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Atalanta Vs Arsenal Preview: Champions League Lineups, Team News, Predictions & More (Bonus Episode)
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The 2024/25 Champions League matchday one group stage fixture between Atalanta and Arsenal takes place on Thursday 19 September at 21:00 CET in Italy at Gewiss Stadium. Carlo Garganese and Nima Tavallaey preview the big game. We look at the probable XIs, injuries and suspensions, and break down the game tactically before offering our predictions.
This is a bonus preview episode of The Italian Football Podcast which is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Google podcasts.
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Transcript
Introduction and Match Preview: Atalanta vs Arsenal
00:00:03
Speaker
Welcome to the Italian Football Podcast. Hello everybody and welcome to the Italian Football Podcast. I'm Carlo Garganese joined as always by Nima Tavalli. This is the third and final match preview we are doing ahead of match day one of the new Champions League season at Atlanta at home to Arsenal in Bergamo on Thursday the 19th of September.
Comprehensive Champions League Season Preview
00:00:33
Speaker
um For those of you who haven't listened to or watched our Champions League preview show of the entire Champions League season where we go through ah all of the Italian teams in the Champions League and we look at their squads, their probable 11s and basically break down their chances of of the
00:00:54
Speaker
of of of how well they're going to do in the Champions League this season and and also we explain the new format of the Champions League in detail, then go to ah to any of our our podcast apps or to our YouTube page and you can listen to or watch that in full. But today we are going to to preview the match between Atalanta and Arsenal on match day one. um
Atalanta's Europa League Win and Challenges
00:01:19
Speaker
To start with though, from Atalanta's point of view, um of course, they are the reigning Europa League champions and they have performed so well in Europe. So in in many ways, this is another very, very exciting ah match for Atalanta being back in there in the Champions League, but also
00:01:40
Speaker
It's a game that comes with ah with problems because Atalanta have had something of a really a horrific summer really having after winning that Europa League and the the expectations and enthusiasm being so high about having a real you know pushing on to the next level may be challenging for the Scudetto, maybe even challenging to go very, very deep in the in the Champions League. um That hope was kind of taken away from them due to, well, mainly due to injuries, losing Gianluca Scamaca, their best forward um to ah with with it to an ACL and ah their best defender, Scalvini, to an ACL, and then selling their best midfielder, Koopmeiners, to Juventus, and then some other problems that were were stepping up, Lukman putting in a transfer request and
00:02:29
Speaker
but virtually refusing to play, wanting to move to PSG, he's he has stayed though, and losing the three of their first four games to to the season. So they they now come into this game with Arsenal, although we are recording this before the the final league, Celiac game, before the before the Champions League, they come into this game nima with with some unwanted problems, shall we say.
00:02:52
Speaker
Yes,
Transfer Market Analysis for Atalanta
00:02:53
Speaker
but ICE maintain that they have had the best mercato they could possibly have given the situation they were in. um They couldn't have done any better given the horrible situation they found themselves in, um in terms of reaction. um And also, I think they've started, well, they've started well in the league, um except for the hammering against Bainter. But other than that,
00:03:22
Speaker
you know, well, to be fair, they did lose. They did, they did lose their, they won one last two, but they did play well against, I thought they were, I didn't think they deserved to lose. But, but I do think that they have played well. And also I think they are, they are, they are a team to watch out.
Atalanta's European Performance
00:03:41
Speaker
I mean, look again, they are Europa league champions. They were a minute away from Well, as I see it going all the way to the Champions League final a couple of seasons ago, there is European routine and pedigree in this team and experience. And so I do think that
00:03:57
Speaker
you know, they're they're always going to be underdogs. No matter what they do, Atalanta will never go up against the big teams in Europe and be the favorites. It's just impossible. um But they have to be careful because they yeah on their day, they can completely dismantle you. We've seen it, especially at home. they are They've always been a fantastic home team. Now,
00:04:22
Speaker
they they They're a good home in a way and they're they won European trophy, which is unbelievable. So I do think that of all the teams ah that they Atalanta could play against, Arsenal is probably the team that, given how Arsenal play, because I really rate i really like Arteta and I really like Arsenal playing. I actually think they're going to win the Premier League this season.
00:04:47
Speaker
But they're a very attacking-minded open side. with with There are gaps to exploit. So
Potential for Upset Against Arsenal
00:04:54
Speaker
I think this is going to be an incredibly entertaining game. Lots of goals. And I wouldn't put it past Atalanta to go away with the win.
