Atalanta lose key attacker for crucial Bologna and Milan clashes in Serie A | OneFootball

Atalanta will have to do without Charles De Ketelaere for the important upcoming Serie A clash against fellow top-four candidates Bologna, who are just one point behind La Dea in the standings ahead of kick-off.

Atalanta lose key attacker for crucial Serie A matches

De Ketelaere has suffered a first-degree strain to the adductor muscle in his thigh, which is expected to rule him out for a period of around three weeks, according to reports from Sky Sport Italia.

That means that the Belgian will likely be unavailable for both the Bologna match and the equally important league game against Milan the following weekend, and also puts him in doubt for Atalanta-Lecce at the end of April.

Charles De Ketelaere of Atalanta BC is challenged by Pierre Kalulu of Juventus FC during the Serie A match between Atalanta and Juventus at Gewiss Stadium on January 14, 2025 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Scaccianoce/Getty Images)

Though Atalanta had been involved in a three-way race for the Serie A title with Inter and Napoli a few weeks ago, results have flatlined since then with three consecutive losses in Serie A – against the Nerazzurri, Fiorentina and Lazio over the last three gameweeks.

While Gian Piero Gasperini’s side are still in third, they are now just one point above the in-form Bologna (fourth), two clear of Igor Tudor’s Juventus (fifth), three above Lazio (sixth), five above Roma (seventh) and six above Fiorentina (eighth).

With just seven games remaining and realistically two Champions League spots up for grabs – assuming that Inter and Napoli will qualify – It is all left to play for.