After sealing progress in Europe, Atalanta BC will aim to revive their waning Serie A title challenge on Saturday, when they play host to Torino.
Having slipped into the Champions League playoff places despite holding Barcelona to a draw, the Bergamaschi now seek back-to-back league wins.
Match preview
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Adding to their string of impressive results around Europe over the past few months, Atalanta secured a spirited 2-2 draw in Barcelona on Wednesday evening, when the Champions League's opening phase drew to a dramatic conclusion.
Pipped to eighth place by Aston Villa, La Dea had to settle for a spot in the playoffs rather than confirming direct entry to the last 16, despite twice fighting back from behind via goals from Ederson and Mario Pasalic.
Gian Piero Gasperini's men must therefore meet either Sporting Lisbon or Club Brugge in the next round, but before returning to UEFA's top club competition they will try to keep applying pressure on Italy's top two.
Last week's 2-1 victory over Como ended a damaging run of four league games without a win, but Atalanta still sit seven points adrift of Serie A leaders Napoli, with reigning champions Inter Milan sandwiched between.
After Mateo Retegui bagged a brace to turn that game on its head at Stadio Sinigaglia, they have picked up more points from losing positions than any other team in the top flight, doing so three times in their last five league matches.
Furthermore, a recent defeat to Napoli is La Dea's sole reverse in 17 Serie A fixtures - of which 12 have ended in victory - so they start favourites to overcome Torino for a third straight year at the Gewiss Stadium.
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However, Toro will have different ideas, after winning two of their last three games against Atalanta - as many successes as throughout the previous 14.
In fact, following a 2-1 triumph in this term's reverse fixture, when Che Adams scored the winner in Turin, they could now do the double over Saturday's hosts for the first time since 2016.
Adams was on target again last weekend, finding the net in both halves of a 2-0 home win against Cagliari, and Torino are unbeaten in their last five league matches.
A prior record of just one victory in 12 had seen Paolo Vanoli's side slump down the standings, but they now find themselves back inside the top half and six points clear of the drop zone.
For all their recent travails, the Granata have drawn three of their last four away fixtures, winning the other, so they may head for Bergamo confident of causing an upset.
Team News
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Restored to Atalanta's lineup in midweek, after serving a Serie A suspension last weekend, Isak Hien is set to continue his role in the hosts' back three, amid a potential defensive crisis.
Sead Kolasinac and Giorgio Scalvini were both withdrawn during Wednesday's draw against Barcelona - the former with a dislocated shoulder - while Odilon Kossounou is also unavailable.
Ademola Lookman was recently ruled out until the second half of February, and Gianluca Scamacca is still not ready to return, so Charles De Ketelaere should continue to support Capocannoniere rankings leader Mateo Retegui up front.
The latter has scored multiple goals in four separate games this season - three braces and one hat-trick - only fewer than Barca striker Robert Lewandowski across Europe's top five leagues.
Meanwhile, Torino's main marksman Che Adams has scored seven times in Serie A so far, including on his league debut against Atalanta last August. He now needs three more goals to equal the Scottish record in Italy's top flight, held by the late Denis Law, who reached double figures for Toro back in 1962.
Ali Dembele returns from a ban, but Mergim Vojvoda and Ivan Ilic both join long-term absentees Perr Schuurs and ex-Atalanta star Duvan Zapata in the treatment room. Having just completed his return to Serie A, former Napoli midfielder Eljif Elmas could be named on the bench.
Atalanta BC possible starting lineup:
Carnesecchi; Toloi, Hien, Djimsiti; Bellanova, Ederson, De Roon, Ruggeri; De Ketelaere, Pasalic; Retegui
Torino possible starting lineup:
Milinkovic-Savic; Pedersen, Maripan, Coco, Sosa; Ricci, Gineitis; Lazaro, Vlasic, Karamoh; Adams
We say: Atalanta BC 2-1 Torino
As Torino have fared pretty well on their travels, Atalanta will have to tread carefully - particularly having given their all in midweek.
The hosts' firepower should still get them over the line, though, keeping Scudetto rivals Inter and Napoli within arm's length.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Jonathan O'Shea
