Preview: Sassuolo vs Atalanta BC – prediction, team news, lineups

After an epic European success in midweek, Atalanta BC resume domestic duties on Sunday when they visit Sassuolo serie a.

Four days after making a return to the classic Champions League, La Dea will travel to Reggio Emilia with the aim of recording a fourth consecutive league win.

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match preview

Trailing by two goals after last week’s first leg, Atalanta face tall odds to keep their Champions League dreams alive When they welcomed Borussia Dortmund in Bergamo On Wednesday.

Yet Dortmund had leveled the pair’s playoff encounter at 3-3 before Mario Pasalic scored his third goal of a thrilling contest on the hour mark, before overcoming that deficit on the hour mark.

Dramatically, the hosts were awarded a penalty early in second-half stoppage time, and Lazar Samardzik expertly sent it into the top corner under the most intense pressure.

Atalanta are therefore Italy’s final representatives at this season’s edition, and continue a proud continental record for 2024 Europa League winners.

Emerging from the shadows – with Ademola Lookman gone and his replacement Giacomo Raspadori now injured – Pasalic and Samardzic also scored last weekend as Bergamaschi beat Napoli 2-1.

Reversing another defeat, two second-half headers defeated the reigning Serie A champions, taking La Dea even closer to the all-important top four.

Raffaele Palladino’s side remain undefeated domestically this calendar year – they also made the Coppa Italia semi-finals – and have won seven of their last nine league matches.

Indeed, over the last five matchdays only Scudetto favorites Inter have scored more points and recorded more wins than Atalanta and their next opponents.

Following a 3–0 win in November’s reverse fixture – which coincidentally led to Palladino’s appointment – ​​Sassuolo have won half of their last six league meetings with Atalanta, representing one more success than they had achieved in the first 17.

Promoted back to Italy’s top tier last summer, the Emilian club are comfortably on their way to survival, and they will be aiming for a top-10 finish in May.

Four wins from five has recently taken Fabio Grosso’s side into the top half, exceeding their stated pre-season expectations.

Last time out, Sassuolo eased past struggling Hellas Verona to win 3–0 at home thanks to an opener from Andrea Pinamonti and two goals from talisman Domenico Berardi – the same combination that secured the win at La Dea.

Now, the Neroverdi can record three consecutive top-flight wins for the first time since March 2023 – but on this occasion they will face a very different Atalanta team.

Sassuolo Serie A form:

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Atalanta BC Serie A Form:

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Atalanta BC form (all competitions):

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team news

Although Nikola Krstovic suffered a serious head injury during Atalanta’s last-gasp penalty win against Dortmund, the Montenegrin striker should be fit to challenge Gianluca Scamacca this weekend.

Ederson has missed the last two matches due to a muscle problem, but the Brazilian midfielder could be ready if needed.

However, Palladino is still missing forward duo Raspadori and Charles de Ketelair, while left-sided centre-back Sead Kolasinac is a doubt.

Having found the net twice in his last two matches, Pasalic needs one more goal on Sunday to become La Dea’s seventh-highest scorer in Serie A.

Despite another injury-hit campaign, Berardi is Sassuolo’s leading marksman with seven league strikes so far, extending his lead as the club’s all-time top scorer.

The Italy winger was directly involved in all three goals against Atalanta in November and has scored eight goals against them so far; He should join a familiar attacking trio alongside Pinamonti and Armand Lorient.

Grosso may miss midfield fulcrum Nemanja Matic and highly rated defender Tarik Muharemovic, both suspended last week, but Sebastian Walukiewicz now faces a ban for accumulated bookings.

Sassuolo probable starting lineup:

Muric; Coulibaly, Muharemovic, Idges, Garcia; Thorstvedt, Matic, Kon; Berardi, Pinamonti, Lorient

Atalanta BC probable starting lineup:

Carneschi; Kosounou, Gimsiti, Ahnour; Bellanova, De Roon, Ederson, Bernasconi; Samardzik, Zalewski; scamacca

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We say: Sassuolo 2-2 Atalanta BC

Sassuolo are in good form and have more than a week to prepare, while high-flying Atalanta are in the midst of an intense schedule.

Therefore, the Neroverdi can start March with another valuable point on home soil, reducing their visitors’ lead towards the top four.

Please click here for data analysis of the most probable outcomes of this match, scoreline and more.

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