Atalanta BC take on Fiorentina on Sunday afternoon looking to end a run of three games without a victory in Serie A.
While the home side's poor form has left them in ninth position in the standings, Fiorentina are in 17th spot after a five-match winless streak.
Match preview
After pushing hard in Serie A and the Champions League last season, Atalanta have experienced somewhat of a lull during the opening three months of this campaign.
However, two brilliant away wins over Liverpool and Ajax in Europe have the potential to act as the catalyst for improvements on the domestic scene.
There have been times this season where the defensive issues of last season have remained, but clean sheets in each of those matches have proven that Gian Piero Gasperini's side can be resolute at the back when necessary.
Already sitting 12 points adrift of leaders AC Milan and without a league win since October, now is the time for that form to be transferred to Italy's top flight.
Atalanta and Fiorentina have each recorded just five points from their last half a dozen fixtures, the joint-third worst returns in the division.
Despite I Nerazzurri being able to remain in the top half of the standings, Cesare Prandelli knows that his Fiorentina squad could be in for a relegation scrap.
Since replacing Giuseppe Iachini in the dugout last month, Prandelli has witnessed his players claim just a point from games against Benevento, Milan and Genoa.
A win and clean sheet against Udinese in the Coppa Italia will give the recent arrival hope that there is enough quality in his squad to make swift headway up the standings.
Their next four opponents feature in the top nine of the table, and it provides his players with an opportunity to perform with a level of freedom which was not present in last week's draw versus fellow strugglers Genoa.
Atalanta BC Serie A form: LLWDDL
Atalanta BC form (all competitions): DDWLDW
Fiorentina Serie A form: WLDLLD
Fiorentina form (all competitions): LDLWLD
Team News
Prandelli is expected to hand a start to Giacomo Bonaventura, who was introduced as a first-half substitute against Genoa.
However, Borja Valero and Patrick Cutrone are likely to be named among the replacements.
Having remained as an unused substitute in midweek, Ruslan Malinovsky could return to the Atalanta XI.
However, with Matteo Pessina performing well in his absence, Gasperini may opt against making any changes.
Mario Pasalic, Mattia Caldara and Aleksey Miranchuk are all missing for the home side.
Atalanta BC possible starting lineup:
Gollini; Toloi, Romero, Djimsiti; Hateboer, De Roon, Freuler, Gosens; Pessina; Zapata, Muriel
Fiorentina possible starting lineup:
Dragowski; Caceres, Milenkovic, Pezzella, Biraghi; Callejon, Amrabat, Pulgar, Bonaventura; Ribery; Vlahovic
We say: Atalanta BC 3-1 Fiorentina
After a couple of strong results in the Champions League, it may only be a matter of time before Atalanta improve on the domestic front. With Fiorentina struggling for goals, this could be the game where Atalanta finally click back into gear.
Top betting tip
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