Atalanta’s resurgence under Raffaele Palladino will be put to a major test on Sunday night when Serie A leaders Inter Milan visit Bergamo, with the home side showing clear signs of renewed confidence and direction.
Since replacing Ivan Juric last month, Palladino has overseen a swift turnaround in both performances and results. Atalanta’s improved cohesion has been evident on the European stage, where they impressed against Eintracht Frankfurt and Chelsea in the Champions League, restoring belief around the club after a difficult early-season spell.
The Bergamo side currently sit fifth in the Champions League standings, level on points with Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City, and their domestic form is also trending upward. A dramatic late victory away at Genoa last weekend lifted Atalanta back into the top half of Serie A, leaving them just three points adrift of the European qualification places.
“It wasn’t one of our best performances, but winning was what mattered today,” Palladino said after the Genoa win. “Those three points were hugely important to keep our run going and push us back towards the right end of the table.”
Sunday’s fixture marks the start of a demanding run against direct rivals in the race for Champions League football. Fourth-placed Roma, who currently hold an eight-point advantage over Atalanta, visit Bergamo at the turn of the year, followed by a short trip to Bologna, who occupy the Conference League spot.
Atalanta have now won six of their eight matches in all competitions under Palladino, a return that has already surpassed their league win tally under Juric and strengthened the sense that Palladino is a more natural successor to long-serving former coach Gian Piero Gasperini.
However, the hosts will be without two key players. Attacker Ademola Lookman and defender Odilon Kossounou are both absent while on international duty with Nigeria and Ivory Coast respectively at the Africa Cup of Nations.
“We keep climbing a mountain that a month ago seemed impossible,” Palladino said. “We have to enjoy the moment because three big matches are coming, and we want to face them with the right spirit.”
Inter arrive in Bergamo holding a slender one-point lead over city rivals AC Milan at the top of Serie A, with reigning champions Napoli a further point back in third. Milan host Verona this weekend, while Napoli face a potentially awkward trip to Cremonese.
Inter’s preparations, however, have been disrupted by travel to Saudi Arabia for the Italian Super Cup, where they failed to lift the trophy. Napoli’s triumph has further congested the calendar, leaving Inter, Milan, Napoli and Bologna with a game in hand compared to Roma and fifth-placed Juventus.
The early weeks of January will add further strain, with midweek league rounds scheduled for the Super Cup participants, followed by decisive fixtures in the final phase of the Champions League’s expanded league format.
Inter coach Cristian Chivu is also dealing with mounting injury concerns. Forward Ange-Yoan Bonny has suffered a knee injury in training and joins Denzel Dumfries, Francesco Acerbi and Hakan Calhanoglu on the sidelines.
Daniele De Rossi is set for an emotional return to the Stadio Olimpico on Monday night as his Genoa side face Roma, looking to recover from narrow defeats against Inter and Atalanta.
A Roma legend and World Cup winner, De Rossi guided his boyhood club to the Europa League semi-finals in 2024 but was dismissed after a poor start to last season. His sacking, following a draw at Genoa in September, prompted angry protests from Roma supporters, and he is expected to receive a warm reception from the home crowd.
Genoa currently sit two points above the relegation zone, while Roma trail Inter by three points at the top, having played one game more.
4 – The number of points separating league leaders Inter and fifth-placed Juventus. 3 – Atalanta have already won more league matches under Palladino than they managed under Ivan Juric.
Saturday Parma v Fiorentina (11:30am), Lecce v Como, Torino v Cagliari (2pm), Udinese v Lazio (5pm), Pisa v Juventus (7:45pm)
Sunday AC Milan v Verona (11:30am), Cremonese v Napoli (2pm), Bologna v Sassuolo (5pm), Atalanta v Inter (7:45pm)
Monday Roma v Genoa (7:45pm)
