Atlanta and Sassuolo go to war in Bergamo on Sunday, with both sides habouring different ambitions for the season’s run-in following the return of Serie A.
Serie A 2019/2020
Date: Sunday June, 21st
Kick-off: 18:30
Venue: Gewiss Stadium
Atalanta were in imperious form prior to the coronavirus outbreak, winning all of their last five including meting out a 7-2 trashing to Lecce in their last league game and then qualifying for their first ever Champions League quarter-final appearance following a dominant result versus Valencia over both legs.
La Dea, following their awe-inspiring run sit fourth on 48 points as they aim to qualify for another Champions League campaign for next year. Manager Piero Gasperini can count on the full complement of his players for Sunday’s clash, so expect them to ram home that advantage and further establish their stronghold in the top four.
Sassuolo have not done badly for themselves, having strung together three wins from their last four league games.
Brescia fell 3-0 just before football suspension, but The Black and Greens will have their work cut out against an opposition who have accounted for the most goals (70) in the division thus far.
With Atlanta odds-on to claim a 15th league win of the season by bookies, can their tricky visitors upset the odds with their first victory over their opposition since April 2014, or will it be business as usual for the hosts?
Team news
Atlanta
Gasperini is spoiled for choice in his team selection, with Berat Djimsiti and Rafael Toloi having recovered from their injuries and are set to play a part here.
Sassuolo
Alessandro Tripaldelli and Filippo Romagna are both out of this game with long-term injuries while Vlad Chiriches is rated doubtful.
Head to Head
Atlanta have been dominant in this fixture in their competitive history, winning ten of their 16 meetings and drawing four. Sassuolo have won twice with none coming in their last 12 clashes.
Team form
Atlanta’s last five competitive games: WDWWW
Sassuolo’s last five competitive games: DWWLW
Betting tips
Atlanta are the bookies favourite for a victory from this game, and it is very much understandable. They have won all of the last six games against Sassuolo and I’d be banking on them to make it a seventh straight here. If their form before the corona break is anything to go by, then they should have just enough to see off their rivals at the Gewiss Stadium which is fast becoming a fortress of some sorts. A win for Atlanta is priced 4/11 here.
There have been over 2.5 goals in the last six matches between these two sides in all competitions, so we would expect this game to equally have goals to go with it. Atlanta guile and quality in the final third will be instrumental to this, and for odds of 2/5, over 2.5 goals should be the play here.
