Man City vs Atalanta prediction, preview & team news
Manchester City are looking to make another stride towards the Champions League knockout phase when Atalanta arrive on matchday three.
Pep Guardiola’s men hold a perfect record heading into their showdown with the Serie A outfit having brushed Shakhtar Donetsk and Dinamo Zagreb aside.
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City, who have bagged five goals, are yet to concede and Atalanta – playing in their inaugural Champions League season – should provide modest contest as they enter the game on a two-game losing streak in the competition.
Read on for Man City v Atalanta predictions, preview, team news and TV coverage information.
When is Man City vs Atalanta and where can I watch live?
Competition: Champions League
Venue: Etihad Stadium
Date: Tuesday, 22 October 2019
Kick-off: 8:00 PM BST
TV coverage (UK): BT Sport 2
Form guide
Man City (WLWWW)
19 October 2019: Crystal Palace 0-2 Man City (Premier League)
06 October 2019: Man City 0-2 Wolves (Premier League)
01 October 2019: Man City 2-0 Dinamo Zagreb (Champions League)
28 September 2019: Everton 1-3 Man City (Premier League)
24 September 2019: Preston North End 0-3 Man City (Carabao Cup)
Atalanta (DWLWW)
19 October 2019: Lazio 3-3 Atalanta (Serie A)
06 October 2019: Atalanta 3-1 Lecce (Serie A)
01 October 2019: Atalanta 1-2 Shakhtar Donetsk (Champions League)
28 September 2019: Sassuolo 1-4 Atalanta (Serie A)
25 September 2019: Roma 0-2 Atalanta (Serie A)
Ones to watch
Man City: Raheem Sterling
Sterling was the hero in City’s last Champions League outing when he came off the bench to break the deadlock against Dinamo Zagreb before teeing up Phil Foden to secure a hardfought 2-0 win. He’s expected to start this time out and will no doubt cause Atalanta’s full-backs a few headaches.
Key stat: Raheem Sterling has been involved in 18 goals across his last 16 home Champions League outings (scoring 11 and creating a further seven).
Atalanta: Marten de Roon
Marten de Roon returns to English football with La Dea having previously enjoyed a very brief spell with Middlesbrough and the Dutch midfielder has pleasant memories of the Etihad Stadium.
He registered a late goal as Boro claimed a precious Premier League point in November 2016, but don’t expect him to be popping up with another in midweek. Instead the man dubbed ‘the wavebreaker’ will be doing his utmost to keep the likes of Kevin De Bruyne from dominating the game.
Key stat: Marten de Roon averages 5 tackles and three interceptions per 90 minutes in the Champions League.
Team news
Man City
Pep Guardiola goes into this contest having seen his team respond after their humbling 2-0 loss at home to Wolves before the recent international break. He’s got a near full squad to select from with Aymeric Laporte and Leroy Sané, both recovering from a serious knee injury, the only absentees. Sterling should make his first Champions League home start here with Nicolas Otamendi expected to partner the returning John Stones in central defence after the Argentine international was rested in the Crystal Palace win.
Predicted XI: Ederson; Cancelo, Stones, Otamendi, Mendy; Rodri, De Bruyne, Gundogan; Sterling, Aguero, B Silva
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Atalanta
Gian Piero Gasperini is no doubt looking forward to testing his wits against Pep Guardiola but the revered Italian coach heads to Manchester without lethal Colombian marksman Duván Zapata who sustained a serious injury whilst on international duty. This unfortunate situation opens the door for Luis Muriel to share the forward line with Josip Ilicic as the third-placed Serie A team hope to leave England with a result of some kind.
Predicted XI: Gollini; Toloi, Masiello, Palomino; Hateboer, Pasalic, De Roon, Castagne; Papu Gomez; Ilicic, Muriel
Squawka prediction
Wolves’ recent escapade would no doubt give Atalanta some hope for this confrontation, but it’s hard to see lightning striking twice especially given their respective forms in Europe, that being said this should not be a walk in the part for Pep Guardiola’s men.
Scoreline prediction: Man City 2-0 Atalanta