00:05:02
Speaker
Yeah, listen, Atalanta can always surprise in in in Europe when we saw them, they beat Champions League worthy teams to win the Europa League last season. They beat Baya Leverkusen who had gone on a record break and unbeaten record for the whole season. ah beat liverpool They beat they beat Marseille who really are a Champions League team. I know they're not in the Champions League. um You know, the sports in Lisbon, they knocked them out, but they also dominated them and beat them in the in the in the group stage for matches again. Yeah. In Lisbon. So, you know, this is a team that um they seem to have a European game. They seem to have a, you know, a team that that that is suited to playing in Europe and that's why they've done so well in Europe in
00:05:45
Speaker
for a number of seasons now. you know Very well said. He gets the quarterfinals in 2020 in the Covid season and was seconds away from beating the PSG of Neymar and Mbappe and going through to the semis where they would have played Leipzig and probably would have won that and got to the final. um So you know this is a team with pedigree, obviously a different team now. um So they're a team that you know can certainly ah play their part in this game against Arsenal. 100% well said. I mean, let's go through the injuries first though. At Atlanta,
Injury Updates: Atalanta vs Arsenal
00:06:15
Speaker
As I said, without Skalvini and Skamaka, Jim City has a muscle injury, so it's going to be difficult for him. and Godfrey could come in to replace him or Daroon could come in to sense about Sulimana is not in the Atlanta squad, which um I think could be ah an issue in the sense that I think that Atalanta's weakness, one of Atalanta's weaknesses this season has been lack of central midfielders, Edison kind of having to play on his own next to sort of like a pass a lit choose more of an attacking midfielder, so really ideally Daroon plays at centre mid and then you know somebody else comes into defence but
00:06:51
Speaker
Yeah, they're a little they are a little bit weakened because of these injuries, the long-term and short-term. As for Arsenal, Mikel Marina, the new sign-in, got injured in his first training session by by his own player, Gabriel, which was quite amusing, I guess, ah unless you're an Arsenal fan. and So he's out till November. He'll miss the game. Tommy Yasso and Tieni are out, but I mean, they wouldn't have played anyway.
00:07:13
Speaker
And so I mean, Arsenal will have pretty much their full strength starting 11. As for Atalanta's Pro Bowl 11, again, we're recording this before the final league game, before the, before the match, Champions League match. So we're looking at Khanasecki in goal. And then in defense, we're looking at either, probably looking at either Godfrey or De Roon at right centre back. Honestly, play the new sign in Quissonou from Leverkusen, which would be a bit of a gamble and to put them in.
00:07:42
Speaker
straight away, but yeah, there'll be someone, someone other than Jim City at right centre back, and then Hien at centre, centre back, and Kolazin, actually, if he's back and fully fit at left centre back, then in in ah the the mid, the, let's say that, well, Atalanta player three, four, two, one, so we'd be looking at Bellanova or Zappacosta at right wing back, Ruggieri at left wing back,
00:08:05
Speaker
then in midfield it will definitely be Ederson and it'll be either Ederson and De Roon if De Roon plays in midfield. If De Roon moves to centre back it'll be probably Pasalic. Oh god. And then the two would be either one, De Quetzalera and Lukman. We're assuming Lukman will be re-integrated now. ah He played well, scored two great goals for Nigeria in in in the Afghan qualifying. I think he'd be reintegrated after he asked to leave. And then Letakey, who's been really probably probably the most informed player in of the Serie A together with Taram. Yeah, there's an argument to say that he's had a really great start to see great start to his career at Atlanta. He's over so superseded my expectations anyway. ah Arsenal probably will have him quite easy to predict, generally, unless Arteta
00:08:57
Speaker
goes for kind of ah an unusual rotation. So we're looking at Ryering Gull, Ben White, Saliba, Gabrielle and then at left back we'll go we'll be looking at either Timba Calafurio or Zinchenko. I think he's going to play Calafurio there.
00:09:12
Speaker
It would make sense against Italian opposition, wouldn't it? It would make sense. um And then in the midfield, we're looking at Reissen party. if We're talking about 4-2-3-1 Reissen party holding, unless he does again go for a Giorgino because he's he wants to put an Italian in there. But I think against the kind of, possibly, but against the kind of fast tempo, the Atalanta player, maybe not. And then the three behind the one. And pressing as well. I mean, Giorgino will chase the life out of him.
00:09:40
Speaker
They will. They will. And he hasn't barely played this season at all. And then the three behind the one, we're looking at Saka, Oldegard. And then on the left, it'll be either Trossard or Martinelli. Unless he tries to throw in a surprise with a Sterling who was joined, but I don't think he's played enough. So maybe not not ready to start a game. So probably Trossard or Martinelli. And and then Albert's up front who's been in fantastic form. So that's the arsenal probably.
