One of Serie A's form sides, Atalanta BC, host relegation-threatened Sassuolo at the Gewiss Stadium, seeking a fifth straight league win.
Gian Piero Gasperini's men are locked in a six-way tussle to end in the last Champions League spot, while their opponents risk sliding into the bottom three this weekend.
Match preview
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Much was made about Ademola Lookman's Africa Cup of Nations departure in January, with Gasperini hoping the Nigeria international would not be away for long, even if La Dea thrived in their forward's absence.
While Lookman was away, the Bergamaschi won four of their five Serie A games — five in six in all competitions if the Coppa Italia win over AC Milan is included — with the only dropped points being the 1-1 draw with Roma on January 7.
The upshot of the impressive performances and results make Atalanta one of the in-form sides in the league, with only Inter (five wins from five) outdoing Gasperini's troops.
La Dea have won four games on the trot for the first time since November-December 2021 — six straight victories were claimed — and they are favourites to secure a fifth win against opponents battling league survival.
That assertion is backed by the league's fourth-placed side winning their previous six Serie A games at the Gewiss Stadium, scoring 18 times and conceding four, and a seventh should be on the cards this weekend.
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Sassuolo are the visiting side to Bergamo this time, keen to avoid being the next side to fall to La Dea's impressive results in front of their supporters.
The Neroverdi avoided losing twice to Torino for the first time in a decade, with that 1-1 draw halting the unwanted run of three straight losses.
That point kept 18th-placed Hellas Verona from moving level with Alessio Dionisi's men, even if that could change this weekend if the Emilia-Romagna outfit lose to Atalanta and Verona somehow shock Juventus at the Bentegodi.
Having picked up five points from 30 since the start of December, Dionisi's men are in relegation form and could be in danger of slipping into the bottom three if any of the sides below them nick some positive results.
Sassuolo stunned Inter Milan 2-1 in September and led Bologna 2-1 in their recent away game before conceding three times in the game's final 20 minutes to lose 4-2, pointing to some level of competence at making it difficult for the division's best sides, and another colossal showing against a top side is needed this weekend.
Team News
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Having seen Charles De Ketelaere thrive in Lookman's absence, Gasperini may not rush the Nigerian after his AFCON 2023 exertions with the Super Eagles.
Jose Luis Palomino's muscle issue makes him Atalanta's only absentee for Saturday, with the defender expected to return to action in a fortnight.
Ederson Jose returns from suspension, and the Brazilian should slot back into La Dea's midfield this weekend.
Cristian Volpato and Jeremy Toljan are doubtful for the away side, but the Neroverdi are without Domenico Berardi (knee) and Pedro Obiang (Achilles), with the former unavailable until March.
Booked in two consecutive Serie A games at Bologna and Torino, Josh Doig is one yellow card from suspension.
Atalanta BC possible starting lineup:
Carnesecchi; Scalvini, Djimsiti, Kolasinac; Holm, De Roon, Ederson, Ruggeri; Koopmeiners; De Ketelaere, Scamacca
Sassuolo possible starting lineup:
Consigli; Pedersen, Erlic, Viti, Doig; Henrique, Boloca; Castillejo, Thorstvedt, Lauriente; Pinamonti
We say: Atalanta BC 3-1 Sassuolo
Gasperini's should live up to their favourites tag by securing a comfortable victory over Sassuolo to record their fifth on the trot in Serie A and seventh consecutive triumph at the Gewiss Stadium.
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