Atalanta will host Frosinone on Monday night to close out the Serie A weekend. Round No. 20 will see Atalanta attempt to crack the league’s top five.
Serie A’s race for the top five, which could result in five Champions League qualification places, is tight, with Atalanta, Bologna, Lazio, and Roma all in contention.
🔚 FULL TIME #JuveFrosinone 4-0#CoppaItaliaFrecciarossa pic.twitter.com/hb88WRGDSx— Frosinone Calcio (@Frosinone1928) January 11, 2024
🔚 FULL TIME #JuveFrosinone 4-0#CoppaItaliaFrecciarossa pic.twitter.com/hb88WRGDSx
Frosinone are in a battle, too. However, the Lions are fighting against relegation. The team will start round No. 20 in 15th place.
Five points currently separate Frosinone from the relegation zone. A win or draw over Atalanta could give them more breathing space in the race for survival.
Frosinone shocked Atalanta in the teams’ reverse fixture by a score of 2-1. The Lions took a lead in the fifth minute thanks to a goal from Abdou Harroui. Nineteen minutes later, Ilario Monterisi put Frosinone up by two goals.
It took Atalanta until the second half to pull a goal back. Striker Duvan Zapata scored in the 56th minute but that was as close as Atalanta came.
Atalanta dominated the match with over 63% possession. However, Frosinone’s counter-attack was able to cut through the Bergamo club’s defence.
La Dea will go into the game in good form, having taken 10 points from the last six games. The teams scored nine goals, but the defence conceded eight times to opponents.
Atalanta went unbeaten in their last two games, with a 1-0 win over Lecce and 1-1 draw with Roma.
Frosinone are bottom of Serie A’s current form table. They took a mere one point from the last six matches.
The Lions will start the round losers of their last four fixtures. The team conceded 13 times across the last six matches. Five of those six games had over 2.5 goals.
Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini will be without forward Ademola Lookman due to being away at the Africa Cup of Nations. Hans Hateboer and Rafael Toloi are both unlikely to play due to muscle injuries.
Eusebio Di Francesco will be without Frosinone midfielder Pierluigi Frattali due to a red card suspension. Forward Jamie Baez is unlikely to play due to physical discomfort.
Three defenders may miss the fixture. Anthony Oyono, Riccardo Marchizza, and Sergio Kalaj are all battling injuries ahead of the game.
Atalanta may have lost the reverse fixture, but Frosinone’s current poor form should see the home side win.
La Dea won their last three home matches, and should make Monday’s game a fourth straight home victory. Atalanta should post a 3-0 win, as Frosinone’s goal issues continue.