Fiorentina vs Atalanta: preview
We discuss the outlook for the encounter between Fiorentina and Atalanta in the context of the ninth round of the 2026/27 Serie A. "Fiorentina" and "Atalanta" will face each other this week at the "Artemio Franchi" and could deliver a high‑scoring game, but the question of the winner remains open.
Key points
Fiorentina
1. "Fiorentina" falls back under criticism again
After Paolo Vanoli’s arrival, the Fiorentina players were unsettled, but it was a short‑term surge. Losses to "Genova" (1:2), "Como" (1:3) and "Inter" (1:2) pushed the team into the relegation zone. There seems to be no reason to blame the squad for results against elite rivals such as "Como" and "Inter", but Fiorentina also wants to be above the bottom, not fight for survival after huge summer spending. Perhaps the team will not buckle under the pressure of "Inter" and keep the score 1:0 (or at worst a draw); that would be a different story, and even then a win over "Atalanta" would not change the current mood.
2. Pongracio and Atta injured. Betto, N’Gonho and Ulaí will have a chance in the starting lineup
In the match against "Inter", Paolo Vanoli lost central defender Marinho Pongracio. He was already the second injured player in central defense after Luca Rangieri and the third defender on the list, considering Fabiano Parisi’s injury. In Fiorentina’s midfield, Arturo Atta is absent, so Cristiano Inao Ulaí, who was a substitute in two games, could get the opportunity. We consider Pedro Gonzalez – the Portuguese has not yet stood out, but he has not said the final word. The explanation for the changes in attack is simple: winger Willy N’Gonho will give rest to Francesco Mastroianni, and Betto will play in the central attack instead of Mateo Pellegri.
3. "Fiorentina" last won at home in April
Fiorentina’s poor start in the league continued with a winless streak at the "Artemio Franchi". There was a small joy with the Coppa Italia win over "Pisa" (3:0), but it was a drop in the ocean compared to the seven‑match winless run in the league: four draws and three defeats. The last win in front of their fans was on 13 April 2026 against "Lazio" with 1:0. "Atalanta" is a serious rival for Fiorentina, but at least the Florentines at home look quite respectable against the Bergamo side: three wins and two draws.
Atalanta
1. Instability – the shadow of "Atalanta", followed by their steps
"Atalanta" under Mauricio Sarri is difficult to evaluate unambiguously. They are not as good as one would like. But they are not as bad as their position in the table and the number of goals conceded. A brilliant example: the match with "Frosinone". In that game, Sarri’s players managed to concede in the first minute, were losing 1:2, were up 3:2 and 4:3, but in the end they could not control the emotions: 4:4 after the goal, conceded in the 82nd minute. This match became the third winless for "Atalanta" considering the Champions League game against "Ajax" (0:2). In the last six Serie A matches, the Bergamo side has only one win.
2. Belanova and Colasínac added to the list of injured players at "Atalanta"
"Atalanta" actually suffers from a large number of injuries. Most of them affect the defense. Sead Colasínac, Isak Hin, Giorgio Scalvini, Odilon Cosinu and Raúl Belanova are the list of footballers on whom defensive work is carried out in their half of the field. In this context, the injuries of Kamaldin Suleimani and Giacomo Rapadori are not so serious, but they would also like to see them in the main squad to compete with Jonathan Rias, Charles de Cétale and Elif Elmas. Crtoevich gains a place in the team over Gianluca Scamacci, scoring six goals in Serie A.
3. "Atalanta" concedes too many
Injuries, even in large numbers, are an inevitable process over the season, so it is useless to reduce everything to them: "Atalanta" has conceded 15 goals in eight matches. The Bergamo side allows many shots on their goalkeepers (150, only surpassed by "Frosinone" open). Marco Carnesekki is the Serie A leader in saves (36), but even he struggles to perform miracles, dealing with 70.6% of shots on target (51). In the last three matches "Atalanta" conceded nine goals, and key mistakes were even made by important players such as Edson and David Zappakosta.
Approximate lineup
4-2-3-14-2-3-143De Hea21Valdepenias33Vieri3Dragushin2Dodo44Fajoli42Inao Ulai25N’Gio28Gonzalez29N’Gonho23Betto29Carnesekki77Zappakosta31Kristensen40Obrich47Bernascioni8Paschalich13Edson10Samardjich17de Cétale59Zalevsky90Crtoevich
Betting trends
"Fiorentina" at home beat "Atalanta" in four of six games. P1 for 2.22.
In five of six encounters between "Fiorentina" and "Atalanta" there were no more than eight corner kicks. EGLO TMO 8.5 for 1.65.
Forecast
Fiorentina vs Atalanta 29.10.2026 23:45
"Fiorentina" after a good start under Paolo Vanoli suffered three consecutive defeats. The last of them against "Inter" was the most fair in terms of the style of play, but the most painful, considering that the team was ahead until the 90th minute. This failure shook the Florentines’ problems, who now win at home with great celebrations, being in the relegation zone. "Atalanta" is also in good form. The last match with "Frosinone" (4:4) was very chaotic in its essence, and stability is precisely missing in Mauricio Sarri’s team. This applies to the level of play of individual players and the number of injured defenders. As a result, the Bergamo side is one of the teams that concede the most in the league. No matter how much Nikola Crtoevich tries in terms of goals, it is very difficult to count on victories, so we predict an entertaining draw.
Forecast: 2-2
