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How Atalanta could line up against Juventus

sportsmole.co.uk, 17 May 2021, 20:04
Ambitious Atalanta BC are set to take on established giants Juventus at Sassuolo's Mapei Stadium, on Wednesday, with the Coppa Italia at stake.

With La Dea now just 90 minutes from realising their decades-long dream of a first major trophy since 1963, they prepare for the big occasion with a fully-stocked squad, free from major concerns.

Highly-regarded coach Gian Piero Gasperini has an almost injury-free camp coming into his club's date with destiny in Emilia-Romagna, as - aside from a knee injury to sparsely-used midfielder Viktor Kovalenko - there are no other absences.

Two key players overcame recent thigh problems to feature last weekend, with centre-back Rafael Toloi returning to the starting XI and top scorer Luis Muriel also appearing from the bench in the 4-3 win over Genoa.

Though, with 25 goals in all competitions, Muriel expects to start alongside compatriot Duvan Zapata, there is much competition for the other supporting spot behind the Bergamaschi's powerful Colombian striker.

In-form Ruslan Malinovskyi is favourite to get the nod from Gasperini, but Mario Pasalic, Josip Ilicic and even Aleksei Miranchuk - who enjoyed a rare start at the weekend - are all battling for places in the Nerazzurri lineup. Italy international Matteo Pessina is a further contender, though could alternatively be used in a deeper role.

Twelve-goal wing-back Robin Gosens - again on the scoresheet last time out - will start on the left, though Atalanta have sometimes opted for a back four of late (as opposed to their trademark 3-4-2-1) so he may be deployed from deeper to negate the threat of Juan Cuadrado.

Atalanta possible starting lineup: Gollini; Toloi, Romero, Djimsiti; Hateboer, De Roon, Freuler, Gosens; Malinovskyi, Muriel; Zapata

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