Atalanta and Fiorentina will face off on Sunday in a pivotal Serie A matchup, with both sides looking to jumpstart their seasons after slow starts. The two clubs have managed just three points each from their opening three matches, leaving them eager for a victory before kicking off their European campaigns next week.
Atalanta enter the match reeling from back-to-back league defeats, including a 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Inter Milan before the international break. Manager Gian Piero Gasperini will be desperate to right the ship and avoid losing three of the club’s first four Serie A fixtures for the first time in his tenure.
The hosts endured a tumultuous summer transfer window, losing key midfielder Teun Koopmeiners and seeing star striker Gianluca Scamacca go down with a serious knee injury. Gasperini will need his new signings to gel quickly as Atalanta look to build momentum before their Champions League opener against Arsenal.
Fiorentina, meanwhile, are still searching for their first league win under new boss Raffaele Palladino. The Viola have drawn all three of their Serie A matches so far, most recently salvaging a late 1-1 draw against Monza thanks to an injury-time equalizer from Robin Gosens.
While Fiorentina have proven difficult to beat, extending their unbeaten league run to 10 matches dating back to last season, Palladino will be eager to secure all three points and kickstart the club’s campaign. The visitors did manage to advance in Europa Conference League qualifying last month, albeit via a penalty shootout.
Team News
On the injury front, Atalanta remain without long-term absentees Giorgio Scalvini and Gianluca Scamacca, though defenders Isak Hien and Sead Kolasinac could return. New signing Odilon Kossounou is in line to make his debut in defense. For Fiorentina, Albert Gudmundsson is back in training and could feature after recovering from a calf issue.
With European fixtures looming for both sides next week, Sunday’s clash takes on added importance as Atalanta and Fiorentina look to build momentum and climb up the Serie A table. An entertaining affair looks to be in store as these attack-minded teams square off in Bergamo.
Expected Starting XIs
Atalanta: Carnesecchi; De Roon, Hien, Kossounou; Bellanova, Ederson, Pasalic, Ruggeri; Brescianini, Samardzic; Retegui
Fiorentina: De Gea; Martinez Quarta, Pongracic, Biraghi; Dodo, Cataldi, Mandragora, Gosens; Colpani, Sottil; Kean
