Italiano reveals Bologna fitness worries: ‘Great respect for Atalanta’ | OneFootball

Vincenzo Italiano explains his unexpected Bologna starting XI in the showdown for third place, giving important injury updates. ‘We have great respect for Atalanta.’

It kicks off at the Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo at 11.30 UK time (10.30 GMT).

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from today’s five Serie A games on the Liveblog.

The Rossoblu are one of the form teams in Italy, seeing a run of six consecutive victories stalled by the 1-1 draw with Napoli.

As Juventus won last night, they are automatically guaranteed fourth place by the end of this weekend, it all depends now on if they are going to leapfrog Atalanta or Bologna in the table.

Italiano outlines reasons for Bologna changes

Bologna’s coach Vincenzo Italiano celebrates winning the UEFA Champions League soccer match between Bologna FC and Borussia Dortmund at Renato Dall’Ara stadium in Bologna, Italy, 21 January 2025. EPA-EFE/ELISABETTA BARACCHI

Santiago Castro and Jens Odgaard were expected to start, but instead Thijs Dallinga and Giovanni Fabbian complete the attack.

“Jens has not been at 100 per cent lately, he hasn’t been able to train regularly. Tommy Pobega fits well with Freuler in midfield, they have strong physicality, and it went well against Atalanta in the Coppa Italia, so we hope to replicate that performance today,” Italiano told DAZN.

Bologna have won four of their last five meetings with Atalanta, drawing the other 1-1, including a 1-0 Coppa Italia quarter-final victory in Bergamo on February 4.

“Santi Castro is still not at his best. He had a nasty knock to his foot and is struggling, so Thijs is doing well at the moment, scored a few important goals lately, and knows there are players of a high level around him, so he will need to battle hard for 90 minutes and work for the team.

“I saw improvements lately from Dallinga in those areas, plus he’s been adding goals recently too.”

Atalanta are desperate after three consecutive defeats, so this makes them a dangerous prospect to face on home turf.

“It is the usual Atalanta, when Gasperini says that they focus on the next match, he means it. They have the strength and capability to put in great performances, and I think the recent matches were very tight, even when they ended in defeat,” concluded Italiano.

“We have great respect for Atalanta and know there are moments when we must stick together under pressure, others where we will need to be clinical and pounce on every chance we are given. The lads are ready.”