Atalanta vs Man City preview, predictions & possible XIs
Manchester City can book their place in the Champions League knockout stages with a win over Atalanta on Wednesday evening.
Pep Guardiola’s men, who hold a 100% record in Group C, travel to Milan – where their Serie A rivals play their home games in Europe – on the crest of a wave having won every game since the last international break.
It couldn’t be any different for Atalanta, who are rock bottom of the group and yet to collect a single point. The Italians have also recorded just one win from their last five played, which included a 5-1 thumping at the Etihad.
Read on for Atalanta v Man City predictions, preview, team news and TV coverage information.
When is Atalanta vs Man City and where can I watch live?
Competition: Champions League
Venue: San Siro
Date: Wednesday, 6 November 2019
Kick-off: 8:00 PM
TV coverage (UK): BT Sport 3
Form guide
Atalanta (LDWLD)
03 November 2019: Atalanta 0-2 Cagliari (Serie A)
30 October 2019: Napoli 2-2 Atalanta (Serie A)
27 October 2019: Atalanta 7-1 Udinese (Serie A)
22 October 2019: Man City 5-1 Atalanta (Champions League)
19 October 2019: Lazio 3-3 Atalanta (Serie A)
Man City (WWWWW)
02 November 2019: Man City 2-1 Southampton (Premier League)
29 October 2019: Man City 3-1 Southampton (League Cup)
26 October 2019: Man City 3-1 Aston Villa (Premier League)
22 October 2019: Man City 5-1 Atalanta (Champions League)
19 October 2019: Crystal Palace 0-2 Man City (Premier League)
Ones to watch
Atalanta: Papu Gómez
Atalanta can still mathematically reach the round of 16, even though Gian Piero Gasperini’s men are pointless after the opening three rounds. The gap between them and second-placed Dinamo Zagreb is four points, but they will need luck on their side if they are to cause Man City a headache and chief architect Papu Gomez will likely need to produce the performance of his life.
Key stat: Papu Gómez is Atalanta’s leading assist-maker in Serie A with five goals created.
Man City: Riyad Mahrez
Riyad Mahrez has endured a bit-part role for Man City in the Premier League this season and was an unused substitute in their last three outings. However, it’s a different story in Europe and he has played every single minute of their Champions League campaign to date to repay Guardiola’s faith, and he’s expected to continue on Wednesday evening.
Key stat: No one has created more goals in the Champions League for Man City than Riyad Mahrez (3).
Team news
Atalanta
Duván Zapata still remains absent for Atalanta with an abductor injury. He is the only player absent for manager Gasperini, who is expected to once again start Josip Iličić and Luis Muriel up front together.
Predicted XI: Gollini; Palomino, Kjær, Djimsiti; Hateboer, De Roon, Freuler, Castagne; Gómez, Iličić; Muriel.
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Man City
Guardiola is expected to make a few changes to his Man City team ahead of this weekend’s title showdown at Liverpool. Phil Foden, though, misses out through suspension with David Silva among five players – including Aymeric Laporte, Rodrigo, Leroy Sane and Oleksandr Zinchenko – ruled out with an injury.
Youngsters Tommy Doyle and Ian Poveda have made the trip to Italy.
Predicted XI: Ederson; Cancelo, Otamendi, Stones, Mendy; De Bruyne, Gündoğan, B Silva; Mahrez, Jesus, Sterling.
Squawka prediction
No matter the makeup of Man City’s team, with a mouthwatering clash against Premier League title rivals Liverpool just around the corner, they will pose a strong challenge for Atalanta who are in danger of losing their way.
The result this time may not be as one-sided as it was in England a fortnight ago, but Guardiola’s men should run out comfortable winners.
Scoreline prediction: Atalanta 0-2 Man City
