Atalanta is determined to return to winning ways after a series of five consecutive draws in the league. They will face Udinese at the BluEnergy Stadium today at 3 PM, marking the first of four away matches scheduled for November, including fixtures against Marseille and Frankfurt in the Champions League, as well as a trip to Napoli. The last victory for Udinese over Atalanta at their previous home ground was back in 2017, and recent encounters in Udine have ended in draws with scores of 2-2, 1-1, and 0-0 earlier this January.
Ahead of the match, Atalanta’s coach Ivan Juric emphasized the challenge posed by Udinese, describing them as a well-coached, solid team with physically adept players. He insists that maintaining calm and confidence will be crucial, urging his squad not to obsess over scoring but to trust in their style of play, which will yield results. Juric reflected on their performance against AC Milan, where they quickly equalized after conceding a goal in the early stages, showcasing their resilience.
For today’s match, Juric will have plenty of choices across all positions but may make some adjustments to relieve players who exerted themselves against Milan, especially with the crucial Champions League match in Marseille looming. In defense, there is a competition between Kossounou and Ahanor, while in the wing-back positions, Bellanova and Zappacosta are vying for a starting spot. Midfield will likely see Pasalic take over from the injured De Roon, who is resting, alongside other absentees like Maldini and Kolasinac, who will be training back in Zingonia.
In attack, Juric is considering starting with a trequartista role filled by the former Udinese player Samardzic or deploying a three-man frontline that could feature De Ketelaere alongside either Lookman or Sulemana, along with a central striker, Scamacca, who is showing signs of improvement and could return to the starting lineup. Juric is contemplating utilizing the striking trio that could be key for the future, depending on player fitness.
The lineup likely to take the field is as follows: Carnesecchi; Kossounou, Hien, Djimsiti; Bellanova, Ederson, Pasalic, Zalewski; Samardzic; De Ketelaere, Lookman. Under Juric’s guidance, Atalanta aims not only to break this streak of draws but to build momentum as they navigate a busy schedule, keeping their aspirations for the season alive.