Atalanta BC seek a return to winning in Serie A against Fiorentina when they welcome the Viola to Gewiss Stadium on Sunday.
Gian Piero Gasperini's men have failed to win in four games heading into the gameweek 29 match, while the visitors must turn draws into victories to end in the coveted European positions.
Match preview
Atalanta ended their winless run in all competitions with a comeback success over Sporting Lisbon in Thursday's Europa League last-16 second-leg, and they now seek a win in Serie A to end an underwhelming sequence.
Gasperini's troops secured five consecutive triumphs that placed them in fourth spot and in line to secure a Champions League berth next season, but two wins and as many defeats have seen La Dea slide to sixth.
The Bergamaschi's run can still be corrected, as they sit just four points adrift of fourth-placed Bologna and one behind in-form Roma, with fifth place possibly being enough to secure Italy an extra slot in next year's expanded Champions League.
They could still make next year's top continental competition via Europa League success, but drawing competition favourites Liverpool does not bode well for the Bergamo outfit's prospects.
While defeating Jurgen Klopp's men puts Atalanta in a promising position to return to the Champions League, finding their best form in Serie A should be prioritised in case they fall to the Premier League side in the last eight.
Fiorentina took a positive step towards returning to the Europa Conference League final, defeating Maccabi Haifa 5-4 on aggregate after Thursday's 1-1 draw in Florence.
Vincenzo Italiano's men aim for triumph in the new European competition to banish last season's memories of falling at the final hurdle against West Ham United.
The Viola have a seemingly straightforward path to another final but must be wary of the threat of Viktoria Plzen in the quarter-finals and either Club Brugge or PAOK in the semis.
However, Fiorentina could also aim high in Serie A, as they sit five points behind fifth-placed Roma, a position possibly guaranteeing Champions League participation next season.
That adds to the importance of Sunday's clash in Bergamo, as the visitors could cut the deficit on La Dea to one point with a win.
A four-game undefeated run is commendable, but Italiano will wonder what might have been had his Fiorentina side accrued more than six points from the available 12.
Team News
Atalanta have no injury issues before Sunday's Serie A game, but Gasperini could rotate his side after admitting his side were drained by Thursday night's exertions.
Teun Koopmeiners, who netted a brace last time out against Juventus, should return to the XI, having equalled his league goals tally from last season with eight fewer matches — 10 goals in 33 appearances in 2022-23, 10 strikes in 25 in 2023-24.
Italiano hopes to count on Andrea Belotti's rich vein of form against Atalanta, with the former Torino striker notching four goals and assisting one in his last five appearances against the Bergamo outfit.
Giacomo Bonaventura is suspended for Fiorentina after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season against Roma, while Nikola Milenkovic is one more booking from a one-game ban.
Oliver Christensen is not expected back until May because of a knee issue, and Christian Kouame is absent this weekend with a virus.
Atalanta BC possible starting lineup:
Carnesecchi; Scalvini, Djimsiti, Kolasinac; Zappacosta, Ederson, De Roon, Ruggeri; Koopmeiners, Pasalic; Scamacca
Fiorentina possible starting lineup:
Terracciano; Kayode, Milenkovic, Ranieri, Biraghi; Arthur, Mandragora; Gonzalez, Barak, Beltran; Belotti
We say: Atalanta BC 2-1 Fiorentina
Having returned to winning ways in Europe on Thursday, Atalanta are due a Serie A victory after four matches without one, with Gasperini's willingness to freshen his side possibly proving pivotal in Sunday's fixture.
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