Atalanta are chasing fourth-place Roma and Champions League qualification for next season. La Dea are fifth in the Serie A standings and two points off of Roma heading into the weekend.
Gian Piero Gasperini’s team fell to Inter Milan 1-0 on matchday 26. The coach will hope his side can get a big Friday night win at home to Spezia before travelling to Spain to face off with Real Madrid in the Champions League last 16 second leg in midweek.
Spezia are in 14th place heading into matchday 27. The provincial Italian club are six points above the relegation zone and 18th-place Torino. Coach Vincenzo Italiano’s team are winless in four straight Serie A games with two of those fixtures ending in draws.
The reverse fixture between Atalanta and Spezia, played in November, finished nil-nil in a bore draw. It was a time in which Gasperini’s team were focused on Champions League group stage play.
Spezia could once again play Atalanta at the right time with the home team potentially looking toward overturning Real Madrid’s 1-0 lead in the Champions League last 16.
Two players are on the injury list for the Bergamo-based club. Gasperini is without striker Duvan Zapata, who is nursing a muscle injury suffered in the first leg of the Champions League last 16 versus Real Madrid.
Hans Hateboer is also ruled out due to a foot injury. Hateboer has been sidelined since late January and has missed Atalanta’s last seven Serie A matches.
Italiano has three players on the Spezia injury list. Ivan Provedel is suffering from COVID-19 and will miss the game as it stands. Riccardo Saponara is likely to miss the game after sustaining an ankle injury. Goalkeeper Rafael could miss the game as well due to a sprained wrist.
Atalanta are on a two-game winning streak at home. They have taken 24 points from 39 at the Gewiss Stadium, posting a +16-goal difference.
Spezia have lost back-to-back away games in Serie A and have taken 15 points from 39 overall on the road. They are –7 in goal difference away from home. Their last two games away from home both ended in losses to nil.
Atalanta should warm up for their Champions League last 16 second leg versus Real Madrid with a victory against Spezia. La Dea should win to nil and move into the top four until at least Sunday. Roma play on Sunday versus relegation-theatened Parma FC.