More than the draw and the mediocre performance, what hurt the viola most in the last round against Cagliari were injuries to Mario Gomez and Juan Cuadrado. Add to that David Pizarro's red card and you've got to think Vincenzo Montella has quite a headache, as he will have to make do without three star players. Fiorentina will pin their hopes on Giuseppe Rossi, crossing their fingers that his great form will continue. Stefano Colantuono, on the other hand, will make few changes to his side, as Atalanta seek their second win of the season.
Atalanta vs Fiorentina, preview: Atalanta hope to take advantage of a weakened Viola
Atalanta are a tricky opponent at home in the best of times. The fact that Fiorentina are missing three key players makes the task that much harder.
More from our team blogs: Fiorentina blog Viola Nation
Atalanta need points, having lost two games in first three rounds. They haven't played that well thus far, but Colantuono has a good team at his disposal, one that can create problems for any Serie A team...at least at the Atleti Azurri D'Italia stadium. There will be a couple changes to the starting line up, with creative midfielder Luca Cigarini missing due to suspension and, as Colantuono himself said, Giacomo Bonaventura may be rested in favor of putting Maxi Moralez behind German Denis in attack.
Fiorentina have a host of injury problems. Besides the already mentioned Gomez and Cuadrado, Montella will be without Josip Ilicic, while Oleksandr Iakovenko is in doubt, yet the young coach remains optimistic. It is likely Fiorentina will play in a 4-3-1-2 formation, already used successfully this season, with Borja Valero behind Rossi and Joaquin Sanchez. Matias Fernandez will probably be the one to take Pizarro's place in midfield. Stefan Savic is called up for this game, but will probably warm the bench in Bergamo.
Atalanta injuries and suspensions
Luigi Giorgi, Riccardo Cazzola (injured); Luca Cigarini (suspended)
Fiorentina injuries and suspensions
Mario Gomez, Juan Cuadrado, Josip Ilicic, Ahmed Hegazy (injured); Oleksandr Iakovenko (in doubt); David Pizarro (suspended)
Projected line ups
Atalanta (3-5-1-1): Consigli; Stendardo, Yepes, Lucchini; Raimondi, Migliaccio, Baselli, Carmona, Del Grosso; Moralez; Denis
Fiorentina (4-3-1-2): Neto; Tomovic, Rodriguez, Compper, Pasqual; Aquilani, Ambrosini, Fernandez; Borja Valero; Rossi, Joquin
Match date/time
Sunday, September 22 at 3 p.m. local / 9 a.m. ET
Venue
Stadio Atleti Azzurri D’Italia, Bergamo
TV
Premium Calcio 2, Sky Calcio 1 (Italy)
Online
beIN Sport Play
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