Udinese vs Atalanta preview - Handanovic wary of Atalanta threat

Udinese goalkeeper Samir Handanovic has warned his team-mates not to underestimate Atalanta when they welcome the Bergamaschi to the Friuli stadium on Sunday.

The Bianconeri go into the encounter on the back of last weekend's 3-1 triumph at Bologna, their first victory on the road this year.

The result kept Udinese in third place, level on 45 points with Lazio, who are fourth.

The Udine outfit will be overwhelming favourites on Sunday having lost just once at home this season, but Handanovic insists his side can take nothing for granted.

"I expect a lively Atalanta and a difficult game for us," he said. "I believe we will be put to the test by a side that has punched above its weight this season."

Atalanta were docked six points earlier this season due to their involvement in a match-fixing scandal.

However, it has not hindered Atalanta too much, with the team having lost just six of their 25 games since gaining promotion to the top flight last summer.

Atalanta head into the encounter with confidence sky high after hammering Roma 4-1 in Bergamo last time out, striker German Denis netting a hat-trick to take his goal tally to 15 this season.

That win extended Atalanta's unbeaten run to four games and left them 11th in the standings.

"We are going through a great spell," Atalanta coach Stefano Colantuono said. "But we have to wait and see if it will continue.

"The game against Roma was worth three points and we have to put that result behind us and focus on taking another win on Sunday."

Colantuono will be forced to make some changes to the line-up that thrashed Roma with defender Federico Peluso and midfielder Maximiliano Moralez both suspended.