Having stayed on course to progress in Europe by winning in midweek, Atalanta BC visit Serie A strugglers Udinese on Sunday, aiming to stay in touch with Italy's top four.
While La Dea overcame Sturm Graz shortly after losing to Inter in the league, Udinese enjoyed more luck against another second-city side last week, when they finally ended their long wait for a win against Milan.
Match preview
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A lone Berat Djimsiti strike proved enough to secure maximum points for Atalanta on Thursday evening, as they kept their unbeaten record in this season's Europa League intact by seeing off Sturm Graz to move clear at the top of Group D.
Six points above their third-placed rivals in the standings, Gian Piero Gasperini's men are essentially assured of a top-two spot, but they have yet to see off Portuguese giants Sporting in the battle to finish first, which would see them avoid a playoff.
However, Atalanta return to domestic duty having lost four of their first 11 league matches for the first time since 2018, following a 2-1 defeat at home to near neighbours Inter last weekend.
The Bergamo club have never suffered as many as five losses from their first 12 games of a season under Gasperini, who has been in charge at the Gewiss Stadium for some seven years now, and avoiding another slip-up in Udine would help keep their pursuit of a Champions League return on track.
Conceding twice to Inter - before Gianluca Scamacca pulled one back later on - ended a five-game unbeaten run on home turf in which La Dea had not shipped a single goal; allied to a record of three clean sheets from their last six Serie A away fixtures, it is clear Atalanta can make life tough for their opponents.
Unbeaten in their last 11 league matches against Udinese, with both meetings last season ending in a draw, the Nerazzurri last lost a top-flight clash with Sunday's hosts back in October 2017 - so given their hosts' current state they will expect that run to continue.
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Udinese may sit perilously close to the Serie A drop zone, but after four straight league draws, the Fruilani finally won last time out - and at the most improbable venue.
Having failed to win a competitive game since August - and shortly after exiting the Coppa Italia by conceding a goal in the last minute of extra time - they were somehow able to defy Milan's might at San Siro, where Roberto Pereyra's spot-kick split the sides.
The Bianconeri may have scored fewer goals from open play than any other Serie A side this season (three), but following Pereyra's penalty they now have the highest proportion of goals from set-pieces (57%).
As no less than 40% of goals conceded by Atalanta have come from dead-ball situations, that may be an area for the hosts to exploit on Sunday afternoon, when recently returned coach Gabriele Cioffi will seek a first home win since starting his second spell in charge.
Now seeking successive Serie A victories for the first time since March, Udinese's 2023-24 campaign has started in the meek manner last season ended, but back-to-back wins over a pair of top-four contenders would certainly boost morale heading into the international break.
Team News
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In addition to Charles De Ketelaere and Matteo Ruggeri, both of whom are sidelined by injury - plus longer-term absentees Jose Luis Palomino and El Bilal Toure - Atalanta will be without experienced centre-back Rafael Toloi on Sunday due to suspension.
After the latter was sent off late on against Inter, Gian Piero Gasperini will hope talented teenager Giorgio Scalvini can play through the pain, having been hampered by a back problem in recent weeks - otherwise, Marten De Roon may drop back from midfield. Hans Hateboer should take Ruggeri's place, which would see Davide Zappacosta switch over to La Dea's left flank.
While Gianluca Scamacca is set to start up front, fellow forward Luis Muriel boasts a brilliant record versus Udinese in Serie A: the Colombian striker has scored 12 times and laid on three assists in 15 matches against his former club since leaving - including six goals from his last four trips to Udine.
Meanwhile, a one-match ban for Christian Kabasele will require Udinese to change a winning formula, with Adam Masina and Joao Ferreira the front-runners to deputise in the hosts' back three.
Once again, Gerard Deulofeu, Kingsley Ehizibue, Enzo Ebosse, Brenner and Danish defender Thomas Kristensen are all unavailable to Gabriele Cioffi due to injury.
Udinese have averaged 1.4 points and one goal per game when Roberto Pereyra has started this season - dropping to 0.5 points and 0.3 goals when he is absent from the first XI - and after returning to favour since former boss Andrea Sottil's departure, last week's matchwinner will again play a key role linking the Bianconeri's midfield and lone front man.
Udinese possible starting lineup:
Silvestri; Perez, Bijol, Masina; Ebosele, Samardzic, Walace, Lovric, Zemura; Pereyra; Success
Atalanta BC possible starting lineup:
Musso; De Roon, Djimsiti, Kolasinac; Hateboer, Ederson, Koopmeiners, Zappacosta; Pasalic; Lookman, Scamacca
We say: Udinese 1-1 Atalanta BC
On the last eight occasions Udinese have hosted this equivalent fixture, both teams have always scored - averaging nearly four goals per game between them. It could be a more closely contested affair this week, though, as the improving home side are unbeaten in five league matches - Atalanta may have to settle for a draw.
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