Juventus vs Atalanta: Preview and Prediction

Juventus vs Atalanta
2016/17 Italian Serie A.
Date: Saturday, 3 December 2016
Kick-Off: 19:45 UK,
Venue: Juventus Stadium (Turin).

Juventus will be hoping to rebound after a shock loss to Genoa, but the Bianconeri will still be wary of a resurgent Atalanta side this Saturday evening.

La Dea have been arguably been the most in form side over the past few months. Gian Piero Gasperini’s men have earned 28 points so far. Three of those were during the first five rounds, when they lost four out of their opening five matches. That means that their past 25 points have been earned in just nine rounds. No other team has earned more points over the same time-frame in any of Europe’s “Big 5” leagues. Currently on an eight match – yes, eight – winning streak, the Nerazzurri last dropped points two months ago, when they drew Fiorentina 0-0.

That will give Juventus much food for thought. The Bianconeri are still on top of the table, but the loss cost them more than just three points. Both Leonardo Bonucci and Dani Alves suffered injuries and will be out for quite a while. They now join Andrea Barzagli on the treatment table, leaving Massimiliano Allegri with a huge selection headache defensively ahead of this game.

Juve went 3-0 down in the first 45 in their past game, which marked the first time this had happened in well over a decade. It was also the first time the Bianconeri have shipped three goals in Serie A since Massimiliano Allegri took over in the summer of 2014. It goes without saying that La Vecchia Signora will be keen on showing that that was just a minor hiccup as they look to re-establish a seven point lead ahead of Roma and Lazio’s big game taking place on Sunday.

Juventus vs Atalanta: Head-to-head statistics

• Juventus have won their last 23 home games.
• La Vecchia Signora have scored at least two goals in their past 11 home Serie A games.
• Atalanta are on an eight match winning streak – longest of any team in Serie A right now.
• They have a record of W4-D7-L9 in their past 20 away games against teams ranked above them in the table.
• La Dea have not beaten Juventus since 2000/2001.
• La Vecchia Signora are unbeaten against Atalanta in their past 23 games (21 W, 2 D).
• They have also won their past 12 games against Atalanta across all comps.
• Juventus have scored in their last 27 games versus Atalanta (over two goals per match).

Juventus vs Atalanta: Prediction

Atalanta have been in surprisingly good form as of late. As noted before, they are unbeaten in their last nine, and in addition, have kept clean sheets in their past four away games. They have also netted at least twice in their last four games overall, including against Roma. However, they have a bad record against Juventus. In six out of their last eight meetings, they have failed to score, and have not beaten the Bianconeri in over a decade.

The visitors have also conceded at least two goals in 13 out of their last 15 meetings with Juve. The Bianconeri conceded three in a Serie A game for the first time in over three years and will have to be wary here. However, they should be able to do enough to see off Atalanta and end La Dea’s unbeaten run.