Atalanta vs Pisa Preview: Team News & Prediction
by Alex Lawes ·
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Atalanta have to embark upon a new era in Bergamo this weekend, as they begin their season with the visit of newly-promoted Pisa at the Gewiss Stadium on opening day.
Kick-off date/time:
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Atalanta preview: New era for the Bergamasci
Gian Piero Gasperini took Atalanta into an impressive new era in which the Bergamasci became UEFA Europa League winners and perennial top four challengers in Serie A, but he has departed after nearly a decade at the club to join Roma in the capital city.
He has been replaced by Ivan Juric, most recently seen overseeing Southampton’s humiliating relegation from the Premier League. They have made a few additions this summer, such as Honest Ahanor from Genoa and Nicola Zalewski from Internazionale.
Pisa preview: Work cut out for Pisa
Pisa gained promotion back to the top-flight of Italian football last season, finishing second in the second-tier, but promotion specialist Filippo Inzaghi has left the club since then and been replaced by former Cagliari boss Alberto Gilardino in the dugout.
Pisa have spent six previous seasons in the top-flight of Italian football, the most recemt of which being 1990/91, and they have been relegated in five of those six seasons. A lot rests on the experience brought in, such as Michel Aebischer and Juan Cuadrado.
Atalanta team news: Lookman unlikely to be involved
Speculation continues over Ademola Lookman as he tries to force through a move to Internazionale or Napoli, and the Nigeria international will be unavailable this week.
Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Carnesecchi; Kossounou, Hien, Djimsiti; Zappacosta, I. Sulemana, De Roon, Zalewski; Samardzic, K. Sulemana; De Ketelaere
Unavailable: Kolasinac (Injured), Bakker (Injured)
Questionable: Ederson (Injured), Lookman (Personal reasons)
Pisa team news: Couple of absentees
Portuguese defender Tomas Esteves has suffered an Achilles injury on the eve of the season, and he will be sidelined alongside fellow defender Mateus Lusuardi.
Predicted XI (3-5-2): Scuffet; Calabresi, Caracciolo, Canestrelli; Leris, Marin, Aebischer, Hojholt, Juan Cuadrado; Nzola, Meister
Unavailable: Lusuardi (Injured), Esteves (Injured)
Questionable: Denoon (Injured), Meister (Injured), Vural (Injured)
Atalanta vs Pisa prediction
Ivan Juric is a manager that left Torino stagnating and then failed to implement anything remotely successful at Southampton, and he will be counting his lucky stars to have got the Atalanta job, but there could well be a suggestion that it is a sign of inertia kicking in in Bergamo. Pisa are expected to struggle throughout this season but Gilardino is an organised coach and it wouldn’t be a major surprise to see them prove to be very difficult to beat for the hosts.
Atalanta vs Pisa tip: Double chance – Pisa to win or draw
