Both 1-0 winners in midweek, top-four rivals Atalanta BC and Juventus lock horns on Sunday, separated by just one point in the Serie A standings.

While La Dea won in Verona, Juve scraped an unconvincing home victory over Lecce - enough to move within two points of the pace-setting Milan clubs.

Match preview

Winning successive league games without conceding a goal for the first time in nearly a year, Atalanta made it three wins from three in all competitions by beating Hellas Verona last time out.

Teun Koopmeiners struck after 13 minutes at Stadio Bentegodi, which ultimately proved enough to separate the sides and secure six points from six following last week's defeat of promoted Cagliari.

Having also seen off opening Europa League opponents Rakow Czestochowa 2-0 at the Gewiss Stadium a few days previously, Atalanta have continued a fairly impressive start to their 2023-24 campaign, blotted only by away losses to Frosinone and Fiorentina.

Protecting their flawless record in Bergamo this weekend may prove a particular challenge, though, as after May's 2-0 reverse to Juventus, the Nerazzurri have lost five Serie A matches, drawn four and won only once at home to the Turin club over the past decade.

Ahead of his side's midweek jaunt to Lisbon, where Europa League Group D rivals Sporting will await, Atalanta boss Gian Piero Gasperini now pits his wits against another elder statesman of Italian football, in his latest tactical tussle with Juve's Max Allegri.

Feeling the heat after a calamitous 4-2 loss to Sassuolo last week, Allegri at least halted the latest tide of criticism directed his way by pundits and past players alike by steering Juventus to victory at home to Lecce on Tuesday evening.

Bouncing straight back from such an ugly aberration in Reggio Emilia, Juve edged out in-form Lecce thanks to Arkadiusz Milik's close-range finish at the Allianz Stadium, where they remain unbeaten this season.

Allegri's men therefore closed the gap to leaders Inter, who then became Sassuolo's latest high-profile victims a day later, and will enter the seventh round of fixtures within touching distance of both Milan clubs at the top of the table.

Despite some dire displays - even in victory - Juventus could now find themselves back in Scudetto contention after several seasons of decline, and beating fellow top-four contenders on a regular basis would certainly help boost the Bianconeri's credentials in that regard.

Either side of next week's Turin derby, Allegri and co have the chance to do just that, as Sunday's trip to Bergamo will be followed by a visit to Milan just before the next international break.

Team News

Still without Alex Sandro, Mattia De Sciglio and Paul Pogba for various reasons, Juventus also have two of their forwards sidelined on Sunday.

Dusan Vlahovic - who has scored three goals in his last three matches at the Gewiss Stadium - trained individually after coming on as a substitute against Lecce and is still struggling with a back issue, while midweek match-winner Arkadiusz Milik misses out with a calf injury.

Returning from his shin problem just in time, Moise Kean should therefore partner Federico Chiesa up front, with Bremer helming the back three and Manuel Locatelli running things in central midfield.

Meanwhile, Atalanta remain without both of their major summer signings in attack, as Gianluca Scamacca and El Bilal Toure remain absent for the foreseeable future.

Ademola Lookman and Milan loanee Charles De Ketelaere could be paired up top, then; although Mario Pasalic featured as a false nine on Wednesday and Luis Muriel offers another alternative.

Lookman can reflect upon a superb showing against Juventus back in January, when he scored twice and laid on an assist in La Dea's 3-3 draw with the Old Lady; however, the Nigeria international only has two goal involvements to his name so far this season.

Atalanta BC possible starting lineup:
Musso; Toloi, Scalvini, Kolasinac; Zappacosta, De Roon, Ederson, Ruggeri; Koopmeiners, De Ketelaere; Lookman

Juventus possible starting lineup:
Szczesny; Gatti, Bremer, Danilo; McKennie, Fagioli, Locatelli, Rabiot, Cambiaso; Chiesa, Kean

We say: Atalanta BC 1-1 Juventus

Atalanta have recorded no draws in seven competitive games so far this season, but that streak may come to an end on Sunday. The Bergamaschi are yet to concede a goal at home and Juventus are far from the most fluid attacking team; therefore, a low-scoring draw could be on the cards.


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