Atalanta host Slavia Prague in the league phase of the UEFA Champions League, with both teams looking to get some traction for their campaign. The Bergamo club will be counting on home form against the Czech side, who are a bit off colour lately.
Atalanta claimed a 2-1 home victory over Club Brugge in their previous Champions League fixture, with Lazar Samardzic and Mario Pasalic getting the goals. That was a solid return to winning ways for Ivan Juric’s men, who were beaten 4-0 at PSG in their opening fixture.
The result at PSG has been the only defeat across all competitions for Atalanta, who are enjoying a decent start to the season. They have won two of their last four home matches but were held to a 0-0 draw by Lazio in a Serie A fixture last weekend.
Slavia Prague travel to Bergamo seeking their first win in this season’s Champions League. They were held to a 2-2 home draw by Bodo/Glimt in their opening fixture before falling to a 3-0 defeat at Inter Milan last time out.
The Czech side's overall form has been unconvincing lately, having failed to win their last three matches, playing out a 0-0 home draw with Zlin last weekend. Jindrich Trpisovsky’s men have also been poor on their travels and are winless in three of their last four away matches.
How the bookies view it: Atalanta overwhelming favourites
Atalanta have been installed as overwhelming favourites among the bookies and are priced at 4/9 by BoyleSports to claim the win. An unlikely victory for Slavia Prague is valued at 9/2, while a draw is set at odds of 7/2.
Head to head: No previous meetings
This will be the first ever meeting between Atalanta and Slavia Prague.
Players to watch: Eyes on Krstovic
Nikola Krstovic leads the line for Atalanta and has caught the eye this season, scoring two goals so far. The forward could be the one to watch on Wednesday (Nikola Krstovic anytime goalscorer – priced at 4/5 by BoyleSports).
Slavia Prague can also hold their own going forward and will look to Vasil Kusej to provide the spark in attack. Having scored four goals this season, the forward could be worth keeping an eye on (Vasil Kusej anytime goalscorer – valued at 7/2).
Probable line-ups:
Atalanta will be without Saed Kolasinac and Odilon Kossounou, who are both sidelined with injury. Krstovic could return to the starting line-up after coming off the bench at the weekend, while Isak Hien is set to continue at the back.
Slavia Prague also have injury problems of their own, with Ivan Schranz, Igoh Ogbu and Tomas Holes among a lengthy list of sidelined players. Kusej should feature in attack once again, while Davis Zima is set to start in defence.
Atalanta: Carnesecchi, Djimsiti, Hien, Ahanor, Zappacosta, Pasalic, Ederson, Bernasconi, De Ketelaere, Sulemana, Krstovic.
Slavia Prague: Markovic, Boril, Chaloupek, Zima, Zrmrzly, Moses, Dorley, Provod, Cham, Kusej, Chory.
Anything else catch the eye?
Both teams have scored in three of Atalanta’s last four matches (BTTS YES – offered at 6/10 by BoyleSports). Three of Slavia Prague’s last four matches have produced over 1.5 first-half goals (First half over 1.5 goals – available at 6/5).
With Atalanta priced at minimal odds for a straight victory, a win and over 2.5 goals offers more value (Atalanta win & over 2.5 goals – priced at Evens).
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