Atalanta vs. Crotone – The Great Entertainers of Italian Football

Gian Piero Gasperini’s marauding Atalanta side will aim to return to winning ways when they host newly promoted Crotone on Saturday.

They came flying out of the blocks this season, winning their opening three matches in emphatic fashion. That momentum was checked when they suffered a 4-1 defeat to Napoli, and they then lost 3-1 to Sampdoria last time out.

However, that defeat was bookmarked by a 4-0 Champions League victory over FC Midtjylland and a 2-2 draw with Ajax on Tuesday night. They look typically devastating when going forwards, and they should have too much firepower for Crotone to handle on Saturday.

A Porous Defence

It has been a miserable return to top flight action for Crotone thus far. They finished second in Serie B last season, but they did not really bolster their squad in the summer.

It is therefore unsurprising to see them sitting bottom of the table, with four defeats and a draw from five games. Crotone lost 4-2 to Cagliari last weekend.

Their only decent result was an impressive 1-1 draw with champions Juventus, which might cause some alarm among anyone intending to bet on Atalanta, but the Bianconeri had a man sent off in that game and were well below their best.

A Rampant Attack

Last season, Atalanta were the top scorers in Serie A by a sizeable margin. They have already hit 15 goals in five matches so far this term.

Crotone have the worst defensive record in the division, with 15 goals conceded in five games so far. It is therefore easy to imagine this rampant, attack-minded Atalanta side laying siege to Crotone’s weak defence and enjoying a high-scoring victory.

Over 2.5 goals has paid off in all seven off Atalanta’s matches in all competitions this season, so combining that with a home win looks appealing.

Tip: Atalanta to win and over 2.5 goals

Stake: One Unit