Serie A | Gameweek 27

Mar 1, 2025 at 2pm UK

Gewiss Stadium

Atalanta vs Venezia

Match preview

Just days after suffering a heartbreaking exit from Europe at the hands of Club Brugge, Atalanta visited the Stadio Castellani last week in a bid to tighten their grip on a top-four spot - and perhaps keep themselves in the title race.

The Bergamasque club bounced back in style, overcoming a self-inflicted coach-versus-player crisis to crush a free-falling Empoli 5-0.

Ademola Lookman, selected by coach Gian Piero Gasperini despite their very public spat, scored a brace to take his tally for the season to 12 Serie A goals - one shy of his best return in a single season.

As well as being the top scorers in the Italian top flight, Atalanta have kept clean sheets in each of their last three league games and could be on course for their first four-game winning streak since 1997.

Victory on Saturday afternoon would see them move into the top two ahead of Scudetto rivals Inter and Napoli's clash later in the evening, so Gasperini's side are not yet out of the title race.

To break new ground, the Nerazzurri will need to improve on their recent home form, having drawn their last two Serie A games at the Gewiss Stadium before losing 3-1 to Brugge.

They will be hoping to put an end to that winless streak this weekend, having won eight of their last ten top-flight home games against the Venetians.

Including the reverse fixture in October - a 2-0 defeat at the Stadio Penzo - Venezia have lost their last six Serie A meetings with La Dea, scoring just one goal in the process.

Finding the back of the net has also been a problem for the Lagunari of late, who have failed to find the back of the net in each of their last three outings - and top scorer Joel Pohjanpalo left the club last month.

Eusebio Di Francesco's side held Lazio to a 0-0 draw in Venice last time out - a good result in its own right - but they remain 19th in the standings, six points adrift of safety.

Still without a win away from home this season, last season's Serie B play-off winners could be destined for a swift return to the second tier if they fail to turn this form around.

However, Venezia's last win dates back to December, so three points in Bergamo would be a major upset.

Recent Performance

Atalanta BC Serie A form:LWDWDW

Atalanta BC form (all competitions):LWLDLW

Venezia Serie A form:DDLLLD

Team News

As well as long-term absentees Gianluca Scamacca, Odilon Kossounou and Giorgio Scalvini, Atalanta will also be without injured centre-back Isak Hien this week due to an adductor injury.

Daniel Maldini is set to return, however, while veteran defender Berat Djimsiti is back in full training after suffering an ankle injury against Empoli.

Up front, Ademola Lookman - who has played a part in 11 Serie A home goals this season - should support Capocannoniere top scorer Mateo Retegui, one of only four men to have scored 25 or more goals in Europe's top five leagues.

Venezia, meanwhile, will be without first-choice goalkeeper Filip Stankovic, as well as Richie Sagrado and Michael Svoboda.

The visitors' in-form attack will be led by either Daniel Fila or Mirko Maric, both of whom were signed in the winter transfer window but have yet to make an impact.

Since making his first start for the Arancioneroverdi in January, Napoli winger Alessio Zerbin has fared better, recording more touches in the box (19) and creating more chances (eight) than any of his new teammates.

Possible starting lineup

Atalanta BC possible starting lineup:

Carnesecchi; Posch, Djimsiti, Kolasinac; Bellanova, De Roon, Ederson, Zappacosta; De Ketelaere, Lookman; Retegui

Venezia possible starting lineup:

Radu; Marcandalli, Idzes, Cande; Zerbin, Perez, Nicolussi Caviglia, Busio, Ellertsson; Oristanio; Fila