Atalanta welcome Torino to the Gewiss Stadium in a crucial Serie A encounter on Saturday, as both teams chase vital points in their respective campaigns. La Dea will be looking to recover from the disappointment of a narrow 2-2 draw against Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League midweek, which saw them fall short of securing an automatic place in the tournament’s last 16.
Gian Piero Gasperini’s men will now shift their focus to the league, where their title hopes have taken a hit. A solitary win in their last five Serie A outings (D3, L1) has been a far cry from their scintillating form before Christmas when they recorded 11 consecutive league victories. The home side’s sole defeat in that period came against current league leaders Napoli in a closely fought 3-2 contest. Now, they face the rare prospect of suffering back-to-back home losses in Serie A for the first time since November 2023.
Despite their recent struggles, Atalanta can draw optimism from their strong record against Torino on home soil, having won the last two top-flight head-to-head encounters (H2H) at the Gewiss Stadium. Victory on Saturday would mark a historic third successive home win in this fixture – something they have never achieved before.
Torino Eyeing Historic Double
Torino, on the other hand, are in pursuit of history themselves. Their 2-1 triumph in the reverse fixture earlier this season has set them up for a chance to complete their first league double over Atalanta since the 2015/16 campaign. Paolo Vanoli’s side come into the clash in decent form, having extended their unbeaten run to five matches with a 2-0 win against Cagliari last week (W1, D4). A win on Saturday would also see them register back-to-back Serie A victories for the first time since August, when their winning run included the reverse fixture against Atalanta.
However, Vanoli will be cautious, given Torino’s patchy away record. They’ve only won one of their last eight trips (D3, L4), though they have shown signs of improvement, picking up six points from their last four away matches. A common trend during their travels, though, has been their tendency to concede first, as they have done in their last two away league games, including a 1-1 draw at Fiorentina where they were reduced to ten men in the 33rd minute.
Key Players to Watch
Atalanta’s Charles De Ketelaere will be a key player to watch, having seen his last 15 Serie A goals contribute to 12 wins. The Belgian midfielder is particularly effective early on, with four of his last five goals at the Gewiss Stadium coming before half-time. His attacking prowess could be crucial in setting the tone for the hosts.
For Torino, Ché Adams poses a threat, particularly in the latter stages of games. The Scottish forward has scored six of his last seven league goals after the break, including the decisive winner in the reverse fixture against Atalanta earlier this season. His ability to strike late could prove pivotal once again.
Hot Stat
Atalanta lead Serie A in points earned from losing positions this season (15), highlighting their resilience and ability to respond when falling behind. Torino, therefore, will need to be wary of letting any early advantage slip.
As the race for points intensifies, both sides have plenty to play for, and the Gewiss Stadium promises to be the stage for a high-stakes battle that could shape the outcome of their respective seasons.
