Atalanta vs Lecce prediction: ITALY: Serie A betting tips on match 2023-12-29 11:30.
The final Serie A (SA) round of 2023 for Atalanta takes place in Bergamo, as they look to round out the year by cutting their current two-point gap to the European places. The hosts can provisionally move into the top-six with a win in this outing, although some inconsistent form across the previous seven rounds has held them back from securing a foothold in the upper echelons of the division already (W2, D1, L4).
Manager Gian Piero Gasperini can point to a positive personal H2H record against Lecce (W5, L3) and more specifically his opposite number, Roberto D'Aversa (W7), for both confidence and inspiration. In fact, Gasperini has faced no manager more often than D’Aversa whilst maintaining a 100% win-rate, which bodes well for this latest encounter especially as Atalanta remain unbeaten in all but two of their competitive home games this season (W7, D2, L2).
Unlike their ambitious hosts, Lecce find themselves in the mid-table abyss as they enter this round seven points above the drop zone but eight from the top-six. That in itself is a relatively impressive position for the away side, given that they’ve now won just one of their last 13 competitive games (W1, D6, L6). Despite the recent negatives, Lecce must be respected for their sturdiness this season, as they’ve lost only four of 11 league games as pre-match outsiders (W1, D6, L4).
Picking up anything more than a point on the road may be a big ask though, as Lecce are one of just four SA sides yet to win on their league travels (D5, L3). The visitors can travel here with some confidence after avoiding defeat in four of the last five away H2Hs (W1, D3, L1), including a 2-1 win here at similarly long odds last season.
Players to watch: Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman has recorded goal contributions in each of his last five home league appearances (G4, A2), helping his side to three wins in the process. Looking to haunt his parent club will be Lecce’s Roberto Piccoli, the young Atalanta loanee who tripled his SA goal tally for the season with a pair of strikes across his last four appearances (G3).
Hot stat: Atalanta have scored a league-high seven goals in the 15-minute interval directly following half-time (46’-60’).