Atalanta vs Udinese: A Serie A Battle in Bergamo
Aiming to rebound from their first Serie A defeat of the year, Atalanta BC will host Udinese at the Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo on Saturday evening. La Dea’s recent setback against Sassuolo has slightly dented their aspirations for Champions League qualification, but the Bergamaschi remain firmly in contention on multiple fronts.
February proved to be a remarkable month for Atalanta, highlighted by a dominant victory over Juventus in the Coppa Italia semi-finals, a triumph against reigning Serie A champions Napoli, and a stunning Champions League knockout of Borussia Dortmund. However, Raffaele Palladino’s side stumbled into March with a 2-1 loss to a 10-man Sassuolo, ending their previously undefeated domestic run in 2026.
Recent Form and Coppa Italia Pursuit
Following the defeat to Sassuolo, Atalanta quickly turned their attention to the Coppa Italia, facing Lazio in the first leg of a crucial semi-final tie. Atalanta pushed hard for an opener at Stadio Olimpico, even having a goal disallowed for offside and hitting the crossbar, but fell behind immediately after the restart. Mario Pasalic quickly equalized – continuing a rich vein of form with his third goal in four games – but an error from the midfielder allowed Lazio to regain the lead.
A late goal from Yunus Musah secured a 1-1 draw for Atalanta, positioning them as favourites for the return leg on home soil next month. Their focus now shifts back to Serie A, where a place in Italy’s top four remains within reach. Last week’s loss left Palladino’s team six points behind the Champions League spots, making Saturday’s match a must-win.
Udinese’s Resurgence
Historically, Udinese have struggled on their travels to Atalanta, losing six of their last eight away games and being outscored 19-5. However, a 1-0 home victory in November’s reverse fixture offers them confidence, as they seek back-to-back league wins over La Dea for the first time in two decades.
Udinese were in impressive form in their most recent outing, defeating relegation-threatened Fiorentina 3-0 on Monday evening. The return of top scorer Keinan Davis proved pivotal, with the striker scoring a penalty sandwiched between goals from Christian Kabasele and Adam Buksa. This victory halted a worrying three-game losing streak and propelled Udinese back into the top 10, putting them on track to secure mid-table safety under Kosta Runjaic.
Team News and Predicted Lineups
Atalanta’s only confirmed absentee is Charles De Ketelaere. Ederson remains a doubt with a muscular issue, while Giacomo Raspadori has just resumed training and Giorgio Scalvini sustained a knock on Wednesday. If Ederson is unavailable, Pasalic could continue in midfield, having previously scored four goals against Udinese in Serie A.
Atalanta BC possible starting lineup: Carnesecchi; Kossounou, Djimsiti, Ahanor; Zappacosta, De Roon, Pasalic, Bernasconi; Samardzic, Zalewski; Scamacca
Udinese welcome back Keinan Davis, who has been directly involved in 11 Serie A goals this season. Defensive duo Oumar Solet and Nicolo Bertola, along with long-term absentee Alessandro Zanoli, are ruled out, with doubts surrounding Arthur Atta’s fitness.
Udinese possible starting lineup: Okoye; Kristensen, Kabasele, Mlacic; Ehizibue, Ekkelenkamp, Karlstrom, Piotrowski, Zemura; Zaniolo, Davis
Prediction
While Atalanta arguably have more at stake, Udinese are a capable side with two extra days of rest. A draw seems a likely outcome, potentially leaving Atalanta’s Champions League hopes hanging in the balance.
For more in-depth data analysis, including predicted scorelines, click here.
Written by Jonathan O’Shea
