Date: January 20, 2020
Time: 19:45 GMT (3:45 EST)
The second half of the season kicks off with Atalanta hosting last place SPAL this Monday. While everything should be pointing to an easy victory for La Dea, you can never take any team lightly, especially one fighting for it’s Serie A life.
Barely scraping by to kick off the season, Atalanta was able to fend off SPAL 3-2 thanks to some 2nd half heroics by Luis Muriel, who put 2 bangers home to clinch the game for the Nerazzurri.
Hopefully this time around Atalanta will not need a late 2nd half comeback to fend off SPAL. The boys in blue need to be wary of Andrea Petagna who has netted 4 goals against Atalanta ever since transferring away from the club two years ago.
The only question mark for this week is who will take up right back with Hans Hateboer suspended, and Timothy Castagne not featuring in Atalanta’s initial squad list. Perhaps Gasperini has some tricks up his sleeves, including the use of the young Czech David Heidenreich, who as far as I know, is only a central defender, but we’ll have to wait and see.
The game is all the more important to keep pace with Roma, after they deposited Genoa today 3-1. However, ultimately with a fit Zapata, Atalanta should be able to take care of business at home, and keep their Champion’s League spot for at least one more week.
