Two teams heading in very different directions meet on Wednesday, as Serie A's form side Atalanta BC travel to the Dacia Arena to take on fast-sinking Udinese.
In a rearranged fixture that was initially rained off in early December, Luca Gotti's men host visitors that have won seven of their last 10 games in all competitions.
Match preview
© Reuters
The first attempt at staging this match was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch last month. After three pitch inspections, huge puddles all over the Stadio Friuli pitch persuaded officials to move the meeting to a later date.
Perhaps only another timely intervention from the weather can save struggling Udinese this time around, as Atalanta have reached top gear in the intervening period - though they did surprisingly draw a rare blank against Genoa last weekend.
La Dea failed to breach the Grifone's much-improved defence during a goalless draw, in an unusually ineffective attacking display which was thwarted by the Ligurians' excellent rearguard action.
A sum total of two shots on target came as even more of a surprise given Atalanta had racked up 18 goals in their previous six matches - at an impressive average of three per game.
Rediscovering the free-flowing abandon of their recent past, Gian Piero Gasperini's side have not lost since the end of November to sit sixth in the standings. Last week, they progressed to the quarter-finals of the Coppa Italia too, easily beating Cagliari 3-1.
With games against Milan and Lazio next up in their Serie A schedule, Wednesday night could prove the perfect opportunity to pick up three more points to stay in the top-four hunt.
© Reuters
Udinese captain Rodrigo De Paul gave his side the lead against Sampdoria last week, as the Friuliani looked to finally end a horrific run of form, but ultimately they left Genoa without even a point after conceding Antonio Candreva's 'Panenka' spot-kick and a devastating late Ernesto Torregrossa header.
Following that seventh successive failure to win, the supposed Liverpool and Real Madrid target revealed that he sets 'no limits' on his future career - an inevitable but ill-timed reminder to his coach that the inspirational skipper has one eye on the door.
Now clinging on grimly to his position, Gotti will need all the assistance he can get from senior stars such as De Paul, as his team sit just three points above the drop zone and must face the league's most prolific outfits - Atalanta and Inter Milan - before the end of the month.
Formerly an assistant to Maurizio Sarri at Chelsea, Gotti must find a way to reconfigure his plethora of attacking options. Having mixed and matched a wide range of alternatives all season long, none have truly convinced for an outfit with just 19 goals registered to date - one of the least effective attacks in the top flight.
Facing an Atalanta attacking unit now approaching their fluent best, on Wednesday, Udinese will somehow have to break not only their desperate current winless streak, but also a string of defeats to the Bergamaschi going back five league games.
Udinese Serie A form: DLLDLL
Atalanta BC Serie A form: WDWWWD
Atalanta BC form (all competitions): DWWWWD
Team News
© Reuters
Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini has an increasingly deep pool of talent from which to choose and should return to the trusted Matteo Pessina in support of former Udinese striker Duvan Zapata, with Ruslan Malinovskyi dropping to the bench. Cristian Romero is also likely to take over from Jose Luis Palomino in central defence.
Midfielder Mario Pasalic is the main doubt for Wednesday, but in any case the midfield four in Atalanta's 3-4-2-1 is a settled unit - with tireless duo Hans Hateboer and Robin Gosens on the flanks and Marten de Roon and Remo Freuler occupying the centre.
Luca Gotti must manage a significant injury list for Udinese, with Mato Jajalo and Ignacio Pussetto both out for the season, plus Stefano Okaka, Fernando Forestieri, Sebastian Prodl and Bram Nuytinck all still unavailable.
Gerard Deulofeu was back on the bench at the weekend and could feature at some stage, with Roberto Pereyra and star man Rodrigo De Paul playing in support of hapless lone striker Kevin Lasagna.
Udinese possible starting lineup:
Musso; Bonifazi, Becao, Samir; Larsen, De Paul, Arslan, Mandragora, Zeegelaar; Pereyra; Lasagna
Atalanta BC possible starting lineup:
Gollini; Toloi, Romero, Djimsiti; Hateboer, De Roon, Freuler, Gosens; Pessina, Miranchuk; Zapata
We say: Udinese 1-2 Atalanta BC
The chasm in confidence between two sides could hardly be wider, as one of Calcio's hottest attacking forces visit one of the coldest.
Though Udinese are rarely blown away by opponents, the Zebrette surely cannot hold back Zapata, Ilicic and company for a full 90 minutes, so must surely fall to another depressing defeat.
