Arsenal will kick off their 2024-25 UEFA Champions League campaign with an away trip to Bergamo to face Atalanta on Thursday. Last season, the Gunners reached the quarter-finals of Europe’s top competition.
Atalanta vs Arsenal: Preview
Atalanta and Arsenal will begin their 2024/25 UEFA Champions League campaigns under the new format introduced this season, which enhances the competition’s competitiveness.
Under the new structure, the top eight teams from a large 36-team table will secure automatic spots in the knockout rounds. The next 16 teams will face a playoff round, adding two more games to their schedule.
Top teams, including Atalanta and Arsenal, will want to avoid the playoff round. Atalanta is making their return to the Champions League after a two-season absence, having secured their spot by winning the Europa League last season.
Atalanta vs Arsenal: Match Details
Match: Arsenal Vs Atlanta
Date & Time: September 18, 2024 at 8 pm UK
Stadium: Bergamo Stadium
Atalanta vs Arsenal: Team News, Stats & Head To Head
Arsenal
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta can welcome back key midfielder Declan Rice, who was suspended on Sunday, and Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori. However, he faces several major injury concerns ahead of his team’s first Champions League match.
Most notably, captain Martin Ødegaard is out with an ankle injury, and summer signing Mikel Merino hasn’t played since injuring his shoulder in his first training session. Bukayo Saka was the latest to face injury concerns after being substituted during the North London derby, but he trained on Wednesday and is available.
Saka was involved in eight goals in nine Champions League appearances for Arsenal last season, the highest by any English player in their debut campaign. Kieran Tierney (thigh), Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee), and Oleksandr Zinchenko (calf) are all unavailable, though Gabriel Jesus made a late substitute appearance over the weekend after recovering from a thigh issue.
Atalanta
Atalanta will be without key players Gianluca Scamacca and Giorgio Scalvini due to long-term injuries and defensive duo Rafael Toloi and Ben Godfrey missed the victory over Fiorentina. On a positive note for Gian Piero Gasperini, two defenders are back in action: Sead Kolasinac, who made 80 Premier League appearances for Arsenal, has returned from a thigh injury, along with Albania international Berat Djimsiti. Additionally, the injury-prone forward Nicolo Zaniolo was on the bench on Sunday.
Ademola Lookman, who will support Italy striker Mateo Retegui up front, scored five goals in three Europa League starts at the end of last season; however, he has yet to score in four career matches against Thursday’s opponents.
Head-to-Head
This will mark the first encounter between Arsenal and Atalanta. So far, Atalanta has faced four Premier League teams: Everton, Manchester City, Liverpool, and Manchester United. Arsenal has lost their last three away Champions League matches in Italy, suffering defeats against Roma, AC Milan, and Napoli.
In Atalanta’s last four Champions League matches during the group stages of the 2021-22 season, both they and their opponents scored two or more goals. Additionally, Arsenal has won the opening match of their last six major European campaigns.
Possible Starting Lineup
Arsenal:Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber; Partey, Rice; Saka, Trossard, Sterling; Havertz
Atlanta:Carnesecchi; Djimsiti, Hien, Kolasinac; Bellanova, Ederson, De Roon, Ruggeri; De Ketelaere, Lookman; Retegui
Atalanta vs Arsenal: Prediction
Atalanta have struggled against Premier League teams in the UEFA Champions League, but they performed well in their last double-header against Liverpool. Despite a shaky start this season, they possess the quality to challenge Arsenal. Mikel Arteta is aware of Arsenal’s poor away form but aims for a strong opening win, relying on their formidable attacking unit to secure victory in Bergamo.
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