Atalanta vs Chievo preview - Pinilla set for Atalanta start

Atalanta coach Stefano Colantuono is set to hand new signing Mauricio Pinilla a start in Sunday's home match against Chievo.

The Bergamaschi were desperate to strengthen their forward line in the winter transfer market having found the back of the net just 13 times in 17 games, and last week brought in Pinilla.

And the Chile international, who has joined the Bergamo outfit on a six-month loan from Genoa, is keen to show what he can do.

"I am happy to be here," Pinilla told Atalanta's website. "I hope I can repay the trust given to me by the club on the pitch.

"I am ready to play and eager to give the team a helping hand in attack."

Pinilla, who has scored three Serie A goals this season, failed to earn a regular spot in Genoa's starting XI and opted to leave the Grifoni just six months after joining them from Cagliari in order to gain more playing time.

"I want to score lots of goals for this team," the 30-year-old striker said. "We have an important aim ahead of us and I believe this team has enough quality to retain its Serie A status."

The Bergamaschi head into this weekend's encounter on the back of Tuesday's 2-2 draw at Genoa.

That result, which followed their 3-3 draw against Palermo in their last game of 2014, kept Atalanta in 17th place, four points clear of the drop zone.

Opponents Chievo travel to the Atleti Azzurri d'Italia stadium looking to continue their good run of away form, having not lost on the road since October 29.

The Verona outfit have won their last two away games, including a 1-0 triumph at Hellas Verona in the city derby.

Rolando Maran's side held Torino to a goalless draw at home last time out to climb one place and one point clear of Atalanta.

Chievo will not be at full strength this weekend with midfield pair Ruben Botta and Perparim Hetemaj both serving one-match bans.b

The hosts, meanwhile, are without the services of defender Yohan Benalouane through suspension.