Atalanta vs Celtic predictions: In-form Italians will have victory sewn up by the break
- Atalanta are on a three-game winning run started by a 3-0 success at Shakhtar Donetsk
- Celtic were thrashed 7-1 at Borussia Dortmund in their last Champions League fixture
- Recommended bet: Atalanta/Atalanta half-time/full-time
After a shaky start to the season, Atalanta appear to have found some stability and have made a strong start to their Champions League campaign, with a draw against Arsenal and a win over Shakhtar Donetsk.
Celtic’s two Champions League games have seen a total of 14 goals scored, with the Scots beating Slovan Bratislava 5-1, before a heavy 7-1 defeat at Borussia Dortmund.
Team news
The injured Giorgio Scalvini, Rafael Toloi, Odilon Kossounou, Berat Djimsiti, Marco Brescianini, Matteo Ruggeri and Gianluca Scamacca will all be missing for Atalanta.
Celtic’s left-back Greg Taylor missed their 2-2 draw with Aberdeen over the weekend and will also be unavailable for this match with an injury.
Central defender Cameron Carter-Vickers is a doubt for the Bhoys, as the USA international looks to recover from a toe problem.
The stats
Atalanta striker Mateo Retegui is the top scorer in Serie A with eight goals from as many games.
Celtic dropped their first points in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday, when they let a two-goal lead slip in their 2-2 home draw with title rivals Aberdeen.
Atalanta have scored 10 goals in their last three games, winning them all and conceding only once.
Celtic have lost each of their last six Champions League ties on the road, losing by at least a two-goal margin in all of them.
Prediction
Celtic’s Champions League campaign kicked off in spectacular fashion with that 5-1 win over Slovan Bratislava, before they were brought promptly back down to earth by a 7-1 drubbing at Borussia Dortmund.
After suffering such a heavy defeat, one wonders whether Brendan Rodgers will look to play more defensively, in another tough away match against dangerous opposition.
Celtic looked shaky in their 2-2 draw with Aberdeen over the weekend and badly need the stabilising influence of Carter-Vickers to return to their defence.
Regardless of whether the centre-back is fit or not, it seems likely that Atalanta will win this one, with Gian Piero Gasperini’s side having at last found some consistency, after an erratic start to the season.
The Bergamo-based club have accumulated a lot of European experience after their Europa League triumph last season and have a dangerous cutting edge in the shape of Retegui and Ademola Lookman.
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