Having already sealed top spot in Europa League Group D, Atalanta BC travel to Poland with nothing to play for against Rakow Czestochowa.

The hosts have everything on the line here, though, as a surprise matchday five win means they are still in contention to drop into the Europa Conference League on their UEFA group stage debut.

Match preview

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Despite a lack of European experience, a perceived weaker squad on paper, and entering the week bottom of the group, there is an argument to say Rakow have the slight advantage over Sturm Graz for third, given they are at home while the Austrians go to Sporting Lisbon.

Rakow must better Sturm's result, though, as they have identical records and an identical head-to-head record, so goal difference will be the decider between the sides.

Dawid Szwarga's side are one behind in that department, but with both of their opponents not playing for anything, that could give the group's two minnows a huge opportunity.

With goal difference also so close though, the decider could go down as far as away goals scored, and even possibly the 10th tiebreaker, which is the disciplinary record.

John Yeboah's late goal off the bench in Graz earned the Polish champions their first-ever win in a European competition proper, and it was crucial, as a draw would have seen them eliminated.

Entering the fixture on a defeat is not ideal, though, as Rakow were beaten 4-2 by Jagiellonia Bialystok at the weekend, ending a five-game unbeaten run.

The win over Sturm on matchday five remains their only success in 90 minutes across those six games though, so with the group outsiders not firing on all cylinders, they may hope for a favour from Sporting in Portugal.

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A 1-1 draw at home to Sporting last time out sealed top spot for Atalanta, as they sit three points clear at the top with a superior head-to-head record over Ruben Amorim's side.

That ensures direct passage to the last 16 for La Dea, and they will look to sign off from the group stage in style here, even though there is nothing for them to play for except pride.

Building on their 3-2 win over AC Milan will be the order of the day from manager Gian Piero Gasperini, as that famous win ended a four-game winless run.

After being pegged back by the Rossoneri twice, Luis Muriel was the hero, scoring a 95th-minute winner in Bergamo to keep them in the hunt for the top four.

Despite being down in eighth, Atalanta sit just four points adrift of Roma in the final Champions League spot in what looks set to be another incredibly competitive battle for the European positions in Serie A, placing even more importance on Atalanta's achievement at not needing to play in the Europa League preliminaries in February.

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There are no new injury concerns for Rakow, so they may remain largely unchanged from the side that faced Jagiellonia at the weekend.

Fabian Piasecki came in up front but only lasted 45 minutes so may make way for youngster Ante Crnac, who replaced him in Bialystok, in one of the few potential alterations.

Greek defender Giannis Papanikolaou remains out with a shoulder injury, but his compatriot Stratos Svarnas returned recently and scored despite defeat on Sunday.

Bogdan Racovitan was suspended for the trip to Graz but is expected to start here, having played every minute of all three games domestically since, but fellow defenders Kamil Pestka and Adrian Gryszkiewicz are set to miss out.

Gasperini will be torn between wanting to carry on the momentum from the weekend win over Milan and giving many of his regular starters a rest in a game that has nothing riding on it for them.

Choosing a defence will be the trickiest challenge the Atalanta manager will face, as backup options Rafael Toloi and Jose Luis Palomino are both doubtful with injury, so some players from the 'Primavera' side may be promoted to the first team here.

Gianluca Scamacca is also a doubt with a thigh injury, along with the confirmed absence of El Bilal Toure, who remains out with the same issue.

Ademola Lookman is set to be one of the players given a rest, as Gasperini will want him in top condition for the weekend clash with Salernitana, as well as the club's Player of the Month for the past two months - Ederson.

Rakow Czestochowa possible starting lineup:
V Kovacevic; Tudor, Racovitan, Svarnas; Sorescu, Berggren, Kochergin, Jean Carlos; Nowak, Crnac, Cebula

Atalanta BC possible starting lineup:
Musso; Del Lungo, Bonfanti, Kolasinac; Hateboer, Holm, Adopo, Zortea; Miranchuk, Muriel, De Ketelaere

We say: Rakow Czestochowa 2-3 Atalanta BC

Rakow could qualify even with a low-scoring defeat, if Sturm are beaten convincingly in Lisbon, so they must ensure the game does not get away from them with the margins so tight.

The personnel may change, but Gasperini's ideals will not, and despite the alterations that may come, Atalanta should still put on a show and claim the three points here.


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