Preview: Sampdoria vs. Atalanta BC - prediction, team news, lineups

Having let points slip through their fingers in back-to-back matches last week, Atalanta BC will seek to overcome those setbacks when they visit Sampdoria on Wednesday.

Conceding a stoppage-time equaliser to Udinese at the weekend followed Champions League heartbreak at Old Trafford for La Dea, so they hope to take advantage of a struggling Samp side.

Match preview

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A dramatic defeat at Manchester United last week, when they relinquished a 2-0 half-time lead, saw Atalanta host Udinese on Sunday having lost two of their last three fixtures amid a deepening injury crisis.

The Bergamaschi nonetheless managed to take the lead in the 56th minute, through a typically powerful Ruslan Malinovskyi strike from outside the area. They were later denied the three points, though, as coach Gian Piero Gasperini was given his marching orders before Beto nodded in a stoppage-time equaliser for the Zebrette.

That late fumble leaves La Dea with a tally of just five points from 15 available at home this season, so Gasperini will perhaps be relieved to take his side to his old haunt in Genoa in midweek, as Atalanta currently sit third in the 'away form' table.

Though they remain level on points with Juventus, and just one behind Roma, the league leaders are disappearing off into the distance while the Nerazzurri search for the consistency which has secured them top-four finishes in three consecutive seasons.

While their previously relentless attacking output has waned - they are only the division's seventh-highest scorers to date - Atalanta have now conceded in each of their last five league games, so will hope to replicate a clean sheet achieved when they last met Wednesday's opponents at Marassi, in a 2-0 win last February.

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After picking up a precious three points on Friday night, Sampdoria have had almost two days more than their visitors to prepare, which could prove pivotal in their pursuit of successive victories.

Still struggling to adapt to the methods of former Parma boss Roberto D'Aversa, who took over from Claudio Ranieri in the summer, the Blucerchiati had posted just one point and conceded 13 goals during their previous four outings, to leave them down in 17th place.

They were, though, fully deserving of a 2-1 win over Ligurian rivals Spezia at Stadio Luigi Ferraris, with veteran winger Antonio Candreva instrumental in a success which elevates them to 15th.

Involved in an own goal by the visitors' Emmanuel Gyasi before netting the crucial second just before the break, Candreva rolled back the years as part of Samp's ageing front line - which had its average age reduced at least a little by D'Aversa selecting Manolo Gabbiadini ahead of 38-year-old Fabio Quagliarella.

With Torino and Bologna next to come, ahead of November's international break, the Genoese outfit will have better chances to boost their mediocre points tally than against Atalanta, as they continue a run of four games from six at home.

However, they did manage to defeat La Dea 3-1 almost exactly a year ago - with Quagliarella netting the opener - which at least provides a good omen for Wednesday night's clash.

Team News

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Suspended for disputing the referee's calls on Sunday, Gian Piero Gasperini will not be the only man distanced from the action for Atalanta in midweek.

While Merih Demiral returned to the bench against Udinese following his injury at Old Trafford and could now start, Joakim Maehle may still be out through illness, alongside regular starters Berat Djimsiti, Matteo Pessina, Robin Gosens and Hans Hateboer, who all remain on the treatment table.

Therefore, midfielder Marten de Roon is likely to feature in the back three again, but captain Rafael Toloi may make his recovery from an adductor injury in time to play a part at some stage.

Up front, meanwhile, the ongoing battle between Colombian compatriots Luis Muriel and Duvan Zapata - both formerly of Sampdoria - continues for the main striker's role, with the latter favourite to start.

Samp are set to make at least one change to their lineup on Wednesday, as Valerio Verre came off injured early on in the win over Spezia.

His most obvious replacement, Mikkel Damsgaard, is on the road to recovery from a thigh problem picked up while on international duty, but is not yet ready to start. The Danish winger joined midfield duo Albin Ekdal and Ronaldo Vieira in training separately from the main group on Monday.

Morten Thorsby is back in the fold after serving a suspension at the weekend, so should come into central midfield, allowing Kristoffer Askildsen to fill in on the left - though full-back Nicola Murru is another option for the flank.

Sampdoria possible starting lineup:
Audero; Bereszynski, Yoshida, Colley, Augello; Candreva, Thorsby, Silva, Askildsen; Caputo, Quagliarella

Atalanta BC possible starting lineup:
Musso; De Roon, Palomino, Demiral; Zappacosta, Koopmeiners, Freuler, Pezzella; Pasalic, Ilicic; Zapata

We say: Sampdoria 1-2 Atalanta BC

Under D'Aversa, so far Sampdoria have conceded at a rate of almost two per game, so even a below-par Atalanta can continue that rate on Wednesday with at least a couple of goals at Marassi.

While defensive issues remain - not helped by a raft of injuries - the Bergamaschi can be brilliant at their best, with potential match-winners popping up all over the pitch. Some lesser-known figures may play their part in securing the win this time out though.