Atalanta vs Bologna – News and Probable Lineups

Atalanta BC aims to secure their spot in the Conference League when they host Bologna at the New Balance Arena for this Sunday’s Serie A clash.

Bologna stands as the sole team capable of preventing Atalanta from securing seventh place, which has turned into a European spot following Inter’s Coppa Italia victory over Lazio.

Match overview

Despite a notable decline from the top-four finishes of the last two years, Atalanta is close to clinching a place in European competition, as Inter’s Coppa Italia success has pushed Europa League qualification down to seventh place.

Currently, La Dea is positioned in that Conference League spot, having recorded 15 wins, 13 draws, and 8 losses in their 36 Serie A matches this season.

Raffaele Palladino’s squad heads into this penultimate matchday following an impressive 3-2 win against AC Milan at San Siro, which ended their run of five matches without a win across all competitions.

Goals from Ederson, Davide Zappacosta, and Giacomo Raspadori gave them a three-goal lead, and although Milan attempted a late comeback, Atalanta managed to hold on for their fourth win in the last six encounters with the Rossoneri.

This victory provided Atalanta with a six-point advantage over Bologna, a team they had previously defeated 2-0 in the January fixture at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara.

In Serie A, head-to-head records serve as the first tiebreaker, meaning Atalanta needs to avoid a loss by three goals or more to secure a fourth consecutive season of European football.

Bologna finds themselves in a better position than last season’s ninth place, currently sitting eighth with 15 victories, 7 draws, and 14 losses in their 36 matches.

They kept their slim hopes for a top-seven finish alive with a thrilling 3-2 victory over second-place Napoli on Monday, where they initially relinquished a two-goal lead at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

Just when it seemed Bologna were heading for a draw, Jonathan Rowe scored a stunning 91st-minute winner, marking the first time they managed to score three goals away against Napoli since they last did in December 2012.

While Rowe’s third goal in Serie A has kept Bologna in contention for Conference League football, they will need to defeat Atalanta by at least three goals to have any possibility of claiming seventh place.

Even if they manage that, they would also have to secure a win over champions Inter in the season’s final match and hope Atalanta loses against Fiorentina.

Bologna will arrive in Bergamo boasting the joint fourth-best away record in the league, having earned 31 points from their 18 away games this season.

Team News

Atalanta defender Giorgio Scalvini will miss the remainder of the season due to an ankle injury sustained against Milan.

Odilon Kossounou took Scalvini’s place at San Siro, but lasted only 15 minutes before being substituted with an injury that has ended his season early.

Doubts surround the availability of defender Berat Djimsiti and midfielder Lorenzo Bernasconi, while Isak Hien will be sidelined for one match due to an accumulation of yellow cards.

As for Bologna, they are likely to be without players Nicolo Casale, Martin Vitik, and Nicolo Cambiaghi due to injuries.

Jhon Lucumi will also face a one-match ban for yellow card accumulation, allowing Torjorn Heggem the opportunity to start on Sunday.

Attacker Jonathan Rowe is vying for a starting role after having come off the bench to secure the winning goal at the Maradona last weekend.

Atalanta BC probable starting XI:

Carnesecchi; De Roon, Ahanor, Kolasinac; Zappacosta, Pasalic, Ederson, Zalewski; De Ketelaere, Raspadori; Krstovic

Bologna probable starting XI:

Pessina; Mario, Helland, Heggem, Miranda; Pobega, Freuler, Ferguson; Orsolini, Rowe, Castro

After winning six of their last eight Serie A fixtures, Bologna may feel confident about securing three points in Sunday’s match; however, it is likely that they will fall short of achieving the necessary winning margin to remain in contention for Conference League qualification.