Atalanta vs Bologna
If the Serie A title race remains up for grabs, the battle for third place is even closer.
Just six points separate the sides placed third to eighth in the standings and the two teams who are threatening to upstage much more established counter parts are set to clash this weekend.
That’s because it’s time to head to Bergamo for a match which this SBOTOP observer believes will be jam packed with Serie A 2025 highlights as third placed Atalanta host fourth placed Bologna.
Talking Points
That both teams are ahead of the likes of Juventus, Roma and Milan in the table speaks volumes for two clubs who really have taught some of the big boys a thing or two over the past few years.
Atalanta’s success has been masterminded by Gian Piero Gasperini.
The club from Bergamo had spent most of its existence yo-yoing between Serie A and B, with their ambitions rarely stretching beyond mid-table comfort.
Yet since Gasperini took over in the summer of 2016, they have qualified for the Champions League, reached the Coppa Italia Final, challenged for the Scudetto and last year won their first European trophy in the shape of the Europa League.
While their 1-0 home defeat to Lazio last weekend is not too much of a concern, La Dea have now lost three consecutive league matches, going from potential title contenders to seeing their Champions League spot under threat.
Remarkably, they are also without a home victory in Serie A since just before Christmas.
And what of Bologna? Well, who would have thought they would also have qualified for the Champions League last season, finishing ahead of capital duo Roma and Lazio and 2023 Italian champions Napoli in the process.
Head coach Vincenzo Italiano was last week named manager of the month for March, a month in which they gained four wins from four.
The Rossoblu recorded a 2-1 win over Cagliari, a 2-1 win over Hellas Verona, a 5-0 thrashing of Lazio and a 1-0 win away against Venezia during that time before facing Napoli on Monday night when they fought back to draw 1-1.
On that occasion, a dominant second half showing was rewarded by a sensational Dan Ndoye back-heel flick equaliser.
That wasn’t quite enough to leapfrog their opponents this weekend into third place but they go into this encounter in much better form than their hosts and just a solitary point behind them.
They also have one foot in the final of the Coppa Italia after a 3-0 first leg victory over Empoli– not too shabby for a side which sold a few of its leading performers last summer.
Both teams will be hell bent on victory to take control of third place, yet even a draw could well be enough to keep them on course for what should be an entertaining run-in.
History
This fixture has got quite the pedigree in Italian football.
A total of 119 meetings in all competitions has resulted in 44 Bologna successes, 42 Atalanta victories and 33 draws across Serie A, Serie B, the Coppa Italia and the Divisione Nazionale (a brief predecessor to the top flight).
Bologna won 2-1 in this game last season when a Joshau Zirkzee penalty and a Lewis Ferguson goal overturned Ademola Lookman’s opener for the home side.
The meeting earlier this term ended all square with Lazar Samardzic equalising for Atalanta in the final minute after Santiago Castro fired Bologna ahead in the opening minute of the second half.
It was September 1937 when these two sides first met, a league match which Bologna won on home soil after goals in the first 23 minutes from Michele Andreolo and Carlo Reguzzoni. Dario Savio pulled one back from Atalanta.
Betting Tip
Put simply, Atalanta cannot afford a fourth consecutive league defeat or they risk losing momentum completely.
Despite their miserable past month, our Serie A 2025 betting odds still back them and I am going to give them the edge too.
A home victory is priced 1X2 @ 1.84 and Asian Handicap -0.75 @ 2.08, compared to a Bologna success with 1X2 @ 3.83 and Asian Handicap +0.25 @ 2.36.
Another draw will pay out @ 3.25 and a repeat of last term, which saw Bologna record a 2-1 success, is on offer with Correct Score @ 14.50.
I think there will be a few goals in this contest and I have considered over 2.75 @ 2.35, however, I am going to stick to my guns and predict an Atalanta victory and my *** tip is First Half 1X2 @ 2.41.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR (
) BETS ARE WORTH:
= €20 (HIGHLY CONFIDENT)
= €10 (CONFIDENT)
= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT)
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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