In their final game of the calendar year, Atalanta BC aim to end 2023 on a high when they host Lecce at the Gewiss Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
After losing to fellow top-six contenders Bologna just before Christmas, the Bergamo club sit only four places above their latest visitors in the Serie A standings and languish outside the European places.
Match preview
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Becoming the latest victim of Bologna's Lewis Ferguson, Atalanta let two points slip at the end of last week's defeat at Stadio Dall'Ara, with the Scottish midfielder's late goal consigning La Dea to another away defeat.
Following a month-long winless run in the league, the Bergamaschi had then put together back-to-back victories over AC Milan and Salernitana, but losing in Emilia-Romagna now leaves them eighth in the table and five points behind fourth-placed Bologna.
Although they progressed to the Europa League's knockout phase quite serenely, Atalanta have lost seven of their 17 Serie A fixtures this season, and another defeat this weekend would see them record as many as eight from 18 for the first time since 2015 - before Gian Piero Gasperini's remarkable reign began.
Some 40% of the league goals they have conceded have come from set-piece situations - the highest share of any team throughout Italy's top flight - and such defensive frailties often undermine their sharpness in the final third.
Atalanta have scored seven goals in their last two home Serie A games and 43 overall during 2023, which is the most of any Serie A side this year.
With Luis Muriel re-finding his form and Ademola Lookman continuing to impress, La Dea will now be intent on bouncing back from a rare failure in front of goal and improving their recent record against Saturday's visitors.
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Lecce came out on top in both meetings with Atalanta last season, 2-1 successes at home and away, and the Puglian club will now aim to post a third straight Serie A win over the Nerazzurri for the very first time.
Though they were beaten 2-0 by league leaders Inter Milan at San Siro last time out, suffering their first defeat in six games, the Giallorossi remain relatively safe in mid-table with two games to go until the midpoint of the 2023-24 campaign.
A tally of 20 points so far is Lecce's best at this stage since 2004, leaving them seven points clear of the drop zone in 12th place - and their fine form down at Stadio Via del Mare has been largely to thank.
Coach Roberto D'Aversa still seeks to resolve his side's struggles when on the road, as despite holding Fiorentina in Florence and coming within a whisker of beating Roma in the capital they are one of four teams without an away win.
Visits to Inter and now Atalanta have not presented the ideal opportunities to end such a drought, but the Salentini have recently had the edge over La Dea and will travel north in hope of finishing the year with a flourish.
Team News
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As both Rafael Toloi and Jose Luis Palomino are doubtful due to injury, Atalanta boss Gian Piero Gasperini may retain the back three that started against Bologna last weekend.
It remains to be seen whether Marco Carnesecchi will make way for former first choice Juan Musso in goal, while Gasperini now has plenty of options to choose from up front.
Ademola Lookman partnered Charles De Ketelaere at the Dall'Ara, but a rejuvenated Luis Muriel - who played 29 games and scored seven goals for Lecce in Serie A - has found the net in both of his last two home matches. Italy striker Gianluca Scamacca is also in contention, but long-term absentee El Bilal Toure will not be back in action until next month at the earliest.
Meanwhile, Lecce will be without either Marin Pongracic or Lameck Banda, both of whom must serve suspensions. The latter was shown a straight red card for dissent at San Siro last week and also misses the upcoming clash with Cagliari.
Kastriot Demarku is sidelined by a knee injury, so Algeria international Ahmed Touba may have to step in to a generally settled back four.
The only Serie A team with two defenders to have made at least 38 appearances in 2023, Lecce's Valentin Gendrey and Federico Baschirotto have both played over 3300 minutes this calendar year and will start again in Bergamo.
Atalanta BC possible starting lineup:
Musso; De Roon, Djimsiti, Kolasinac; Zappacosta, Pasalic, Ederson, Ruggeri; Koopmeiners; Lookman, Scamacca
Lecce possible starting lineup:
Falcone; Gendrey, Touba, Baschiroto, Gallo; Kaba, Ramadani, Raffia; Strefezza, Krstovic, Oudin
We say: Atalanta BC 1-1 Lecce
A total of five draws from eight on their travels shows how hard Lecce can be to beat, so Atalanta may have to settle for a point in their final game of 2023. The hosts are often caught out at the back, and their visitors could take advantage.
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Top tip
Jonathan O'Shea
