With a place in the last 16 of the Europa League, Atalanta are aiming to improve their position in the Italian League against the worst team in the tournament, Benevento, on Monday. At the Atleti Azzurri d’Italia stadium in Bergamo, the game closes the fourteenth round of the 2017/2018 edition of the tournament. The beginning is scheduled for 17:15 (Brasília time).
The recent performance of Atalanta
On Thursday, November 23, the team from Bergamo secured their survival in the dispute of the title of the Europa League with a round of anticipation. In Liverpool, they faced Everton and thrashed 5-1.
In Serie A, however, they have been disappointed after making big investments in hiring. He started the 14th round in a modest twelfth place with 16 points (four wins, four draws and five losses). Very far from the European tournament qualifying zone, which was closed by Sampdoria, at the end of the thirteenth round, with 26 points.
The performance of the team in Bergamo, however, is far superior. The Atalanta appears in sixth in the ranking that takes into account only the results obtained by the teams in their stadium. He got 14 of his points (four wins, two draws and one loss) in that way.
The current form of Benevento
The date of June 8, 2017 was marked in the history of Benevento. Acting at home, the team completed their participation in the Second Division of the Italian Championship guaranteeing their first participation in Serie A by beating Carpi 1-0.
Since then, he has never been able to leave the field accumulating points in the table. There were 13 straight losses this season. Not even his most optimistic fans are capable of imagining a reaction that is able to prevent him from returning to Serie B. After all, he scored only six goals (the worst attack of the tournament) and suffered 33 (less leaked defense).
Coached by coach Roberto de Zerbi, the team will not be able to count on defender Gaetano Letizia on Monday (11 games in the Italian season season 2017/2018, no goal). He received a red card in a 2-1 home defeat to Sassuolo and will have to comply with automatic suspension.
It probably will not be the only casualty the coach will need to manage. Attacker Pietro Iemmello (six games, one goal). The 25-year-old suffered a knee injury that took him out of the last two games. It still needs to be reassessed by the medical department, but it is more likely to be vetted.
History of the matches against Atalanta and Benevento
This will be the first time the teams will face each other.
Benevento managed to make two top-level matches in the previous rounds. In both occasions, against Sassuolo and Juventus, in Turin, lost by ‘only’ a goal of difference. It showed evolution in your game pattern. Of course, you will not lose all 38 matches in the competition.
However, the clash with Atalanta does not seem to be the game where the youngest in the First Division will get their first points. The hunch in the team of Bergamo is the best option. It has a price of 1.22 in Bet365. Draw returns 6.50. Benevento is considered the biggest underdog in the round with a prize of 11.00 for each real invested.
