Gian Piero Gasperini explains where Juan Cuadrado will play against his old club Juventus and points out it is ‘not exactly usual’ for Atalanta to be in the Scudetto race after 27 games.
It kicks off at the Allianz Juventus Stadium in Turin at 19.45 GMT.
This could be a turning point in La Dea’s campaign, because last week they could’ve been within a point of leaders Inter, but were held to a 0-0 home draw by Venezia.
Now they risk losing third place to Juve, who are just three points behind them going into this showdown with Gasp’s former player Thiago Motta as their coach.
“I had a wonderful year in Genoa with Thiago Motta, so we both love to remember the difficulties he arrived with, as he had been out for a while, but rediscovered the motivation and calm to be an extraordinary football player,” Gasperini told DAZN.
“I think this was a huge success for everyone. As a player he was marvellous, as a coach he has moved quickly up the rankings and is relaunching this Juventus side.”
Gasperini outlines Atalanta adjustments
Stefan Posch was added to the list of injured players, joining Odilon Kossounou, Giorgio Scalvini and Gianluca Scamacca, though Isak Hien returns and Daniel Maldini is back on the bench.
Cuadrado is a surprise starter this evening, so is he wide in a trident attack to spread the Juventus defence or supporting the striker?
“He will cover that role, but naturally with his characteristics and pace. He and Bellanova down one side, Lookman and Zappacosta down the other can provide pace. I can also have players off the bench ready to make an impact in the second half, we have some rotation that unfortunately in recent weeks we’ve not been able to do,” explains Gasperini.
“It depends what you mean by fundamental. For us to come here in Week 28 with a three-point advantage over Juventus and close to the top two is not exactly usual, even if people rather pass by and don’t mention it. I don’t know how many times in the history of Atalanta that has happened.
“There is also truth in the fact we’ve dropped a few too many points at home recently, but overall I think Atalanta are ambitious.”
