Atalanta head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is grappling with a significant injury crisis as his team prepares for two crucial upcoming matches. The Bergamo-based club have been dealt a severe blow with the news that Italian internationals Giorgio Scalvini and Gianluca Scamacca will be sidelined for the remainder of the season. Both players had recently made their comebacks from serious knee injuries, making their absence all the more impactful.
The team’s challenges don’t end there. As they gear up for their Serie A clash against Hellas Verona at the Bentegodi, followed by a high-stakes Champions League playoff against Club Brugge, Atalanta will also be without key players Sead Kolasinac, Ademola Lookman, and their first-choice goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi.
In light of these absences, Rui Patricio is expected to continue his role as the stand-in goalkeeper. There’s a possibility that recent acquisition Stefan Posch might make his full debut in defense. Another new signing, Daniel Maldini, is in contention to provide support for the team’s leading scorer, Mateo Retegui, who currently tops the Capocannoniere rankings.
On the other side of the pitch, Hellas Verona is facing its own set of challenges. The midfield has been significantly weakened following Reda Belahyane’s move to Lazio and a thigh injury to Suat Serdar. Adding to their woes, Ondrej Duda is unavailable due to suspension. This situation opens up opportunities for Dani Silva, Cheikh Niasse, and Grigoris Kastanos to step into the midfield roles.
Verona’s coach Paolo Zanetti is also contending with the absences of Martin Frese, Abdou Harroui, and Dailon Livramento. Perhaps most crucially, the team will be without their top scorer Casper Tengstedt, who has been sidelined with an ankle sprain.
Hellas Verona (3-5-2): Montipo; Daniliuc, Coppola, Ghilardi; Tchatchoua, Niasse, Kastanos, Bradaric; Suslov; Sarr, Mosquera
Atalanta (3-4-2-1): Patricio; Posch, Hien, Djimsiti; Bellanova, Ederson, De Roon, Ruggeri; De Ketelaere, Samardzic; Retegui
