Hellas Verona - Atalanta preview - Mandorlini moving on from setbacks

Hellas Verona coach Andrea Mandorlini has called on his players to bounce back from last week's disappointing results against Juventus by taking all three points against Atalanta on Sunday.

Mandorlini's men lost 4-0 at Juve on Sunday night in Serie A having three days earlier fallen 6-1 against them in Turin to crash out of the Coppa Italia.

"It's clear that Juve are on a different planet to us," Mandorlini told the Italian media. "It's painful to have lost by such a big margin.

"I spoke to my players after Sunday's game and we are very disappointed to have lost those two games by such a big margin but we must look ahead.

"The only way to put these defeats behind us is to get to work and focus on our next game against Atalanta."

Hellas have won just two of their last 13 league games and are 14th in the standings, one place and one point clear of Atalanta.

Rivals Atalanta travel to the Marc' Antonio Bentegodi having also bowed out of the Coppa Italia after Wednesday's 3-1 defeat at Fiorentina.

"We now must focus on defending our Serie A status," Atalanta coach Stefano Colantuono said. "It's clear that for us the league is much more important than the Coppa Italia because it's vital."

Atalanta have not lost in the league since December 13 and beat AC Milan 1-0 at the San Siro last weekend for their fourth win of the campaign.

"Against Milan we did what we had to do and we hope we can hand a similar performance in Verona," Colantuono said.

Atalanta will be bolstered by the return of defender Gianpaolo Bellini from suspension.

German Denis, who missed his team's midweek encounter with a foot injury, has recovered and will lead Atalanta's attack on Sunday.

The hosts will be without midfielder Leandro Greco, who must serve a one-match ban.