Atalanta welcome Celtic to the Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo on Wednesday night for an exciting Champions League Matchday 3 clash.
After a mixed start to their European campaign, both teams will be looking to secure vital points as they push to advance from the group stage.
Atalanta, fresh off a comfortable 2-0 win in Serie A, have four points from their opening two games, including a hard-fought draw against Arsenal.
Celtic, on the other hand, will be hoping to recover from the devastating 7-1 defeat they suffered at Borussia Dortmund.
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Atalanta have been impressive so far this season, both domestically and in Europe. Under Gian Piero Gasperini, the team continues to perform at a high level, and their recent 2-0 victory over newly promoted Venezia has left them in sixth place in Serie A, pushing for a top-four finish.
In the Champions League, La Dea secured a goalless draw against Arsenal before traveling to Ukraine and comfortably defeating Shakhtar Donetsk 3-1.
Despite missing key players like Gianluca Scamacca and Giorgio Scalvini due to long-term injuries, Atalanta have found goals and creativity in other areas. Mateo Retegui, who has been filling in for Scamacca, has been a revelation, scoring eight goals in as many Serie A matches.
This firepower, combined with Atalanta’s tactical flexibility, will be a major concern for Celtic, who have struggled defensively in their Champions League outings.
With players like Ademola Lookman and Charles De Ketelaere providing dynamism in attack, Atalanta will look to dominate possession and break down a vulnerable Celtic backline.
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Celtic’s European Struggles
Celtic entered this season’s Champions League group stage with high hopes after a rousing 5-1 victory over Slovan Bratislava on Matchday 1. However, reality hit hard when they faced Borussia Dortmund, suffering a humiliating 7-1 defeat.
Brendan Rodgers’ side will be eager to put that nightmare behind them as they head to Bergamo to face an in-form Atalanta team.
Domestically, Celtic remains a dominant force in the Scottish Premiership, but cracks have started to show. A 2-2 draw against Aberdeen at Celtic Park last weekend raised questions about their consistency, especially with Aberdeen emerging as a surprise contender for the title.
In Europe, their defense has been exposed, and they will need to tighten up if they want to have any chance of progressing to the knockout stages.
Rodgers will once again rely on Kyogo Furuhashi to lead the line, with the Japanese forward providing a reliable goal threat. However, injuries to key defenders like Greg Taylor and doubts over Cameron Carter-Vickers’ fitness mean that Celtic’s backline could once again struggle to contain Atalanta’s attacking force.
Key Battles and Tactics
One of the key battles in this match will be Atalanta’s high-energy attack against Celtic’s shaky defense. Atalanta’s ability to press high up the pitch and create scoring opportunities from wide areas will test Celtic’s full-backs, particularly Alex Valle, who has been deputizing for Greg Taylor. Mateo Retegui’s positioning and clinical finishing will also be a major threat to Celtic’s central defenders.
In midfield, Celtic captain Callum McGregor will be tasked with controlling the tempo of the game and breaking up Atalanta’s fluid passing moves.
He will need support from Reo Hatate and Odin Engels, but they will have to be disciplined to avoid being overrun by Atalanta’s creative midfielders, including Marten de Roon and Ederson.
For Celtic, the key to getting a result in Bergamo lies in their ability to counter-attack effectively. Kyogo Furuhashi, supported by Daizen Maeda and Rocco Kuhn, will look to exploit any space left behind by Atalanta’s adventurous wing-backs. However, they must be clinical in front of goal, as chances may be limited against Atalanta’s solid defense.
Predicted Lineups
Atalanta predicted lineup (3-4-2-1):
Carnesecchi; Hien, Djimsiti, Kolasinac; Bellanova, De Roon, Ederson, Zappacosta; De Ketelaere, Lookman; Retegui.
Celtic predicted lineup (4-3-3):
Schmeichel; Johnston, Trusty, Scales, Valle; Engels, McGregor, Hatate; Kuhn, Furuhashi, Maeda.
Score Prediction
While Celtic will be looking to recover from their nightmare in Dortmund, the odds are stacked against them as they travel to face a well-organized and dangerous Atalanta side.
Atalanta have shown they can compete with Europe’s best, and their solid start to the season will give them confidence heading into this game.
Celtic’s defense has been porous in the Champions League, and they may struggle to contain the likes of Retegui, Lookman, and De Ketelaere.
Atalanta’s attacking style will likely overwhelm Celtic, and while the Scottish champions may get on the scoresheet, it’s difficult to see them getting a result in Bergamo. Gasperini’s men should be able to dominate possession, create multiple chances, and ultimately secure a comfortable victory.
Jambobet Prediction: Atalanta 3-1 Celtic.
