Atalanta BC travel east from Bergamo to the Bentegodi to face Hellas Verona in Serie A on Wednesday evening.

Both sides are within reach of the European places at this early stage, entering the midweek matchday in the top half.

Match preview

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Verona have shown much better signs this season after only narrowly avoiding the drop thanks to the relegation playout back in June.

Lying in 10th, Verona's only defeats have come in tricky trips to Sassuolo and AC Milan.

Losing at San Siro was almost a given, considering that Hellas have not beaten the Rossoneri away from home for 100 years.

On home soil though, Marco Baroni's men have already seen off Roma and kept a clean sheet against Bologna.

Atalanta have been frustrating visitors of late though, as Verona have lost four of the previous five visits of La Dea, drawing the other.

In those five encounters, Verona have conceded 11 goals, but defence has been one of their strong points so far, as only three teams have conceded fewer.

This will be Verona's last home game before the international break in October, as trips to Torino and Frosinone await after this clash.

Atalanta come into the fixture on a high after recording back-to-back victories for the first time this season.

Alternating between wins and losses had been the story early on for Gian Piero Gasperini's men so far, but a 2-0 triumph over Cagliari at the weekend bucked that trend.

It keeps up a fine start at the Gewiss Stadium, where Atalanta have won all three games without conceding.

Monza had been their other victims in the league at home, while they also recorded a routine 2-0 win over Rakow Czestochowa in the Europa League last Thursday.

That extended an impressive run which has seen them win seven of their last eight home matches, scoring 21 goals.

Away form has been more underwhelming, losing their previous two on the road against Frosinone and Fiorentina.

Correcting that will be a key as Atalanta face a busy schedule before club football stops briefly in mid-October.

Four games in the next two weeks throws up some tough tests for Gasperini and his players, as Juventus travel to Bergamo before La Dea face trips to Sporting Lisbon and Lazio.

Team News

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Baroni has more than a few injury absentees to deal with ahead of this clash within his Verona squad.

Attacking options Jackson Tchatchoua and Jayden Braaf are both out, while Scottish defender Josh Doig is also sidelined.

Thomas Henry is also recovering from an ACL injury, while Ajdin Hrustic's lengthy layoff continues.

Atalanta will be without both of their big-money summer signings in attack, as Gianluca Scamacca and El Bilal Toure remain injured.

Gasperini went with a relatively strong team in Europe last midweek so did not make many changes to the side for the league game against Cagliari.

Luis Muriel and Rafael Toloi both lost their places though, with Sead Kolasinac and Ederson returning to the starting XI.

Hellas Verona possible starting lineup:
Montipo; Magnani, Hien, Dawidowicz; Faraoni, Hongla, Duda, Lazovic; Ngonge, Bonazzoli, Folorunsho

Atalanta BC possible starting lineup:
Musso; Scalvini, Djimsiti, Kolasinac; Zappacosta, Ederson, De Roon, Koopmeiners, Ruggeri; De Ketelaere, Lookman

We say: Hellas Verona 2-2 Atalanta BC

Verona have perhaps exceeded expectations early on this season, and they have their home form to thank partly for that.

Atalanta have not been as impressive on the road as they have been at the Gewiss Stadium, but their attacking mentality should make this an interesting encounter.


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