Two sides on opposite spectrums of the Serie A form table meet at the Gewiss Arena on Monday, when Atalanta BC host Frosinone.
La Dea will be in high spirits after reaching yet another Coppa Italia semi-final in midweek, while Frosinone were convincingly beaten at the same stage by Juventus.
Match preview
© Reuters
It was another famous night for Atalanta under Gian Piero Gasperini on Wednesday, when they went to San Siro and knocked AC Milan out of the Coppa.
Teun Koopmeiners was the hero of the hour, scoring the winner from the penalty spot after also dragging his side level just moments after Rafael Leao had given Milan the lead late in the first half.
That win seals Atalanta's place in a fourth semi-final in six years, the same amount they reached in their previous 110 years as a club.
It also extended their exceptional recent run of form to six wins in eight matches - with their only dropped points coming in a draw with Roma and a defeat to Bologna, both away from home.
The draw at the Stadio Olimpico came last Sunday, and kept them in the race for the top four, as seven clubs are separated by just six points, and it was Koopmeiners once again who got on the scoresheet for La Dea.
© Reuters
With Atalanta not in action next weekend due to the Supercoppa, it means they have three straight home games to potentially take advantage of, against Frosinone, Udinese and Lazio.
Despite the absence of Ademola Lookman, who has gone to the Africa Cup of Nations with Nigeria, Gasperini's other attacking options have risen from the shadows and played a pivotal part in their success in 2024 so far.
With Koopmeiners in great scoring form, Aleksei Miranchuk has also become a prominent figure in the team, scoring twice, setting up another and winning two penalties in three games, while Charles De Ketelaere also has three goals in that time.
Facing a side in such form will be of great concern to Frosinone, who come into the clash as one of the most out-of-form sides in Italy.
A 4-0 defeat in their Coppa quarter-final versus Juve on Thursday was their fourth consecutive defeat, and their last six league games have yielded just one point.
© Reuters
While the falloff after a great start has been hugely disappointing, it is ultimately unsurprising given the youthful nature of the squad, and manager Eusebio Di Francesco referenced this after their defeat at home to Monza last weekend.
"The latest defeats weigh a bit. They are annoying above all because of how they arrived. I find it hard to say that we have lost lately because our opponent has dominated us. We need to raise the concept of attention during the game." said Di Francesco.
Frosinone have scored in all five of their league defeats across that six-game period, but the lack of attention referenced by the manager has been part of the reason why they have also conceded 13 goals in that time.
Their recent run of form makes their 4-0 win at the Maradona against current champions Napoli in the Coppa even more remarkable, sandwiched in between a run of seven games without a win.
That has seen them fall to 15th, just five points from safety, and unless this current form is arrested, that gap will continue to get shorter, with the sides in the bottom four starting to gain ground on those above them.
Team News
© Reuters
Gasperini surprisingly made no changes to his side for the cup game at San Siro so could remain unchanged again after a superb result.
The only question mark surrounds Marten De Roon, who went off with concussion after a clash of heads with Simon Kjaer in the first half.
Lookman is the only absentee on international duty in the Atalanta ranks, but El Bilal Toure remains out for the foreseeable future, and defenders Hans Hateboer and Rafael Toloi are also currently sidelined.
Di Francesco rang the changes more for their cup tie in midweek, so multiple alterations could be on the cards for the visitors.
Luca Mazzitelli and Arijon Ibrahimovic were given their first starts since returning from injury, while backup goalkeeper Michele Cerofolini was also chosen in the cup again.
Matias Soule was only named as a substitute against his parent club on Thursday but should start here despite a mixed day against Monza last weekend.
After being at fault for the second Monza goal, and then putting through his own net to make 0-3, Soule scored the second as Frosinone threatened to mount a comeback, but it was ultimately too late.
Soule's influence in the attacking third has been priceless, though, as his eight league goals is only bettered by Lautaro Martinez, Olivier Giroud and Domenico Berardi in Serie A.
On the injury front, Jaime Baez and Anthony Oyono are both out, while Riccardo Marchizza is doubtful with a thigh problem.
Atalanta BC possible starting lineup:
Carnesecchi; Scalvini, Djimsiti, Kolasinac; Holm, Pasalic, Ederson, Koopmeiners, Ruggeri; Miranchuk, De Ketelaere
Frosinone possible starting lineup:
Turati, Monterisi, Okoli, Bonifazi, Lirola; Mazzitelli, Barrenechea, Harroui; Soule, Kaio Jorge, Reinier
We say: Atalanta BC 5-1 Frosinone
Atalanta are flying high at present, with six wins from eight, and despite the absence of Lookman, others have stepped up to fill the goalscoring void, so a big win could be on the cards.
Frosinone have the worst away record in the division, having taken just two points from nine games on the road, and only Salernitana have a worse defensive record, so this could get very ugly for the out-of-form visitors.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
