After the mid-winter break, top-eight chasers Atalanta BC resume their Champions League campaign on Tuesday, when struggling Sturm Graz pay a visit to Bergamo.
The visitors will be seeking a first Austrian victory over Italian opponents in the competition's 32-year history, but they lie 29th in the table with only three points so far; La Dea sit 13th.
Match preview
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While it would unfair to suggest that the wheels are coming off, Atalanta have been below their previously brilliant best since losing to Real Madrid in their last Champions League outing, which took place in mid-December.
Since then, they have slipped behind in the Scudetto race, harming hopes of a first-ever Italian title, in addition to a tame exit in the Supercoppa Italiana semi-finals.
After losing to Inter Milan in Saudi Arabia, La Dea returned to league duty with a fortunate 0-0 draw against Udinese, and fit-again striker Mateo Retegui then emerged from the bench to rescue a point at home to Juventus.
Although Retegui spectacularly scored his second goal in two games since returning from injury, they ultimately lost 3-2 to title rivals Napoli on Saturday evening, ending a 15-match unbeaten streak in Serie A that featured 11 wins.
Winless in their last five across all competitions, Gian Piero Gasperini's side will now expect to put a halt to that run, as they have home advantage against one of the Champions League's more modest clubs.
However, Atalanta have posted only one win from their last 10 Champions League fixtures at the Gewiss Stadium, and another failure on Tuesday could end their quest to qualify directly for the last 16 - albeit, a place in the playoffs is almost confirmed.
The Nerazzurri have recent experience of meeting Sturm Graz in Europe, with Gasperini's men going unbeaten in two group-stage games en route to Europa League glory last season - drawing 2-2 away and winning 1-0 at home - so they will aim to continue in that vein.
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In 14 previous attempts, no Austrian side has beaten Italian opposition throughout the Champions League era, with a dismal record of just three draws and 11 defeats to show for their combined efforts.
Sturm Graz must defy such precedent if they are to stay in contention for a playoff place this season, after last month's 3-2 loss in Lille left them needing maximum points from their final two league-phase fixtures.
It could have been a different story in Jurgen Saumel's first game in charge, as goals from Mika Biereth and Otar Kiteishvili put the Austrian Bundesliga champions in contention for victory; however, Hakon Arnar Haraldsson then struck a late winner for the hosts.
Saumel has inherited an inexperienced squad, as only compatriots Red Bull Salzburg have named a younger starting XI on average in this Champions League campaign, while no team has handed more minutes to teenagers.
With just three points to show from six matches so far, a youthful Sturm side may be in danger of making an early exit from Europe, but they are making an impressive defence of their domestic title.
Unbeaten in 11 league and cup contests, winning eight times in the process, Die Schwoazn topped the table by three points heading into the Bundesliga's winter break.
They have recently played a series of friendlies, as the Austrian top flight does not resume until next month, but the intensity will step up several notches in Bergamo: having won only one of 15 away games in the Champions League to date, they will head for Lombardy in hope rather than expectation.
Team News
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As Sead Kolasinac is available after serving a Serie A suspension, only long-term absentee Gianluca Scamacca and recent injury victim Odilon Kossounou will definitely miss out for Atalanta.
Veteran wide man Juan Cuadrado remains a doubt, but the hosts' wing-back roles will be filled by any two from Raoul Bellanova, Matteo Ruggeri and Davide Zappacosta in any case.
Mateo Retegui and Ademola Lookman were selected on Saturday, but Charles De Ketelaere may now be added to La Dea's attack - particularly as the Belgian has been directly involved in seven goals in six Champions League appearances this season.
Meanwhile, Sturm Graz return to UEFA's top club competition with a depleted squad, having lost key forward Mika Biereth to Monaco and full-back Jusuf Gazibegovic to Koln during the winter transfer window.
Max Johnston and Seedy Jatta are set to miss out through injury, but Amady Camara and goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen - the latter of whom has just completed his return from knee surgery - both featured in recent friendlies.
As many as five teenagers could be involved for the visitors on Tuesday, as Camara, Malick Yalcouye, Lovro Zvonarek, Arjan Malic and Konstantin Schopp have already appeared in the league phase.
Atalanta BC possible starting lineup:
Carnesecchi; Djimsiti, Hien, Kolasinac; Bellanova, De Roon, Ederson, Zappacosta; De Ketelaere, Lookman; Retegui
Sturm Graz possible starting lineup:
Scherpen; Geyrhofer, Aiwu, Wuthrich, Lavalee; Chukwuani, Yalcouye, Stankovic, Kiteishvili; Boving, Jatta
We say: Atalanta BC 3-1 Sturm Graz
While Atalanta's form has recently dipped, they are still a class above Sturm Graz, who will not be helped by a month-long gap between competitive fixtures.
With plenty of firepower and European experience, La Dea should score several times and effectively end the Austrian champions' campaign.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Jonathan O'Shea
