Atalanta are on the path to safety after snapping a winless streak, but Cristian Bucchi takes charge of a Pescara in dire straits.
Giacomo Bonaventura was the star of the show as Atalanta downed Siena last Sunday. The talented playmaker netted a pair of screamers in the 2-0 road victory, one which helped ease relegation fears.
Stefano Colantuono dubbed the Siena clash their ‘game of the season’ and was confident afterwards performances like that would give Atalanta breathing space on the road to salvation. They are currently nine points clear of the relegation zone.
Defensive pair Gianpaolo Bellini and Daniele Capelli are hoping to prove their fitness, but Lionel Scaloni and Guido Marilungo will play no part. Midfielder Carlos Carmona is suspended.
Pescara made it eight matches without a win when they fell to a single goal reverse at home to Udinese. Comical defending presented Antonio Di Natale with the opportunity to seal victory and he made no mistake.
The result cost Cristiano Bergodi his job after just 14 matches at the helm. Delfini President Daniele Sebastiani praised Bergodi but says recent results meant they had to act, with Pescara five points from safety. Bucchi has been promoted from the Primavera but does not hold the proper licence, so is Coach only for the next 30 days.
Gaetano D’Agostino returns, but Francesco Modesto, Alessandro Sforzini, Marco Capuano, Giuseppe Rizzo, Gianluca Caprari, Luciano Zauri and Antonio Balzano are all sidelined.
Atalanta hold the upper hand in their three previous top flight meetings, winning two matches either side of a goalless draw.
Keep an eye on: German Denis (Atalanta) – Not quite the scoring machine of last term, the Argentine has just two goals in nine matches in 2013. Denis will look to rekindle his affinity for goals against Serie A’s leakiest defence.
Form guide: Atalanta (W D L L W) Pescara (L D L L L)
Last season: Not played
Stat fact: Pescara have not netted on their last three trips to Bergamo in all competitions, last finding the target in the 1999-00 Serie B meeting, which Atalanta won 3-1.
Atalanta (probable): Consigli; Raimondi, Stendardo, Lucchini, Del Grosso; Giorgi, Radovanovic, Biondini, Bonaventura; Livaja, Denis
Pescara (probable): Pelizzoli; Zanon, Kroldrup, Bianchi Arce, Bocchetti; Blasi, Cascione; Celik, Bjarnason, Weiss; Abbruscato
Better's Prediction: Atalanta : Pescara - 3:1
