalez