Atalanta Looking To Build

Luigi Delneri has calmed the waters at the Stadio Atleti D’Italia this term and his side are on course in Europe. Their run has been so decent that fans have every right to dream about a Champions League spot seeing that the Orobici are just six points off fourth place.

Juventus come to town on Sunday and, although the Nerazzurri are in top form, they have lost to all of the so called ‘big teams’ so far this season. Roma, Fiorentina and Milan have all dispatched Atalanta to defeats and thus the players will not really fancy their chances against a Bianconeri team coming off the back of a 4-2 demolition of the Rossoneri.

However, Del Neri will look back over the last few weeks and he can take comfort from the last three results which have all been positive. A 2-0 win over Lazio in week 15 was followed by a 3-0 hammering of Udinese and last weekend the Bergamaschi were unlucky not to have come away with maximum points against Genoa as a 1-1 draw at Marassi saw their match-winning streak come to an abrupt end.

Much of their success this season has been down to one Sergio Floccari. The hit-man had limited opportunities last term following his arrival at Messina but he has already equalled his goal scoring tally from last year, scoring eight goals so far for his side. The Vibo Valentia-born striker is eyeing a call up from Marcello Lippi and if he carries on banging in the goals, then you can be sure the World Cup winning coach will take a look.

Atalanta have hit 20 so far but their defence is looking a little shaky with 16 goals shipped in as many games in Serie A. However, their home form is good. Six wins, a loss, and a draw which, ironically, is the same as Juve’s form in Turin. The Bianconeri will need to pay close attention though as the Nerazzurri have scored 14 and conceded just four at the Atleti D’Italia stadium.

Del Neri is hoping his side can build up their good form as he looks for a way into Europe and, if they can beat Juve, then they will have a good chance of moving onwards and upwards.

Juventus Chasing The Leaders

The Bianconeri silenced their critics last week as a 4-2 win over a resilient Milan in Turin saw the Scudetto race being whittled down to just two real candidates. Claudio Ranieri’s side are six points off the pace in Serie A and, with Inter facing a potential banana skin away to Siena this weekend, that gap can be slashed to just three points with a win.

Although Juve will fancy their chances, away form doesn’t make happy reading at Vinovo. Just four wins with two defeats and a couple of draws seems to suggest that Juventus, like a delivering milk float, will lose the Scudetto on the road this season.

Only nine goals scored and six conceded will see the opposition smile on Sunday.  Although goals have been hard to find this term, Amauri is beginning to pay back some of the €24.8 million Juve paid for him, albeit with some prolific strikes in the box.

The Italo-Brazilian, who may represent Italy in two months, has found the net 10 times this season. Alessandro Del Piero has struck five. Scoring needs to improve for the Old Lady and the game against Atalanta is the perfect chance for some end of the year shooting practice.

Juventus can take comfort that Atalanta have not beaten them in any of the last six games against each other. The Turin-based side are kings of this clash as they can boast a five wins and one draw record. Last season’s game ended 4-0 to the Old Lady while in total, Juve have blasted 13 goals against the Bergamaschi while Delneri’s side have only managed to hit three goals against La Vecchia Signora.

The odds are heavily stacked in Ranieri’s favour but Atalanta’s recent resurgence, plus an on-going injury problem in Vinovo, means you can bet this will not be an easy ride.

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