Rakow vs Atalanta prediction: EUROPE: Europa League – Group Stage betting tips on match 2023-12-13 20:00.
A narrow 1-0 win at Sturm Graz, their first in the UEFA Europa League (UEL) group stage, saw Raków Częstochowa keep their chances of finishing third and continue their European campaign after the New Year alive – albeit in the UEFA Europa Conference League (UECL). To achieve that, the Polish side simply need to better the result of Sturm Graz or – in case of registering the same result – try and overturn a goal-difference deficit of one.
It could be easier said than done though as RakĂłw have to date scored just twice in their first-ever UEL group stage – and have found the net more than once in only one of their last six home competitive outings. Their last match was also far-from-ideal preparation for this encounter as they fell to a 4-2 defeat at Jagiellonia BiaĹ‚ystok on Sunday.
A 1-1 draw against Sporting in their last UEL game was enough for Atalanta to become one of only three teams in the competition alongside Bayer Leverkusen and Liverpool to ensure progression to the last 16 before the last round of group fixtures. Therefore, manager Gian Piero Gasperini could use this clash to rest his regular starters ahead of the last three Serie A matches of 2023.
After failing to win in Serie A immediately following their last two European games, Gasperini will undoubtedly be pleased he can focus on domestic matters for the next couple of months, especially after Atalanta halted their poor recent league run (D1, L3) by beating AC Milan 3-2 in the dying minutes at the weekend, putting them back in a tight top-four race. Subsequently, it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see the visitors extend their recent poor form on the road, where they’ve won only once in their last five competitive away trips (D2, L2), losing 3-0 to Torino in their last such game.
Players to watch: With five goals to his name this season, Bartosz Nowak could be the biggest hope for Raków, with four of them arriving after the break. Atalanta’s Mario Pašalić may well score in the same period, as five of his last six goals for club and country have come in the second half of matches.
Hot stat: Seven of Atalanta’s last nine away competitive games have seen at least three goals scored.