Football. ua presents the announcement of the match of the twenty-first round of the Italian championship between Atalanta and Napoli.
In the first match of the Italian championship after a short winter break, Atalanta will host the leader of the Serie A - Napoli series. Brilliantly conducting the season, the Neapolitans expect to guarantee themselves the preservation of the first line in the standings, but the Bergamaski, who have come close to the zone of the European League and beat Roma in the previous round, are going to give the fight to the formidable opponent, who this year managed to knock out of the National Cup.
Atalanta - Napoli Sunday, January 21, 13:30. Bergamo, Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia. Referee - Daniele Orsato. Live broadcast on MEGOGO Recently Atalanta is one of the most uncomfortable contenders for Napoli. Three defeats in the last four face-to-face meetings are eloquent evidence of this. Perhaps now the "orobichs" in Serie A do not look as convincing as last season, when they managed to climb to fourth place (then did not give the right to try their luck in the Champions League). But for that there are objective reasons, at least leaving the team of key players Conti and Kessye.
However, the seventh place with equal points with Sampdoria, going sixth, is also a good result, especially considering how powerful the Bergamaski appeared in the group stage of the Europa League, taking first place in their quartet, ahead of such experienced European cup fighters as Lyon and Everton. And Atalanta went into the semi-finals of the Italian Cup, and in the quarter finals beat Napoli in Naples - 1: 2.
Thus, Napoli will have to sweat a lot in order to take three points and, regardless of the results of competitors, to retain the first line in the standings. However, the Neapolitans are not accustomed to get the points of honor in the sweat of their face, and in Serie A they successfully cope with their task.
Guests approach the fight in Bergamo in almost the optimal composition. Milik and Gulyam have already started training after injuries, although they still have not got the necessary conditions. However, Maurizio Sarri was already accustomed to do without these guys (one was absent for four months, the second was for two). Where a more serious problem could be the absence of Hamshik, who picked up the flu, complicated by tonsillitis. However, on Saturday I worked on the training in the general group and was included in the application for the match.
Atalanta disqualified de Roon, who, of course, will not be able to help the team. In addition, one-match disqualification will have to serve the hosts coach, but Gasperini will certainly be able to convey all of his ideas to the wards and his assistant Tullio Gritti, who will direct the team's actions from the technical zone.
Interesting facts - In the last four in-person meetings in the championship and the Italian Cup, Atalanta scored three wins.
- Last season, the match in Bergamo ended with a victory of the hosts with a score of 1: 0.
Approximate compositions will not play: de Roon - Milik, Gulam.
Words by Gian Piero Gasperini, Atalanta coach:.
"The first thing we had to do when we started preparing for this match was to throw out the last victories over Napoli. Every meeting with the team of Sarri is a very difficult test, and anyone who wants to succeed in a duel against the Neapolitans should demonstrate everything they can and give all their strength. Just like football players, I also have to forget that I often succeed against Napoli. And with Atalanta, and in those times when I was in Genoa. Moreover, I can not find any logical explanation for this phenomenon myself ".
"It seems to me that this season Napoli has the ideal chances to become a champion. A couple of years ago, when Iguain played for them, the circumstances were also favorable, but then the players did not have the faith in their strength. Now they are confident of the possibility of their success. However, we will do our best to intervene in the championship race and select both the Napoli and Juventus as many points as possible ".
Matthia Caldara, defender of Atalanta:.
"We now have a good segment in the championship, and we should use this to the full. Last season, our victory over Napoli was unforgettable for me, because I made a double at San Paolo, and a turning point in the career of many of my teammates. I would like to once again experience something like this ".
"The coach asked us to act as aggressively as possible, and on each section of the field. To give Napoli the freedom to handle the ball is to lose. The style of Sarri is unique in Europe. But this does not mean that it is ideal. Gasperini has a lot of trump cards ".
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