Atalanta vs Cesena Prediction: 18/12/2024

Atalanta’s impressive nine-game winning streak across all competitions was broken last week when they suffered a 2-3 loss to Real Madrid in the Champions League. The defeat was especially painful as they missed a golden opportunity in the final moments of the match when Retegui, unmarked in front of goal, failed to convert a tense cross from Lookman.

This past weekend, Atalanta traveled to Cagliari in an attempt to maintain their lead in Serie A. Their next opponent is Cesena, a second-tier team that is currently near the top of the league and virtually assured a place in the promotion playoffs.

Cesena has been struggling in their last three matches, including two losses to Frosinone (3-2) and Bari (1-0), though they managed to secure a 1-0 win against Cosenza in the previous round. The team has already played three rounds in the Coppa Italia, defeating Pisa, Hellas Verona, and Padova.

Atalanta may be missing several key players due to injury, including Juan Cuadrado and Scalvini. Scamacca, a reliable scorer, may also be rested for this game. Retegui, who has been filling in for Scamacca recently, could get the start. There could also be changes to the lineup, potentially featuring Kossounou or Zappacosta.

Lookman, a finalist for the African Ballon d’Or, has been in outstanding form, contributing 11 goals and 5 assists in both Serie A and the Champions League. On the other hand, Cesena will count on their star players like Albanian international Shpendi, who has netted 10 goals in Serie B, and Sierra Leone’s Augustus Kargbo, who has 3 goals and 2 assists.

Prediction

Cesena, who have been struggling of late, will face a tough task against Atalanta, a team with a strong home record. Atalanta is expected to dominate, making this a challenging debut for Cesena in this matchup.

Prediction: Atalanta 4-1 Cesena.