Atalanta BC seek a fifth straight win at the Gewiss Stadium when they host Udinese in Saturday's round 22 action in Serie A.
Gian Piero Gasperini's men have been in fine form in front of their supporters, but they must be wary of the visiting side that have avoided defeat against them since 2022.
Match preview
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Ademola Lookman's absence has not been detrimental to Atalanta, with La Dea securing results despite the Nigerian's Africa Cup of Nations absence.
The Bergamo outfit have notched four points from six since the Super Eagles man departed for Cote d'Ivoire, with a recent 5-0 smashing triumph over Frosinone the highlight.
That victory extended Atalanta's winning run in front of their supporters to four, and continuing that sequence is the ambition heading into Saturday's encounter at the Gewiss Stadium.
The goals have flowed for Gasperini's men during this run, underscored by 13 goals netted in four games, but it remains to be seen if La Dea find the net multiple times against a side they have not defeated since January 2022 — a 6-2 win in Udine.
Three consecutive ties have followed between the clubs since, with last year's corresponding fixture ending goalless in Bergamo, an outcome that Atalanta hope against as they seek to leapfrog Fiorentina in fourth.
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Udinese look to extend their undefeated run against La Dea to four, but Gabriele Cioffi's men must reprise a performance similar to the one at San Siro in November that saw the 16th-placed side secure their last road success.
While two defeats and as many draws have followed that unforeseen triumph, the form guide shows that the Little Zebras are not the worst team in Serie A on their travels, having picked up nine away points — seven more than Frosinone's two.
However, too many stalemates have undermined Udinese's survival challenge, highlighted by Cioffi's men securing more ties (12) than every side in the top division, while seven losses are the lowest in the league's bottom half.
Nevertheless, the Little Zebras are a point clear of 18th-placed Hellas Verona and two ahead of Empoli, and a first loss in Bergamo since 2021 could see the away side fall into the bottom three if results elsewhere go against them.
A point may not suffice, with Verona hosting Frosinone at the Bentegodi, although Empoli are not expected to get the better of table-topping Juventus in Turin.
Having had their last league game marred by a section of the home support racially abusing Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan, Udinese hope this weekend's trip to Atalanta is remembered for events on the pitch.
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Team News
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Lookman is still away on international duty, while Hans Hateboer and Rafael Toloi should miss out through muscle injuries.
Despite failing to score in Serie A since November 4, Gianluca Scamacca should lead the Atalanta attack on Saturday, with Charles De Ketelaere and Teun Koopmeiners in supporting roles.
Jaka Bijol (ankle) is not expected back until February, while Enzo Ebosse and Gerard Deulofeu should not return from respective ACL injury layoffs until the season's concluding weeks.
Lazar Samardzic is the undoubted pivotal player for Udinese, even if Lorenzo Lucca (six goals) and Roberto Pereyra (three) could play important roles at the Gewiss Stadium for Udinese.
Atalanta BC possible starting lineup:
Carnesecchi; Scalvini, Djimsiti, Kolasinac; Zappacosta, Ederson, De Roon, Ruggeri; Koopmeiners, De Ketelaere; Scamacca
Udinese possible starting lineup:
Okoye; Ferreira, Perez, Kristensen; Ebosele, Lovric, Walace, Samardzic, Kamara; Pereyra; Lucca
We say: Atalanta BC 3-1 Udinese
La Dea should halt their winless run against Udinese with another comfortable home success to extend the run of victories at the Gewiss Stadium to five.
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