Atalanta vs Genoa Predictions

• Atalanta have been behind at some stage in all three of their home Serie A games this season
• Atalanta have the worst goal difference between 0-15 mins in Serie A this season
• Genoa are in poor form and are missing several key players through injury

Atalanta must overcome poor starts

Atalanta are expected to brush Genoa aside when they return to Serie A action at Gewiss Stadium on Saturday. Gian Piero Gasperini’s side took Shakhtar Donetsk apart in Gelsenkirchen on Wednesday in a win that was probably worthy of an even greater margin than 3-0.

But the team from Bergamo have not been as impressive in domestic action this season and currently sit down in mid-table with seven points from their first six league games. Poor starts have been a problem for Atalanta, who have been behind at some stage in all three of their home Serie A games this season.

They could be vulnerable to a Genoa side that will be well aware of that fact and that their only chance of getting something in this game is by defending like demons.

Gilardino considering system switch

Genoa have lost three of their last four league games and scored only once across that span. Il Grifone have been struggling with key attackers like Junior Messias and Caleb Ekuban injured.

Coach Alberto Gilardino is reportedly considering  switch from his usual 3-5-2 formation to a back four for this game, having seen how well Como did in beating Atalanta 3-2 at Gewiss Stadium in that formation. It may or may not work, but it is worth a try for a team languishing in the bottom four.

La Dea will probably take the three points in the end, but it may be worth a smaller-stakes play on Genoa to be ahead at half-time. Only Parma have shipped more second-half goals than Genoa this season, so their best hope may be to strike early and hold on as best they can.