Atalanta midfielder Marco D'Alessandro. (Photo : Getty Images)
Middling team AC Chievo Verona (7-7-4, 25 points) is set to square off with surprise contenders Atalanta BC (10-6-2, 32 points) in a 2016-2017 Serie A season encounter on Jan. 8, Sunday at the Marc'Antonio Bentegodi Stadium.
Start Time and Streaming Info
The game starts at 9:00 a.m. ET. It can be viewed live online thru FuboTV.
Chievo has won three of their last six outings, unbeaten in four of them, to settle in the 11th spot of the current league table. The team is tied on points with Udinese but has a lower goal differential to settle one spot lower in the overall standings. They are eight points below fifth-place squad AC Milan, who holds the final Europa League berth for next season.
In their most recent game on Dec. 22, the Gialloblu was routed by second-running team AS Roma, 1-3, on the road at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, as per The Guardian.
Head coach Rolando Maran's squad opened the scoring in the 37th minute with a header by Dutch midfielder Jonathan de Guzman off an assist by Argentine midfielder Mariano Izco.
Roma was able to level the count in the first half injury time with a goal by Italian forward Stephan El Shaarawy. The hosts then took over the game with two more goals in the second half, courtesy of Edin Dzeko and Diego Perotti in the 52nd and 90th+3 minutes, to hand Chievo its seventh loss of the season.
Meanwhile, Atalanta snapped a three-game winless skid by nipping lowly team Empoli, 2-1, at their home ground of Atleti Azzurri d'Italia Stadium on Dec. 20, SkySports reported.
After a scoreless first half of action, Empoli forward Levan Mchedlidze broke the game's deadlock in the 51st minute with a left-footer from the center of the box off a pass by teammate Federico Dimarco.
Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini's side was able to equalize in the 74th with a goal by Ivorian midfielder Franck Kessie before Italian midfielder Marco D'Alessandro scored the winning goal in stoppage time.
Prediction and Predicted Lineup
The predicted result is a close 2-1 victory for Atalanta.
Chievo starting lineup (4-3-1-2 formation): Sorrentino; Frey, Dainelli, Izco, Gamberini; Birsa, Rigoni, de Guzman; Radovanovic; Meggiorini, Inglese
Atalanta starting lineup (3-4-1-2 formation): Sportiello; Zubas, Toloi, Masiello; Rafael, Freuler, Gagliardini, Conti; Gomez; Kurtic, Petagna
