Sampdoria vs Atalanta preview - Colantuono wants Atalanta focus

Atalanta coach Stefano Colantuono has warned his players they cannot afford to take their foot off the pedal when they visit Sampdoria on Saturday.

The Bergamo outfit are looking to defend their Serie A status this season and go into the game at the Luigi Ferraris stadium riding a three-match winning streak.

Atalanta followed their wins against Udinese and Chievo with a 2-1 triumph over Lazio last time out, an outcome that lifted Atalanta to seventh place.

"Our aim is to avoid the drop and to do it as soon as possible," Colantuono said. "We are playing well and we are being rewarded for our efforts.

"But we must keep on making the most of our good run.

"We are happy with our current position and it's good that our fans dream big but we have to be realistic.

"This team was built to defend its top flight status and not to compete for a European place."

Atalanta will have to overcome the absence of defender Stefano Lucchini and midfielder Giacomo Bonaventura.

Both players sustained muscular injuries last weekend and have both been sidelined for three weeks.

Rivals Sampdoria celebrated their first win of the campaign with a 2-1 triumph at Livorno last Sunday.

The result lifted the Blucerchiati out of the relegation zone and into 16th place.

More importantly, it eased the pressure on coach Delio Rossi.

"We needed this win to give the team a boost in confidence," Rossi said. "I am very happy for my players.

"We have worked hard and although we made some mistakes, we were able to take three important points.

"Now we need to show the same hunger against Atalanta."

Samp will be without injured striker Gianluca Sansone.