Coppa Italia
Atalanta vs Juventus Preview
- Date: Jan. 30, 2019
- Time: 2:45 p.m. (est)
- Network: ESPN+
- Location: Bergamo, Italy
- Venue: Stadio Atleti Azzurri d’Italia
- Seating Capacity: 24,726
Atalanta play host to Juventus at Stadio Atleti Azzurri d’Italia this Wednesday when they clash in Coppa Italia quarterfinals.
In what is to be a promising matchup, it will also be a duel between Serie A’s best scorers so far, Duvan Zapata and Cristiano Ronaldo. Both players are behind top scorer Fabio Quagliarella.
Nevertheless, La Dea has the best attack in Serie A with 47 goals this season. Juventus has four less of that count.
However, Juventus has not missed a beat since returning to action following the winter break. They have secured an 11 point advantage over Napoli in League play.
Meanwhile, Atalanta sits in seventh position with just 32 points. La Dea will keep hopes to devastate Juventus unbeaten streak in domestic competitions.
Views From Both Camps
Juve boss Massimiliano Allegri:
“There will be no second chances – we need to produce a big performance,” he said.
“It won’t be easy. Atalanta have scored more goals than anyone else in Serie A this season and they fought back against Roma on Sunday, creating lots of chances.:
“Physically, they’re one of the few sides that can match us – but they do give you chances. In these one-off games, the winner is the team that makes the fewest mistakes. We need to take advantage of their weaknesses.”
Allegri will probably lineup their best players in their visit against Atalanta. However, Leonardo Bonucci picked up an injury against Lazio and will likely miss the action. Additionally, Juan Cuadrado remains on a long-term absence.
Atalanta boss Gian Piero Gasperini:
“Juventus have won the Scudetto and Coppa Italia for each of the last few years, but although they are the favorites, we have faith because this time it’s a one-off game and we’re on home turf,” said the Coach in his Press conference.
“Juventus keep setting records and everyone is therefore highly-motivated when playing against them. I was a Coach in their youth academy, so I know the mentality well.
“Max Allegri knows how to give his team consistency and motivation. You just have to look at the last match on Sunday, when they were trailing against Lazio and it seemed to be beyond them, but they fought back and won 2-1.
“If we want to win the Coppa Italia, then this is a big opportunity for us. It’s a chance we earned and one we want to enjoy in a packed stadium full of fans cheering us on.”
Gasperini will have a fully available squad given the return of Ali Adnan from international duty.
Possible Lineup
Atalanta XI: Berisha; Palomino, Toloi, Mancini; Rigoni, Pasalic, Roon, Adnan, Gomez; Zapata, Ilicic.
Juventus XI: Szczesny; De Sciglio, Chiellini, Rugani, Sandro; Can, Pjanic, Matuidi; Douglas Costa, Ronaldo, Dybala.
Prediction
Despite Atalanta’s 16 goal streak in their last four matches, Juventus is a far greater renown team with far better players. However, it will be hard for ‘La Vecchia Signora’.
Nevertheless, Juve has kept a clean sheet in their last seven Coppa Italia encounters which could present a low-scoring game.
Atalanta 1 – 2 Juventus
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