The battle for the top four in Serie A has reached the time of the season when it usually gets exciting, and this time it certainly promises fireworks. A host of teams are in the mix now, as AC Milan’s defeat to Napoli has dragged them into the battle, where Juventus, Como, AS Roma and Atalanta are all in contention.
Atalanta are currently in an imperious vein of form in the league, losing just once in 2026 while winning nine times in that period. Raffaele Palladino is now averaging at least two points per game and very much steering his side into Champions League contention.
However, if he is to take his side head-on against Juventus, Atalanta must overcome a dreadful record against the Bianconeri that reads one win in their last 20 league games.
Since losing to current top four rivals Como, Juventus have been hot and cold in their next four games, winning two and drawing the others. The most recent result showed they could only muster a stalemate with Sassuolo, but they responded with a win over Genoa, which has kept them in fifth place heading into the weekend.
However, with the team heading to Bergamo, this is also the first time Juventus have won back-to-back away games under Luciano Spalletti. On what they must do, the Bianconeri must treat every game as a key encounter and target a win every single time to stay in touch with the proceedings in the top four race.
There is some positive news in the Atalanta camp as striker Gianluca Scamacca has been back in full training and is in contention to play alongside top scorer Nikola Krstovic ahead of this Juventus encounter.
At the time of reporting, defender Isak Hien is the only absentee for the Bergamo giants. Giorgio Scalvini, berat Djimsiti and Sead Kolasinac are expected to start in the back three for Atalanta, with Davide Zappacosta and Lorenzo Bernasconi in the wing-back roles.
The likes of Marten De Roon and Ederson will assume the midfield roles, while Charles De Ketelaere and Nicola Zalewski will play behind striker Krstovic, which leaves Scamacca as an option from the bench.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Carnesecchi; Scalvini, Djimsiti, Kolasinac; Zappacosta, De Roon, Ederson, Bernasconi; De Ketelaere, Zalewski; Krstovic
Unlike Atalanta, Juventus do have a few notable absentees to contend with as Spalletti may have to make some alterations to his lineup. Weston McKennie is suspended for this clash, while Mattia Perin came off injured against Genoa.
Hence, Michele Di Gregorio could be back in contention between the sticks, and he will have Pierre Kalulu, Gleison Bremer, Lloyd Kelly and Andrea Cambiaso in the backline.
Khephren Thuram and Manuel Locatelli are the preferred midfield choices for Spalletti, while Kenan Yildiz will play the role in the No. 10 zone. Francisco Conceicao and Jeremie Boga are the preferred wide choices for Juventus, with Jonathan David leading the line.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Di Gregorio; Kalulu, Bremer, Kelly, Cambiaso; Locatelli, Thuram; Conceicao, Yildiz, Boga; David
Yildiz has had a patch where he could not impact much, but of late, he has found his scoring boots as well as been creating goals for his teammates. Four goal involvements in as many Serie A games heading to Bergamo, Yildiz is the man who could dictate the tempo for Juventus on Saturday.
Spalletti will want all his key players fit and firing on all cylinders in the final run-in. With nothing much to chase in the time remaining in the campaign, the top four race is the only real objective Spalletti would want to achieve, and hence, Juventus need players like Yildiz at his very best.
Atalanta does not have a great record against Juventus, winning just once in their last 20 meetings, which might need some changing. They may also be in a slightly better vein of form, but they might fall back to old habits against yet another big team.
Juventus will be under pressure, and with the team unbeaten in five games since that Como loss, Spalletti will be targeting a win on Saturday. Juventus may use this pressure to get over the line, as they are slight favourites to claim three points.
