League leaders after the first five rounds in Serie A, Atalanta BC look to continue their recent revival by extending Cremonese's woes on Sunday afternoon.
While La Dea went two points clear at the top of the standings by beating Monza last weekend, their visitors arrive in Bergamo having just ended a four-game losing streak since promotion in May.
Match preview
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Atalanta's comeback campaign continues apace, as they now follow Monday's 2-0 win over Monza with a clash against another local rival from Lombardy - and another promoted side.
Sitting top of the Serie A table outright after five matches or more for the first time in their history, the Bergamaschi have now won four of their first five games in a Serie A season for the first time since 1961.
Though aided, perhaps, by a relatively friendly fixture list so far, they will welcome Cremonese to the Gewiss Stadium targeting five wins from their first six for the very first time in the club's long history.
All of which represents a remarkable turnaround for coach Gian Piero Gasperini, who saw his side clam up in front of goal during the first half of 2022, following several years of goal-laden and unprecedented success.
A return to the ways of old - with goals coming from a variety of sources (though now more in a steady trickle than a stream) - has aided Atalanta's surprise ascension to the summit, and stand-in striker Rasmus Hojlund was the latest man to find the net, against Monza.
The teenager signed for the Nerazzurri in the summer, joining fellow new recruits Ederson and Ademola Lookman in a rejuvenated squad which is well-placed to retain top spot before meeting Roma next week, in their final fixture before the international break.
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After spending 26 years within the lower tiers of Italian football, Cremonese will face Atalanta in Serie A for the first time since March 1996, and they do so after finally getting off the mark by drawing against Sassuolo last Sunday.
They entered their encounter with the Neroverdi still pointless and sitting second-bottom of the standings, but holding out for a goalless draw at Stadio Giovanni Zini at least elevates them above basement-dwellers Monza.
Coach Massimiliano Alvini has been backed in the transfer market since securing promotion from Serie B, signing a total of 18 players, but Cremonese have scored just four league goals despite a number of attempts to improve that tally.
The Grigiorossi have attempted 64 shots in Serie A this season (13 per game on average), which is the highest total among the bottom seven sides to date.
Indeed, only Udinese's Gerard Deulofeu has fired in more shots without scoring so far than Cyriel Dessers, who has also created the most chances for his new teammates since arriving from Feyenoord in the summer: the Nigeria striker's ability to get on the scoresheet sooner rather than later could prove crucial to Cremonese's hopes of survival.
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Team News
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Though Luis Muriel returned to full training this week, and could be ready to feature on the bench, Atalanta are still without his Colombian compatriot and fellow striker Duvan Zapata due to injury. Therefore, Danish forward Rasmus Hojlund should continue up front, following his first Serie A goal on Monday.
Defensive duo Berat Djimsiti (leg) and Jose Luis Palomino (doping suspension) remain sidelined, so 18-year-old Giorgio Scalvini will hope to feature in the hosts' rearguard - or alternatively in midfield - after scoring twice in a midweek practice match.
Supporting a lone striker should be Ruslan Malinovskyi, while Ademola Lookman, Mario Pasalic and Ederson all compete for places.
Cremonese, meanwhile, prepare for Sunday's game with no major injury issues to concern them, and debuts could be handed to both Jack Hendry and Soualiho Meite.
Another new arrival, teenage forward Felix Afena-Gyan, may play a role from the bench, with Cyriel Dessers and David Okereke continuing up front for the visitors.
Atalanta BC possible starting lineup:
Musso; Toloi, Demiral, Scalvini; Hateboer, De Roon, Koopmeiners, Zappacosta; Ederson, Malinovskyi; Hojlund
Cremonese possible starting lineup:
Radu; Hendry, Aiwu, Lochoshvili; Ghiglione, Meite, Pickel, Valeri; Zanimacchia; Dessers, Okereke
We say: Atalanta BC 1-0 Cremonese
Atalanta should continue to capitalise on a fairly soft start to their schedule by beating Serie A newcomers once again. However, it may be by just a one-goal margin against an improving Cremonese side, who will have to wait for their first league win.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Jonathan O'Shea