Defensive Strategies for Atalanta
00:10:05
Speaker
And if we look at where this match will be won and lost,
00:10:09
Speaker
um I think that Atalanta have defended really badly this season. for that So for them to limit Arsenal, they need to defend better than than they have done. There's no doubt about that. Oh, for sure. They they can't. They have to. like there's no And that's why I'm saying Pasalic can't start.
00:10:30
Speaker
in central midfield. He can be one of the two behind Retegi, but he can't be in one of the two holding midfield, like the two central midfield roles. They will get ripped apart. I kind of expect to see Ruggeri and Belanova. i'm I'm expecting Belanova to start because of his speed. um And I have fallen in love with this Ruggeri kid.
00:10:55
Speaker
Like he's going to be like he given how Italy are playing now, he must be part of the setup. Because I just think he's good enough. The the level that he continue that he continues to play at the last 12 to 12 months to two years. It's been so good, so high. It's it's it's exactly what you want out of a left wing back so.
00:11:23
Speaker
I do want to see him. I want to see the Kettler and Lukma Ritegi. That's such an interesting tridente, isn't it? um To see how they, you know, format. And Ritegi, if he can continue to be this kind of prima punta that wins the ball, plays everyone, you know, plays plays and plays puts his teammates into play, they can play off him. Lukman, we saw what he can do. I mean, he's a killer. Can they reintegrate him again and, you know, let bygones be bygones?
00:11:52
Speaker
The Kettler, there is a, you know, we now know that this kid has football in him, as we would say in Sweden, and has so much potential and is so important in the build up phase. And it's become quite a decent assistant goal guy to Atalanta. Now there is, there's goals to be had and and I expect Arsenal to go for it. And I expect Atalanta to go for it. I think this could
Key Match Battles: Ruggeri vs Saka, Edison vs Rice
00:12:16
Speaker
be one of those entertaining games, like one of the most entertaining games of the group stage kind of thing.
00:12:24
Speaker
Yeah, I'm confident that Atlantic can get a result here. Yeah, me too. Not sure if they will win, but I think maybe a score draw. Two, two, three, three, something like that. I don't think as high as three, three, because I mean i think that Arsenal are... The only one thing I disagree with, I think Arsenal are defensively solid. They are defensively solid, but they're in the attacking side.
00:12:48
Speaker
Yeah, yes and no. I think that Arteta is quite comparable to Tiago Motta in some ways. in that That's fair. He doesn't completely open up sometimes in terms of throwing too many men forward. so um yeah it's good I don't think it's about throwing men forward. I think they are sometimes a little bit... There there are there are holes some in in how they play. yeah And I'm sure Gasparinis identified them.
00:13:14
Speaker
Yeah, ah well we'll see. it'll be It'll be interesting. But I think it's going to be a high scoring game. It's going to be an exciting game to watch. 2-2, 3-2 Arsenal, 3-2 Atalanta. But it's going to be high scoring. I mean, you're talking about Ruggeri. I mean, I think Saka is always Arsenal's most dangerous player. So so yeah's one that's a good set that's a good test. but That is. To see where Ruggeri's at. you know Yeah, for that's the my most that is my favourite battle to watch, Ruggeri against Saka. Yeah.
00:13:44
Speaker
That's what I'm looking forward to, to see what they can do. And yeah, no. And the Edison against Rice as well. Yeah. We'll see um see you ah how Rice does against Edison. Yeah. Okay. All
Conclusion and Further Match Previews
00:14:00
Speaker
right then. Let's ah yeah let's leave it at that. Thank you everybody for listening and do check out all our our other previews ah for match day one of the Champions League. We've done previews of Liverpool's trip to Milan.
00:14:13
Speaker
and also Inter's trip to Manchester City, and as well as once again do check out our preview of the Champions League season as a whole, and which you can get on all of our podcast apps, as well as on watching us on YouTube. And there's a Bedford story in the Man City Inter inter preview as well. sadal Yes, there is. I know that that's the reason main reason why everybody's listening and watching this podcast. say yeah
00:14:43
Speaker
Oh, dear. So much so that people are now calling for... Well, of course they are. Can you blame them? Give the people what they want and make the people happy, Garlett. I know. I've even had requests of people saying that I should make a movie about it. but Write a screen the screenplay for... oh my god that i'm sorry but the q and&a one time in bed yeah well i was like yeah but the the father mario thing just sent me on the q and&a part that was that that's for patrons only by the way you know it's just you're gonna have to you're gonna have to listen to that yeah you're gonna have to pay for that
00:15:22
Speaker
dear Fantastic. Okay, well, enjoy match day one of the Champions League. Let's hope for some good results for for the Italian teams. Until next time, ciao ciao.