Atalanta BC head to Parma on Saturday, aiming for a seventh straight Serie A win. The Bergamo-based outfit are in phenomenal form and right in the Scudetto hunt, whereas newly-promoted Parma fight relegation.
Match Preview
Atalanta BC: Top-of-the-Game Title Contenders
For Atalanta, after six continuous victories in Serie A with a win over Napoli, they lie a point from the top of the table with one of the most potent attacks in the league, which has seen them score 31 goals in 12 games.
The standout performers have been Ademola Lookman and Mateo Retegui, while the backline marshaled by Isak Hien has equally impressed. With two clean sheets in their last two road trips, Gian Piero Gasperini’s men are well placed to extend their club record of nine consecutive top-flight wins.
Atalanta have also enjoyed a good run of form in recent meetings with Parma, beating them in the last six meetings, a streak they will hope to continue at the Stadio Tardini.
Parma: Fighting for Survival
Last season’s Serie B champions, Parma have found life hard to handle in Serie A. Following a spate of draws and a defeat at the hands of Genoa, Fabio Pecchia’s men finally broke their winless streak with a come-from-behind win over Venezia.
Emanuele Valeri and Ange-Yoan Bonny starred in that crucial win, lifting Parma out of the relegation zone. However, their home form remains a concern, with just one victory in seven games across all competitions.
Parma will need to overcome their defensive lapses and capitalize on early opportunities, as they’ve taken the most shots (58) in the first half-hour of play this season.
Team News and Predicted Lineups
Parma
Injuries: Adrian Bernabe (until January), Hernani, Lautaro Valenti, Alessandro Circati (long-term).
Key Players: Ange-Yoan Bonny, fresh from his France U21 debut, will lead the attack with Valentin Mihaila and Dennis Man providing width.
Predicted Line-up:
Suzuki; Coulibaly, Del Prato, Balogh, Valeri; Keita, Estevez; Man, Sohm, Mihaila; Bonny
Atalanta BC
Injuries: Davide Zappacosta – thigh, three weeks, Sead Kolasinac, Berat Djimsiti – doubts. Gianluca Scamacca and Giorgio Scalvini near to returns but may not feature.
Key Players. Ademola Lookman and Mateo Retegui will be key in attack. Marten de Roon and Ederson, Serie A’s most accurate final-third passers, will anchor the midfield.
Predicted Lineup:
Carnesecchi; Kossounou, Hien, Djimsiti; Bellanova, Ederson, De Roon, Ruggeri; Samardzic, Lookman; Retegui
Match Statistics and Key Insights
Head-to-Head: Atalanta have won their last six matches against Parma, including three straight victories at Stadio Tardini.
Form: Atalanta is on a six-match winning streak in Serie A while Parma managed only one victory in their last seven games.
Goals: Both teams are very active early in the matches, and Parma and Atalanta took the most shots in the opening 30 minutes this season.
Prediction: Parma 1-2 Atalanta BC
Expect an action-packed start, with both sides good at fashioning early opportunities. Parma might find the net, but the better attacking firepower and defensive solidity of Atalanta should see them seal yet another vital victory to keep them flying in the Scudetto race.
