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Absences and tradition not in favor of Atalanta

Atalanta won just a single point in their past 15 league matches against Juventus, and will be missing numerous important players in the Torino game

In the last round game Juventus failed to increase their lead ahead of Roma, who won just a point against bottom ranked Parma at home. Allegri's team quickly turned the score back in their favor after Đurić scored a quick goal, but the aggressive Cesena team managed to equalize through Brienza in the second part. Juventus could have got away with all three points in the finish of the game, but Vidal failed to convert a penalty. By beating Atalanta Juventus want to keep their large lead prior to the derby in Rome that they're facing in the next round, and a victory would certainly be very important for Allegri from the mental aspect prior to the match against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions league elimination round.

Prior to the Atalanta match Allegri would not discuss the next two key duels:

- Nothing is discounted, victories are won in the field and the next championship is still not won. It's true I said some things to the guys after the Cesena game, but we all understood the stupid thing we did, and it will be a good lesson to us. I'm not calculating against Atalanta, nobody will get the day off. I'm not thinking about yellow cards eliminating someone from the Roma game, I'll think of Roma after the Champions league match.

Juventus will get their best forward Tevez back on the roster after his suspension, and young Morata is expected to back him up in front from the start. Due to a minor injury Allegri will be missing Vidal, who will be replaced by Pereyra as an organizer. For a while now injuries have prevented Allegri from using backs Asamoah and Caceres, midfielders Romulo and Marrone, and forward Matri.

In their last match Atalanta suffered a bitter defeat against Inter, and coach Colantuono has plenty of reasons to be angry at his center back Benalouane. After Atalanta started to hunt for the chance to equalize for the second time in the match, Benalouane got a yellow card after a fierce play, and then objecting to the referee immediately got him another one and an ejection. Atalanta could not parry Inter while a man short and conceded two more goals by the end of the match. Although they have not been playing badly in the past weeks, this was their third loss in the last four matches, which put them just above the relegation zone.

In the past 15 league duels of these teams Atalanta won just a single point, and Colatuono is well aware that figure will hardly change int his match:

- We cannot allow Juventus to easily win, we will play our game. Nothing is easily given in football. I have great respect for Juventus, they're one of the strongest teams in Europe, but we still have to look for a positive result, and then see if we will manage to win points. We're struggling with absences due to suspensions and injuries, but I don't believe they will change their setup because of that or rest players prior to the Champions league.

The nervous match against Inter did not bring points, and even got Colantuono in extra trouble as suspensions prevent him from using defender Benalouane, midfielder Carmona and forward Pinilla against Juventus. Injuries prevent defenders Raimondi, Biava and Cherubin, as well as forwards Estigarribija and Moralez, from playing against Juventus as well. Forward Gomez is also dealing with a minor injury, but it's assumed he and Denis will lead the offense against Juventus, considering Pinilla and Moralez are out.

Atalanta will have a bad time in Turin for several reasons, and it's hard to find any factors working in favor of them. Lets's start, in random order - Atalanta are a typical home team, yet lost 0-3 in Bergamo this year. Denis did attempt a penalty shot but failed and they suffered a blowout. Juventus won 14 of the last 15 times they met in Serie A, and the remaining match was a 2-2 tie, though that should be taken with a pinch of salt, as it was the last round game of 2009 which had no relevance on points as Inter were already champions (Del Piero and Trezeguet benched). Juventus won three of their last 5 duels by 3 goals and I expect a similar outcome this time as well, especially since Allegri was very angry about the points they wasted against Cesena, which could have practically secured the title for them, and also because Juventus would like a good result prior to key matches of this season. Those would be the home game against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League and the championship derby away against Roma in Rome. Atalanta? Colantuono is in major problems over absences, some from injuries, some from suspensions, and will have to work hard to come up with a starting 11. There are gaping holes in all lines, from Benalouane, Raimondi and Biava on defense, through Carmona in the midfield, to Moralez and Pinilla on offense. With all that in mind, the only question is how big of a lead will Juventus win with. With the return of Tevez, there should be plenty of goals in Sportiello's net.