Atalanta will look to extend their winning streak to four consecutive Serie A matches when they host local rivals Monza at the Gewiss Stadium on Wednesday evening. The Bergamo side have been in scintillating form lately, while Monza are still searching for consistency as they hover just above the relegation zone.
Gian Piero Gasperini’s men put on another attacking masterclass last weekend, dismantling Hellas Verona in a 6-0 rout. Captain Marten de Roon opened the floodgates early, before Charles De Ketelaere, Mateo Retegui and Ademola Lookman piled on the goals. It was Atalanta’s third straight league win, a run in which they’ve scored an astonishing 13 goals.
La Dea now boast Serie A’s most potent attack with 24 goals, including 16 at home. Their prolific scoring has propelled them to within six points of league leaders Napoli. Mateo Retegui has been particularly lethal, netting six times in his last three appearances. The Argentine striker is on pace to challenge Luca Toni’s record of 12 goals in a club’s first 10 Serie A matches this century.
While Atalanta’s domestic form has been impeccable, they’ll be eager to carry that momentum into their upcoming Champions League clash with Stuttgart. But first, Gasperini’s side must navigate this midweek fixture against Monza.
After a difficult start to the campaign, Monza have shown some positive signs in recent weeks. They secured their first league win of the season with a 3-0 victory at Verona, followed by a hard-fought 2-2 draw against fellow strugglers Venezia last weekend.
The Brianzoli twice came from behind in that match, with goals from Giorgos Kyriakopoulos and veteran striker Milan Djuric salvaging a point despite playing the final half-hour with 10 men. This resilience has helped Monza put together a three-game unbeaten run in all competitions.
However, Alessandro Nesta’s side face a daunting challenge in Bergamo. Monza have lost all four of their previous top-flight meetings with Atalanta, conceding 12 goals while scoring just three. The gulf in quality between the two Lombardy clubs has been evident, but Monza will hope their recent upturn in form can help them spring a surprise.
Atalanta’s free-scoring attack against Monza’s shaky defense presents a mismatch on paper. La Dea have been particularly ruthless at home, averaging four goals per game in Serie A this season. While Gasperini may rotate his squad, Atalanta’s depth of attacking talent should still prove too much for the visitors to handle.
Monza will need to produce their best defensive performance of the season to have any chance of leaving Bergamo with a positive result. Nesta may opt for a more conservative approach, looking to frustrate Atalanta and hit them on the counter-attack.
Team News
Gasperini may opt to rotate his squad with one eye on Sunday’s crucial clash against Napoli. Lazar Samardzic, Mario Pasalic and Nicolo Zaniolo are all pushing for starts, while the in-form Retegui is likely to keep his place up front. Defender Odilon Kossounou could return from injury, but Gianluca Scamacca and Giorgio Scalvini remain sidelined.
For Monza, Warren Bondo’s suspension forces a change in midfield. Alessandro Bianco or Omari Forson are the leading candidates to partner captain Matteo Pessina. Roberto Gagliardini could also return to face his boyhood club. In attack, Daniel Maldini is back in contention and will compete with Dany Mota and Gianluca Caprari for a supporting role behind target man Milan Djuric.
Expected Starting XIs
Atalanta: Carnesecchi; Djimsiti, Hien, Kolasinac; Bellanova, Ederson, De Roon, Ruggeri; Pasalic, Lookman; Retegui
Monza: Turati; Izzo, Mari, Carboni; Pereira, Pessina, Bianco, Kyriakopoulos; Mota, Maldini; Djuric
Match Prediction
Given the contrasting form and quality of the two sides, it’s difficult to see past an Atalanta victory. While Monza have shown signs of improvement, the gap between these teams remains significant. Expect Atalanta’s attacking prowess to shine through once again, with a 3-1 home win the most likely outcome.
Prediction: Atalanta 3-1 Monza
