Atalanta has been on a downward spiral as of late as the team is not able to find a win in the last three rounds of Italian top flight competitions after going on a seven-game winning streak. The team is currently in the sixth spot in the overall standings, four points below fifth-place team AC Milan, who holds the second and final Europa League qualifying berth for next season.
Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini's side is coming off a 0-0 draw with Milan in their most recent fixture last Saturday held on the road at the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium in San Siro, as per Goal.
I Rossoneri was actually favored to win over La Dea during the match, but the visitors were able to hold Milan to a share of a point in the standings after the game.
Meanwhile, Empoli romped newly-promoted side Cagliari, 2-0, at their home ground of Carlo Castellani Stadium also last Saturday, ESPN reported.
Georgia striker Levan Mchedlidze was the man of the match for head coach Giovanni Martusciello's squad as he was the lone scorer during the contest by netting a brace.
Mchedlidze broke the game's deadlock in the eighth minute with a right-footed shot from the center box off an assist by Italian forward Guido Marilungo. He then doubled his team's lead in the 72nd minute, this time with a left-footer from the left side of the box, again with the assist coming from Marilungo.
The win snapped Empoli's four-game winless run as the team is now in the 17th spot of the league table, five points above the bottom three relegation area.
Prediction and Predicted Lineup
The predicted result is a 2-1 bounce back victory for Atalanta.
Atalanta starting lineup (3-4-1-2 formation): Sportiello; Masiello, Caldara, Toloi; Rafael, Gagliardini, Kessie, Conti; Gomez; Kurtic, Petagna
Empoli starting lineup (4-3-1-2 formation): Skorupski; Pasqual, Costa, Zambelli, Bellusci; Saponara, Croce, Krunic; Diousse; Mchedlidze, Marilungo
Missing players
Atalanta do not have many missing players for the match against Empoli. Etrit Berisha and Alberto Paloschi are injured and they will not play on this match. All other players are fully fit and ready to play.
On the other side Empoli also do not have many missing players for the match. Marco Zambelli, Manuel Pasqual and Frederic Veseli are injured and they cannot help their team on this very hard away match. All other players are available to play.
Possible starting lineups
Atalanta: Sportiello; Caldara, Masiello, Toloi; Drame, Kurtic, Kessie, Gagliardini, Conti; Petagna, Gomez
Empoli: Skorupski; Cosic, Bellusci, Costa, Dimarco; Mauri, Diousse, Croce; Saponara; Marilungo, Mchedlidze
Atalanta vs Empoli Prediction
We expect one very quality football game between Atalanta and Empoli. Atalanta play very well this season, but they are without a win in last three games. All players are highly motivated to win all three points here and to bounce back and for sure they will try to score from the first minute. On the other side Empoli play very badly this season. Empoli have failed to score in 7 of their last 8 away matches. They have failed to win 16 of their last 17 away matches, and their main objective for the match strong football in defense line so we expect lots of midfield duels and fouls.
However our prediction and betting tips for the match Atalanta vs Empoli Prediction: Atalanta to win. It will be one tough football game but Atalanta are closer to win. Our second betting pick for the match is Atalanta to win with one goal margin. Maybe correct score will be 2-1. Have a nice betting day and good luck in earning money with our football prediction and betting tips.
