Atalanta’s impressive streak of nine straight victories across all competitions came to an end last week with a 2-3 loss to Real Madrid in the Champions League. The defeat was particularly hard to take due to a missed opportunity in stoppage time when Retegui, left unmarked in front of the goal, failed to score from a cross by Lookman.
In their most recent Serie A match, Atalanta traveled to Cagliari in an effort to keep their position at the top of the league. Their upcoming opponents, Cesena, currently sit near the top of Italy’s second division, putting them in a strong position to secure a spot in the promotion playoffs.
Cesena has struggled in their last few matches, suffering two losses to Frosinone (3-2) and Bari (1-0), but they managed a 1-0 win over Cosenza last weekend. In the Coppa Italia, they have already advanced through three rounds, defeating Pisa, Hellas Verona, and Padova.
Atalanta may be missing several key players for this match, including Juan Cuadrado and Scalvini, while Scamacca, a key goal scorer, could also be rested. Retegui, who has filled in for Scamacca in recent matches, may get a start, with potential changes to the lineup that could see Kossounou or Zappacosta feature as well.
Lookman, a finalist for the African Ballon d’Or, has been in outstanding form, contributing 11 goals and 5 assists in Serie A and the Champions League. On the other side, Cesena will rely on their top players, including Albanian forward Shpendi, who has scored 10 goals in Serie B, and Sierra Leone’s Augustus Kargbo, who has 3 goals and 2 assists.
Prediction
Cesena, who have struggled recently, face a daunting task against Atalanta, a team with a strong home record. Atalanta is expected to dominate this match, making it a challenging debut for Cesena.
Prediction: Atalanta 4-1 Cesena.
