Atalanta vs Real Madrid predictions: Hosts to cause holders Real problems
- Atalanta are fifth in the standings with 11 points from a possible 15
- Holders Real Madrid occupy the final play-off spot, 24th position
- Recommended Bet: Atalanta over 1.5 goals
Atalanta come into this match on a high, with their 2-1 home victory against AC Milan having moved them top of Serie A on Friday, with Ademola Lookman netting a late winner.
Real Madrid also enjoyed a win over the weekend, as they triumphed 3-0 at Girona and will now look to follow that with another positive result, after losing in their last two Champions League outings.
Team news
Atalanta have David Zappacosta, Juan Cuadrado and Gianluca Scamacca on the sidelines with injuries.
Jude Bellingham has been declared fit by Carlo Ancelotti after picking up a minor knock in Real's win against Girona, with Rodrygo and Vinicius Junior also expected to return, after missing that victory.
Los Blancos are still without the injured Dani Carvajal, Eder Militao, David Alaba and Eduardo Camavinga, while Ferland Mendy is also set to miss out, having suffered a muscle issue against Girona.
The stats
Atalanta are unbeaten in 14 games across all competitions, winning each of their last nine.
Real Madrid beat Atalanta 2-0 to win the UEFA Super Cup back in August.
Atalanta’s have scored at least two goals in each of their nine successive victories and have averaged 3.1 goals-per-match.
Madrid have only won two of their five Champions League games this season, losing the other three, which includes both of their two away games in the competition.
Prediction
Atalanta’s rise continues, with the Bergamo-based club following their Europa League triumph from last season with a Serie A title challenge and success in the Champions League.
Gian Piero Gasperini’s side are the top scorers in the Italian top-flight with 38 goals from 15 games and have enough confidence in their attack to name their top scorer Mateo Retegui on the bench for the win against the Rossoneri.
That spells bad news for a Real team who are without several key defenders and have conceded in all five of their Champions League games, including seven goals from their three most recent outings.
Ancelotti lined up with Aurelien Tchouameni at centre-back against Girona on Saturday and may be forced into more improvisation if his left-back Mendy misses this game, as expected.
All of this points to a confident La Dea helping themselves to more goals and adding to Real’s troubled defence of the trophy they won back in June.
Win up to £250,000 with LiveScore 6!
Win up to £250,000 with our free-to-play game, LiveScore 6!
