Bologna take on the visitors Atalanta in the round 19 match of Italian Serie A. The match will be played on Wednesday, January 7th at Stadio Renato Dall'Ara (Bologna).
Bologna were long perceived as a solid but unremarkable mid-table side. However, already two seasons ago, under Thiago Motta, they surprisingly finished fifth in Serie A. The Brazilian left for Juventus, and his successor Italiano had a weak debut in the Champions League and saw the team slide back to the middle of the domestic table, but he still delivered a major trophy by winning the Coppa Italia. This success allowed Bologna to compete in the Europa League, where they have already secured a place in the playoffs, and in the Super Cup, where they beat Inter before losing heavily to Napoli. At the same time, their Serie A performances have clearly improved. Still, the winter period brought several slips, and last weekend Inter confidently took revenge with a 3–1 win. Despite recent setbacks, Bologna’s overall form remains positive, especially at home, where they regularly impose their style. Their results against direct rivals show that this team is capable of staying in the upper half of the table for the rest of the season.
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Atalanta have changed their coach and seem to have made the right choice this time. The Bergamaschi are now held in very high regard in Italian football, largely thanks to Gasperini. Gian Piero, even after announcing his departure, managed to guide the team into the Champions League playoffs and finish third in Serie A. He was replaced in the summer by Juric, but just a couple of very poor months were enough for the club to admit the mistake. Palladino, who took over, needed some time to settle in, but soon began to rack up wins with his new side in both the Champions League and Serie A. In the latter, they edged Roma 1–0, meaning Gasperini was beaten by his own former team. Atalanta’s recent run suggests growing confidence and tactical balance. Their consistency over the last rounds makes them look increasingly reliable, especially in matches against teams of a similar level.
The Red and Blues have won four times with one draw. However, in April last year, in their most recent meeting, they lost 0–2 in Bergamo. This looks like a fairly even matchup. But considering the form both teams have shown in recent rounds, the away side can be backed to win with a 0 handicap.
Prediction for the match: Atalanta to win with 0.0 handicap.
