Preview: Salernitana vs. Atalanta BC - prediction, team news, lineups

For La Dea, just a point from their two Serie A matches either side of the international break was followed by Tuesday's draw in the Champions League, while the home team remain pointless and rooted to the foot of the table.

Match preview

In the final analysis, Atalanta head coach Gian Piero Gasperini declared himself satisfied with his team's 2-2 against Villareal in midweek, but an early-season stutter will be causing him concern ahead of the trip to Salerno.

Even if La Dea could even have snatched a comeback win when the Spanish side's Francis Coquelin was sent off late on, they were ultimately indebted to new goalkeeper Juan Musso for saving them a point on the opening night.

After drawing a rare blank against Bologna before World Cup qualifying intervened, the Nerazzurri were then beaten by Fiorentina upon their return to league action, as a curious game of three converted penalties went the way of their visitors - with Dusan Vlahovic's double earning the Viola a 2-1 win.

The last time the Bergamaschi went three Serie A matches without a win was in November of last year, so they will undoubtedly be determined to bounce back this weekend, against a newly-promoted outfit who have struggled to adapt to life in the elite.

In all, Atalanta have posted 12 wins and three draws from their last 15 league games against teams freshly arrived from Serie B, so Gasperini is sure to see the visit to the Arechi as a perfect opportunity to regain their equilibrium.

As they host Sassuolo before meeting Lombardy rivals Inter in the coming week, La Dea are under a certain amount of pressure to set the ball rolling again on Saturday evening.

Already this term, Salernitana have conceded 11 goals in Serie A and are looking like a side set for a season-long struggle against returning to the second tier next May.

Crushed 4-0 by Torino last time out, the Campanian club are finding things tough at either end of the field and are in need of a boost from their recently-acquired forwards, who have had little chance to make an impact so far.

Veteran wing wizard Franck Ribery left Fiorentina at the end of last season and the 38-year-old former France international surprisingly chose to extend his stay in Italy into a third season with Fabrizio Castori's side.

He is under no illusions that Serie A salvation is the team's one and only goal, and in their pursuit of achieving that modest aim, Salernitana also added Nigeria striker Simy to their squad late last month.

Having scored his first Serie A goal against Atalanta back in September 2016 - and found the net in both matches against the Bergamaschi last season - the former Crotone forward's presence could be integral to his new club's battle against the drop.

Salernitana Serie A form:

Salernitana form (all competitions):

Atalanta BC Serie A form:

Atalanta BC form (all competitions):

Team News

Gian Piero Gasperini will be without last season's top scorer Luis Muriel again on Saturday, as the Colombian striker is set to remain sidelined until at least the end of the month with a muscular injury.

Muriel's Colombian compatriot Duvan Zapata is therefore favourite to start up front, with young Roberto Piccoli offering an alternative option to the Atalanta manager, though is more likely to see action in the second half.

The visitors are also awaiting the return from foot surgery of Hans Hateboer, while his countryman Marten de Roon serves the final game of his four-match domestic suspension - with either Davide Zappacosta or Joakim Maehle starting instead of the former in Salerno.

In De Roon's absence, another Dutch teammate - the recently-signed Teun Koopmeiners - could start in midfield after making a couple of cameos from the bench.

The home side, meanwhile, are expected to pair Simy and Federico Bonazzoli up front, while fellow forward Milan Djuric will probably join Franck Ribery on the bench.

Albania international Frederic Veseli is expected to miss out again with a knee injury, but Fabrizio Castori has few other fitness concerns in his Salernitana squad.

Salernitana possible starting lineup:

Belec; Bogdan, Strandberg, Gagliolo; Kechrida, M. Coulibaly, Di Tacchio, Obi, Ruggeri; Bonazzoli, Simy

Atalanta BC possible starting lineup:

Musso; Toloi, Demiral, Lovato; Maehle, Koopmeiners, Freuler, Gosens; Miranchuk, Pessina; Zapata

We say: Salernitana 1-3 Atalanta BC

Salernitana and Atalanta have faced each other only twice in Serie A throughout their long histories - recording a pair of goalless draws in the 1947-48 season.

In fact, the clubs have not met since an encounter in Serie B nearly 20 years ago, but they are unlikely to go without scoring on this occasion, as the visitors have scored twice in each of their last two outings - suggesting that even Luis Muriel's absence cannot stop them from getting back on the goal trail this weekend.