Atalanta vs Spezia

Serie A top-four hopefuls Atalanta entertain relegation-threatened Spezia in a high-stakes midweek contest.

Atalanta’s bid to return to the Champions League after a season-long absence is back on track after back-to-back wins over Roma and Torino catapulted them within two points of fourth-placed Inter Milan. But ‘La Dea’ could still end up empty-handed as they start this round outside European placings, perhaps mainly thanks to their underwhelming form in Bergamo. Atalanta’s last six Serie A home matches have fluctuated between different outcomes (W3, D1, L2), suggesting the home fans can never know which version of their side they’ll get on a given day. What’s even more concerning for manager Gian Piero Gasperini is that his men have drawn a blank twice in their last four home league games. Spezia’s upcoming visit could calm the nerves, with Atalanta going unbeaten in all five previous Serie A H2Hs (W3, D2).

Meanwhile, a 2-2 draw in the reverse fixture in January is still a source of frustration in the Spezia camp as they spurned a two-goal cushion in the final 15 minutes of the game. However, ‘Aquilotti’ would likely sign up for another share of the spoils against their more heavily fancied hosts, especially after 18th-placed Hellas Verona swallowed up the ground between the sides. Leonardo Semplici’s men deserve a fair share of the credit for dropping back into the dreaded relegation fight, having won none of their last six league outings (D3, L3). A lack of firepower remains the elephant in the room, as Spezia failed to score in three of those six matches, netting precisely once in the other three. They’ve traveled poorly in 2023, landing just one win in seven away league outings (D4, L2).