7M - Serie A Clash: Atalanta Aims to Bounce Back Against Udinese

Atalanta BC will host Udinese in Bergamo on March 7, 2026, as they seek to get back on track following their first Serie A defeat of the year. The loss to Sassuolo has dented Atalanta's hopes of securing a Champions League spot for next season, but they remain competitive on multiple fronts.

Match Preview

After achieving a strong performance that included advancing to the Coppa Italia semi-finals and a win over Napoli in Serie A, Atalanta suffered a setback with a 2-1 loss to 10-man Sassuolo, ending their undefeated domestic record for 2026.

Now, Raffaele Palladino's team quickly shifted focus to the first leg of a crucial cup tie against Lazio, with the winner set to face either Inter Milan or Como in the Coppa Italia final. Despite a spirited effort that included a disallowed goal and a shot that hit the crossbar, Atalanta fell behind early in the second half. However, a goal from Mario Pasalic leveled the match, and Yunus Musah eventually secured a late equalizer.

This weekend, Atalanta returns home with hopes of a top-four finish in the Serie A standings, sitting six points behind the Champions League spots. They cannot afford another slip-up against Udinese, who have struggled historically at Bergamo, losing six of their last eight away games against Atalanta.

On the other hand, Udinese is aiming for back-to-back victories in the league, having recently defeated Fiorentina 3-0, a match that highlighted the return of their top scorer, Keinan Davis. Following a rough patch that included three consecutive losses, Udinese is back in the top 10 and on track for mid-table safety.

Team News

Atalanta's only confirmed absentee is Charles De Ketelaere. Ederson remains doubtful with a muscle issue, while Giacomo Raspadori has just returned to training. If Ederson is unavailable, Mario Pasalic, who has a notable record against Udinese, may step in.

For Udinese, defensive players Oumar Solet and Nicolo Bertola are ruled out, along with long-term injury victim Alessandro Zanoli. Davis is expected to lead the attack alongside Nicolo Zaniolo.

Possible Lineups:

Atalanta BC: Carnesecchi; Koussonou, Djimsiti, Kolasinac; Zappacosta, De Roon, Pasalic, Bernasconi; Samardzic, Zalewski; Scamacca.

Udinese: Okoye; Kristensen, Kabasele, Mlacic; Ehizibue, Ekkelenkamp, Karlstrom, Piotrowski, Zemura; Zaniolo, Davis.

Prediction: Atalanta BC 1-1 Udinese

While Atalanta may need the points more urgently, Udinese will look to capitalize on their preparation and could leave with a vital point, complicating Atalanta's chances of breaking into the top four.