Preview of Atalanta BC vs Cagliari – Prediction, Team News, and Lineups
Atalanta BC and Cagliari will meet in Serie A this Saturday, following impressive recent wins for both sides. Atalanta bounced back from a poor domestic run by beating Chelsea in the Champions League, while Cagliari ended a long winless streak with a victory over Roma.
Atalanta’s season has been inconsistent, with only one win in their last ten league matches, leaving them in the bottom half of Serie A. However, they remain on course to secure a top-eight finish in the Champions League group stage. Charles De Ketelaere starred in their recent European win, scoring and assisting in the 2-1 victory against Chelsea. New coach Raffaele Palladino is under pressure to improve Atalanta’s domestic form and aims to build momentum with back-to-back home wins for the first time this season.
Cagliari, meanwhile, have struggled in Serie A but gained confidence from their recent 1-0 triumph over Roma. Fabio Pisacane’s side ended a nine-game winless streak aided by a second-half red card to Roma. The Sardinians are focused on avoiding relegation, with a slim buffer above the drop zone. Since last season, Cagliari have only recorded back-to-back wins once, but they hope to capitalize on Atalanta’s difficulties.
Team News
Atalanta will remain without Kamaldeen Sulemana due to an adductor injury, with Mitchel Bakker also sidelined until next year. Ademola Lookman, expected to join the Africa Cup of Nations soon, is likely to start alongside De Ketelaere and Gianluca Scamacca in attack. If Palladino rotates following the intense Chelsea clash, players such as Isak Hien and Davide Zappacosta could feature from the bench.
Cagliari will miss several key players, including Mattia Felici, Andrea Belotti, Ze Pedro, and Yerry Mina due to injuries. Manager Pisacane may stick with the victorious lineup from the Roma match, featuring Marco Palestra, who has delivered three assists this season and leads Serie A defenders in successful dribbles.
Possible Starting Lineups
- Atalanta BC: Carnesecchi; Kossounou, Hien, Djimsiti; Zappacosta, De Roon, Ederson, Zalewski; De Ketelaere, Lookman; Scamacca
- Cagliari: Caprile; Zappa, Rodriguez, Luperto; Palestra, Adopo, Deiola, Folorunsho, Obert; Esposito, Borrelli
Atalanta’s strong European performances suggest they can overcome Cagliari at home. The visitors have shown resilience but rarely succeed away from Sardinia. This match is set to be a key contest, with three points vital for both sides’ ambitions in Serie A.
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