US Sassuolo Calcio vs Atalanta preview - Atalanta eye double delight

Posted Saturday, November 23, 2013 by PA

Atalanta head coach Stefano Colantuono hopes his players can build on their victory over Bologna by recording their second away win of the season against Sassuolo on Sunday.

The men from Bergamo beat Bologna 2-1 before the international break to end a three-match winless run.

The victory was Atalanta's fifth of the Serie A season and lifted the Bergamaschi to ninth in the table.

"We wanted and needed that win," Colantuono said. "We took a good step forward against Bologna.

"But we have to continue to work hard.

"I want to see growth from my team with respect to the game against Bologna."

Sunday's game at the Stadio Citta del Tricolore is a battle between two sides that could be in a relegation fight at the end of the season.

Colantuono, whose side finished 15th last term, knows Atalanta needs to start getting more points on the road if they are to secure their top-flight status.

The Nerazzurri have collected just three points from their six games away from Bergamo so far.

"We have to invert our negative trend away from home and we must do it on Sunday," Colantuono said.

"Sassuolo, like us, are fighting to avoid the drop this season, and we will need to show our true value against them."

Sassuolo, meanwhile, go into the match in good spirits having held league leaders Roma to a 1-1 draw in the capital last time out.

The result followed their 4-3 triumph at Sampdoria and lifted the promoted outfit out of the relegation zone.

"We are a small club and in order to avoid the drop we have to try to produce the good football that we played last season," said Sassuolo coach Eusebio Di Francesco.

"I think we have shown a lot of improvement in our recent games and we just have to do better in every match."