Seeking to cement their place in the top eight of the Champions League table, Atalanta will host Athletic Bilbao in Bergamo on Wednesday night.
After opening their continental campaign with a 4-0 defeat at PSG, Raffaele Palladino’s side have bounced back impressively, collecting 13 points from their next four fixtures.
The Bergamo-based club now sit 5th in the league phase standings, well positioned to secure automatic qualification to the round of 16.
Domestically, Atalanta occupy 7th in Serie A and remain unbeaten in four matches, though they were held to a 1-1 draw away at Pisa in their most recent outing.
By contrast, Athletic Bilbao are struggling, currently outside the top 24 and desperate for points with just two rounds of league phase action remaining.
Ernesto Valverde’s side have also hit a rough patch in La Liga, suffering their third defeat in four matches after Saturday’s 3-2 loss at Mallorca.
How the bookies view it: Advantage Atalanta
After defeating Chelsea in their last Champions League home game, Atalanta have been priced up as 10/11 favourites with Betfred to see off Athletic Bilbao, and that looks well worthy of support.
Athletic Bilbao, who have won just one of their six matches in this season's Champions League, come into this clash as 10/3 outsiders on bet365, while the draw has been priced up at 5/2 with the same firm.
Head to head: History book blank
Somewhat surprisingly, Atalanta and Athletic Bilbao will face off for the first time ever on Wednesday night.
Atalanta last welcomed La Liga opposition during the league phase of last season’s competition, where they were comprehensively beaten 3-0 by Real Madrid.
Players to watch: Scamacca to strike?
Having registered a goal and an assist across his last two appearances in the Champions League, Atalanta will look to Gianluca Scamacca for inspiration on Wednesday night. The Italian international is 5/6 with bet365 to register another goal involvement here.
Nico Williams notched during Athletic Bilbao's 3-2 loss at Mallorca last time out. With that in mind, the Spanish international looks like good value for an anytime strike here at 7/2 on bet365.
Predicted line-ups
The hosts will be unable to call upon the services of the injured quartet Ben Godfrey, Berat Djimsiti, Mitchel Bakker and Raoul Bellanova.
As for Athletic Bilbao, injuries rule out Aymeric Laporte, Benat Prados, Maroan Sannadi, Mikel Vesga, Nico Serrano and Unai Eguiluz, while Yeray Alvarez is suspended.
Atalanta: Carnesecchi, Kossounou, Hien, Kolasinac, Musah, De Roon, Ederson, Bernasconi, De Ketelaere, Lookman, Scamacca
Athletic Bilbao: Simon, Areso, Vivian, Berchiche, Boiro, Jauregizar, Ruiz de Galarreta, Berenguer, Sancet, N. Williams, I. Williams
Anything else catch the eye?
Priced at even money, Atalanta look an appealing option to score two or more goals in this clash with Betfred.
The hosts have netted at least twice in each of their last two Champions League matches, while Athletic Bilbao have conceded multiple goals in two of their three continental contests away from the Basque Country.
Additionally, with Atalanta picking up two or more bookings in their home games against both Slavia Prague and Club Brugge, backing them to collect at least two cards at 5/6 on bet365 also looks worthwhile.
GambleAware