Atalanta vs Arsenal prediction: EUROPE: Champions League – League phase betting tips on match 2024-09-18 19:00.
[p]Atalanta’s entertaining start to their Serie A campaign continued on Sunday as the reigning UEFA Europa League (UEL) champions came from behind to beat Fiorentina 3-2 with all the goals in the first half. With their four league fixtures this term (W2, L2) producing an average of four goals per game, they could be an entertaining team to follow in the UEFA Champions League (UCL) this season.[/p]
[p]After losing the UEFA Super Cup 2-0 to Real Madrid last month, La Dea will be keen to kickstart their European campaign as they return to the UCL for the first time since 2021/22. This is their fourth UCL group/league phase participation and on each occasion they’ve met English opponents (W1, D2, L3), with last season producing a memorable 3-1 aggregate win over Liverpool en route to UEL glory.[/p]
[p]Arsenal will therefore be well aware of the damage Atalanta can do, although they will travel high on confidence after beating Tottenham 1-0 in Sunday’s North London derby despite missing key players due to injury and suspension. Declan Rice was one of those, but he’ll be available for this one, which will make manager Mikel Arteta happier ahead of a big week in which they also take on Premier League champions Manchester City.[/p]
[p]The Gunners travel having only won one of their last six UCL away games (D1, L4), but they’ve fared better in Italy of late, having won their last two European fixtures in the country ‘to nil’ against Napoli and AC Milan respectively, albeit those matches were in the UEL knockout stages before Arteta took over.[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Mateo Retegui has scored three times between the 20th minute and half-time for Atalanta this term, marking him out as a dangerous threat early on. If there is to be a flurry of early goals, then Kai Havertz might be one to watch for Arsenal as both of his strikes this season came between the 20th and 40th minute.[/p]
[p]Hot streak: Atalanta won the corner count in each of their last three fixtures; Arsenal lost it in each of their last three.[/p]
[p][i]Written by John Pennington[/i][/p]