On the pitch Atalanta-Udinese 1-0
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ATALANTA-Udinese 1-0 in the 33rd minute! Aleksey Miranchuk's goal!
De Ketelaere combines with Ruggeri, receives on the back and passes backwards for the number 59, who finishes dirty, but still manages to send the ball to the corner, beating Okoye.
Fourth place is the objective for Atalanta
, who by winning today would overtake Fiorentina (playing Inter tomorrow) and temporarily move into the Champions League zone, with a two-point advantage over Vincenzo Italiano's team.
La Dea, undefeated in 2024, has come back from three victories in the last four matches, including the one away to Milan, which earned them qualification to the semi-final of the Italian Cup.
Different form for Udinese
, who haven't won for almost a month, when they beat Bologna at home last December 30th.
In the last three matchdays, the Bianconeri have won just one point away from Fiorentina, losing at the Bluenergy Stadium against Lazio and Milan, and now finding themselves with just one point ahead of third-last place, occupied by Hellas Verona (tomorrow on the pitch against Frosinone).
Before the starting whistle, a minute of reflection to remember Gigi Riva.
The formations
Atalanta
lines up on the pitch with a 3-4-1-2: Carnesecchi;
Scalvini, Djimsiti, Kolasinac;
Holm, De Roon, Ederson, Ruggeri;
Miranchuk;
Scamacca, De Ketelaere.
Available: Musso, Rossi, Toloi, Palomino, Pasalic, Muriel, Tourè, Bakker, Adopo, Hateboer, Zappacosta.
Three important absences for Gian Piero Gasperini
, who has to give up Koopmeiners and Hien, as well as Lookman, still involved in the Africa Cup of Nations.
The former Genoa coach chooses Miranchuk to replace the Dutchman in the attacking midfield, behind the duo of Scamacca and De Ketelaere.
On the bench, in addition to Pasalic and Muriel, also El Bilal Touré, who hopes to make his debut for the Nerazzurri today, after many months out due to injury.
He also confirms himself on the flanks, where there is room for Holm and Ruggeri, preferred to Bakker, Hateboer and Zappacosta.
Udinese
lines up on the pitch with a 3-5-1-1: Okoye;
Ferreira, Perez, Kristensen;
Festy, Lovric, Walace, Samardzic, Kamara;
Thauvin;
Lucca.
Available: Silvestri, Padelli, Masina, Zarraga, Success, Tikvic, Ehizibue, Camara, Brenner, Kabasele, Giannetti, Payero, Zemura, Pereyra.
Four are unavailable for Gabriele Cioffi
, all now long-term: Deulofeu, Bijol, Ebosse and Davis, out again after returning from his first serious injury.
The former Hellas Verona coach places Perez at the center of defense, despite the Argentine being at the center of transfer rumors that would have him one step away from Napoli.
However, those according to which the Friulians would be ready to sell Samardzic, who started again today after the goal against Milan, have cooled.
The real novelty is represented by the second striker in support of Lucca: the choice falls on Thauvin, with Pereyra starting from the bench.
Eve
"We have to be careful because Udinese defend very compactly and restart quickly, in the first leg we hit the wall."
On the eve of the match against the Friulians, Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini warns his players, recalling that "in Udine we were lucky to straighten things out after suffering, because we face a team with clear values that the ranking does not reflect. And with Milan he was winning and lost in the end."
Having recovered Hateboer, Gasperini has to do without two players in midfield and in defence: "Unfortunately in the practice match the other day we lost two players in one fell swoop: Koopmeiners crossed his studs with his ankle, Hien suffered the injury in a contrast with Ederson".
In attack there is a single fixed point: "De Ketelaere can play offensive terminal, second striker or external attacker - explains Gasperini -, he combines well in terms of characteristics with all the others, while Scamacca must increase his range of action. Touré he has been training with us for two weeks, he gives good sensations from a physical point of view."
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