Serie A Preview: Atalanta BC vs. Novara Calcio – Clash of the relegation candidates
Atalanta evading points penalty
The club recently got promoted to the Italian top tier after finishing on top of the Serie B points table. However, the club was accused of match-fixing and the team Captain, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Doni-c11553, and defender, Thomas Manfredini, were the ones accused.
The club received a penalty of 6 points ahead of the 2011/12 season, whereas Doni got a ban for three-and-a-half years. Manfredini has been banned for three years. Starting the season with negative six points on the table placed them automatically at the
bottom of the league. However, the team has recovered, winning two of the three games in the top tier until now.
The prolific striker, German Denis, said while recently talking to the media:
"Now we see the standings from a different perspective. Finally we have taken away the negative sign. It's not that now we can relax and take it easy but at least we can breathe better."
La Dea look well prepared for the game against their rivals from the Serie B. It will be a tough competition but all the omens are right for the home side.
Novara Calcio
After 33 years with ambitions to climb up the ladder to the top tier, the Biancoazzurri made their way to Serie B at conclusion of the 2009/10 season. Last campaign, they finished third in Serie B and secured a well earned promotion to Serie A, after a huge
gap of 55 years.
Things were a bit rough for the newcomers in the early goings. They lost and drew their opening two games. However, in their latest outing, the men in the white-blue jerseys stunned Italian giants http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Inter-c39567 Milan at home, thrashing the Nerazzurri 3-1.
The Biancoazzurri head coach, Attilio Tesser, was very pleased with performance and he said:
"It's our first win and they are three very important points. To win against one of the most prestigious teams in http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Italy-c2926 makes it all the more special. I'm sure this win will give my players a lot of confidence and belief.''
Oozing with confidence, Novara are keen to keep up their performance and maintain a consistent run in the Italian top flight. However, going to Bergamo for the upcoming game will not be an easy task for the Orobici as the hosts look in great touch.
Team News
Atalanta BC
The hosts would be without the services of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Ferreira-c13712 Pinto are
unavailable for the upcoming game.
German http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Denis-c10837 would be the highlight of the match for the home team.
Novara Calcio
The visitors would be coming to Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia without http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Alex-c4752 Pinardi, while Marco Rigoni is expected to be back in the starting XI.
Marco Rigoni would be the player to watch out for the Biancoazzurri.
Prediction
La Dea are favourites for the game as they are looking in great form and have not lost a single game yet. It is expected that the hosts would snatch maximum points and the final score would be Atalanta 2-1 Novara.
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