After 10 straight wins took them top of the tree in Serie A, Atalanta BC will aim to celebrate Christmas as Italy's number one when they host Empoli on Sunday evening.
Having taken their remarkable success streak into double figures last weekend, La Dea can now first place from Napoli - but their visitors arrive in Bergamo boasting an impressive away record.
Match preview
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Setting a new club best for consecutive Serie A wins, Atalanta made it a perfect 10 last week, edging out Cagliari by virtue of Nicolo Zaniolo's goal and a superb series of saves from Marco Carnesecchi.
As a result, they have now taken maximum points from 12 of 16 league matches this season, and a sustained Scudetto challenge seems to be on the cards for Gian Piero Gasperini's men.
In the thick of an enthralling title race, the Bergamaschi can claim to be targeting four trophies, as they aim to build on a memorable Europa League triumph in Dublin.
Also set to take part in the upcoming Supercoppa Italiana, Atalanta began their latest cup campaign in some style on Wednesday evening, as they returned to the Coppa Italia for the first time since losing to Juventus in last season's final.
A scorer in recent high-profile games against Real Madrid and his former club AC Milan, Charles De Ketelaere bagged a brace during La Dea's 6-1 mauling of modest Serie B club Cesena, setting up a quarter-final clash with fellow Champions League side Bologna in February.
Having lost only one of 12 top-flight home games versus Empoli to date, an extension to their winning run is expected this weekend, but tough taskmaster Gasperini will be the first to guard against any complacency.
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Either home or away, Empoli have lost the clubs' last four meetings by an aggregate score of 9-1, so recent history will not be on their side at the Gewiss Stadium.
However, they can head for Lombardy with one of Serie A's best road records behind them: a tally of 12 points from eight away matches is bettered only by five teams - one of which, naturally, is Atalanta.
After starting December by winning on their travels against local rivals Fiorentina in the Coppa Italia and then Hellas Verona in the league, the Azzurri's mystifying lack of success on home soil continued last weekend.
Beaten by a spectacular strike by Che Adams, who audaciously lobbed Devis Vasquez from the halfway line at Stadio Castellani, Empoli were left clinging on to a place in the top half of the table - but their objective of achieving Serie A safety is still on track.
Roberto D'Aversa's squad has been struck by injuries throughout the season, yet they continue to exceed expectations and will have little to lose when they face down Italy's most fearsome front line.
Team News
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Set to make several changes to his cup team, Gian Piero Gasperini must certainly swap out Atalanta captain Marten De Roon on Sunday, as the Dutch midfielder will be absent due to suspension.
Ederson should therefore be joined by either Mario Pasalic or Marco Brescianini in the hosts' engine room, with Ademola Lookman and Charles De Ketelaere supporting top scorer Mateo Retegui up front.
Giorgio Scalvini (shoulder) again joins long-term absentee Gianluca Scamacca (ACL) on the sidelines, but wing-back Matteo Ruggeri should overcome an ankle problem.
Meanwhile, Empoli's selection issues continue, as Ola Solbakken has undergone surgery on a shoulder injury sustained in training, while Pietro Pellegri, Tyronne Ebuehi, Saba Sazonov and Nicolas Haas are also ruled out.
Furthermore, Mattia De Sciglio will be suspended following his red card against Torino, but there is also some better news for Roberto D'Aversa: Liam Henderson returns after a one-match ban, while Jacopo Fazzini and Szymon Zurkowski are both back in full training.
In Pellegri's absence, Milan loanee Lorenzo Colombo is the Azzurri's attacking spearhead, and all of his three league goals this season have come away from home.
Atalanta BC possible starting lineup:
Carnesecchi; Kossounou, Hien, Kolasinac; Bellanova, Pasalic, Ederson, Zappacosta; De Ketelaere, Lookman; Retegui
Empoli possible starting lineup:
Vasquez; Goglichidze, Ismajli, Viti; Gyasi, Anjorin, Henderson, Maleh, Pezzella; Esposito, Colombo
We say: Atalanta BC 2-0 Empoli
Atalanta have drawn only one of their last 23 Serie A home fixtures - and none since mid-April - while averaging 2.6 goals per game.
A clear outcome should be expected, then, and even Empoli's admirable away record cannot help them defeat La Dea.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Jonathan O'Shea
