Newly-promoted Frosinone host Atalanta BC in round two of the 2023-24 Serie A season at Stadio Benito Stirpe on Saturday.
Last year's Serie B winners were beaten by defending league champions Napoli a week ago, while La Dea got the better of Sassuolo at the Mapei Stadium.
Match preview
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It has been a baptism of fire for Frosinone on their return to the top division, having faced Napoli in gameweek one and set to welcome Atalanta in round two.
Eusebio Di Francesco's men went into an early lead against the Partenopei as Abdou Harroui's seventh-minute penalty put the hosts ahead, but Victor Osimhen's brace and a Matteo Politano strike led to a 3-1 defeat.
This weekend does not get any easier with the Canaries welcoming Gian Piero Gasperini's men to central Italy, seeking to avoid back-to-back defeats on their return to the big time.
The home side lost just two games in Serie B last term, a number they could match after only two games on their return to Serie A.
Frosinone were unlikely to match their home success from 2022-23, but the newly promoted side must find points throughout the season to avoid immediate relegation.
As for Atalanta, the new season could not have started better for the Bergamaschi, who are tipped to punch above their weight this term.
That is often the case with Gasperini's men, whose transfer business has not failed to catch the eye throughout the summer.
Despite losing Rasmus Hojlund to Manchester United, the funds from that sale have been reinvested smartly into improving La Dea — with El Bilal Toure, Gianluca Scamacca and Charles De Ketelaere (loan) arriving to add to Atalanta's options in the attacking third.
They have kept Ademola Lookman, and the importance of Duvan Zapata is recognised, even if the striker's injury problems have been a bugbear for Gasperini in recent seasons.
De Ketelaere and Nadir Zortea came off the bench to win the game at Sassuolo last weekend, and another routine victory at the home of the new boys will be just what the doctor ordered for Atalanta.
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Team News
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Karlo Lulic's cruciate ligament rupture keeps the central midfielder out of action, while Sergio Kalac remains sidelined.
Di Francesco utilised a 4-3-3 against Napoli, and the former Roma boss is not expected to tweak that approach against the Bergamaschi.
Nicolo Cambiaghi returns from suspension, although the forward is unlikely to be involved against Frosinone as he reportedly nears a return to Empoli.
Hans Hateboer (ligament rupture) and Jose Luis Palomino (hamstring) are ruled out, while Toure has to wait for his Atalanta debut due to a hamstring issue.
Zapata should start for the away side despite transfer reports linking the Colombian with a move to Roma.
Frosinone possible starting lineup:
Turati; Oyono, Monterisi, Romagnoli, Marchizza; Gelli, Mazzitelli, Harroui; Baez, Cuni, Caso
Atalanta BC possible starting lineup:
Musso; Djimsiti, Scalvini, Kolasinac; Zappacosta, De Roon, Koopmeiners, Pasalic, Ruggeri; Lookman, Zapata
We say: Frosinone 1-4 Atalanta BC
Atalanta should have too much firepower for Frosinone, with their starting quality and options off the bench likely to see to a comfortable win on Saturday.
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