Prediction: Atalanta vs Como

Verdict: Home win

Best odds: 4/9

Bookmaker: Olympusbet

Following their midweek Champions League efforts, Atalanta return to Serie A action on Monday evening, hosting newly promoted Como at the Gewiss Stadium.

The Nerazzurri nearly upset Arsenal in their last outing, after previously edging Fiorentina in a thrilling five-goal contest. Now, they prepare for a third consecutive home game, welcoming a winless Como side to Bergamo.

Atalanta

The tactical clash between Atalanta and Arsenal may have ended in a goalless draw on Thursday evening as both sides opened their Champions League campaigns, but Atalanta left the field frustrated at missing out on a potential victory.

Marco Carnesecchi made an important first-half save, but it was Arsenal’s David Raya who stole the spotlight with two penalty saves, denying Mateo Retegui what could have been the decisive goal. Despite this, last season’s Europa League winners secured a valuable point on their return to Europe’s elite competition, coming just days after a dramatic 3-2 victory over Fiorentina.

In that thrilling contest, Atalanta twice came from behind to beat Fiorentina, with Ademola Lookman scoring the decisive goal in first-half stoppage time. That win moved them up to six points from four Serie A games.

Notably, Atalanta have been one of the most threatening teams offensively, with only Arsenal recording more shots on target so far. They also boast the highest Expected Goals (7.89) and lead the league in headed goals (four), thanks to their versatile attacking play.

Gian Piero Gasperini’s side now have the opportunity to secure back-to-back wins for the first time this season as they prepare to face Como, a team they have historically dominated at home. Atalanta are unbeaten in their last eight Serie A home matches against Como, although it’s been some time since the two sides last met.

Team News

After a demanding match against Arsenal and with an upcoming trip to Bologna, Atalanta boss Gian Piero Gasperini may rotate his squad on Monday. Having invested in squad depth over the summer, Gasperini could rest either Ademola Lookman or Mateo Retegui, with Marco Brescianini, Lazar Samardzic, and Nicolo Zaniolo all pushing for starting roles. Recent signings Raoul Bellanova and Odilon Kossounou could also be introduced, offering fresh legs on the wing and in defense.

Mario Pasalic, who made his 200th league appearance for Atalanta last week, remains in contention. The former Chelsea midfielder is on the verge of scoring his 50th Serie A goal, which would make him the most prolific Croatian scorer in Serie A history, surpassing Ivan Perisic.

Atalanta will continue to cope without long-term absentees Gianluca Scamacca and Giorgio Scalvini, both sidelined with ACL injuries, as well as veteran defender Rafael Toloi, who remains out with a muscular issue.

Como

Ahead of their first top-flight clash in 21 years, Como hold a narrow edge in the historical head-to-head with seven wins and five losses from 19 Serie A meetings. However, continuing that trend will be a tall order for current coach Cesc Fabregas, who is still in the early stages of his managerial career, especially when compared to Gian Piero Gasperini’s wealth of experience at the helm of Atalanta.

Como currently sit in 18th place and are still searching for their first win of the season, which began with a Coppa Italia exit at the hands of Serie B side Sampdoria. As a newly promoted team, the Lariani have faced additional challenges, having had to quickly renovate their Stadio Sinigaglia. Consequently, their first three league games were played on the road, yielding only one point before last week’s long-awaited homecoming.

Despite a promising start against Bologna, where they led 2-0 thanks to an own goal and a Patrick Cutrone strike, Como allowed their advantage to slip in the final 20 minutes, eventually settling for a draw. Given the difficulty of their upcoming match in Bergamo, few expect Como to secure points against Atalanta, but they will aim to exploit any weaknesses in La Dea’s sometimes shaky defence.

Team News

Como will remain without their marquee signing, Raphael Varane, while fellow centre-back Alberto Dossena is a significant doubt due to a calf strain, further weakening their defence.

Last week, coach Cesc Fabregas opted to bench out-of-form striker Andrea Belotti, who has yet to score since joining the club after goalless stints with Roma and Fiorentina. It remains uncertain if ‘Il Gallo’ will be reinstated to the starting XI for this match. Should Fabregas stick with the current setup, Nico Paz is likely to continue partnering with Patrick Cutrone in the attack, while the midfield will be anchored by former Barcelona stalwart Sergi Roberto, who usually orchestrates Como’s play from the middle of the park.

Conclusion

Even if Atalanta opt to rotate their lineup after a demanding start to the campaign, their depth and Serie A experience far outweigh the capabilities of a Como side still struggling to adjust to the top-flight’s rigors.

In their third straight match at home following the stadium renovations, La Dea are well-positioned to claim all three points comfortably and continue building momentum after their strong showing against Arsenal.

Verdict: Home win

Best odds: 4/9

Bookmaker: Olympusbet