Atalanta vs Sassuolo Predicted Lineups: Team News and Starting XI

The new Serie A season opens at New Balance Arena with Atalanta hosting Sassuolo in Bergamo, a fixture that has quietly become one of the most entertaining attacking matchups in Italy. Both sides start 2026/27 on zero points, but expectations are very different: Atalanta are listed 1st in the early table projection with Champions League ambitions, while Sassuolo sit down in 17th in the preseason ranking and are again tipped for a survival battle.

Recent head-to-head meetings underline how finely balanced this pairing can be. Sassuolo won both league clashes last season, including a 3–0 in Bergamo and a 2–1 at home, even though Atalanta had dominated the two previous home games 3–0 and 3–1 and also won 2–0 away in 2023. With such a mixed record and both clubs still at statistical “zero” for form and goals this season, predicted lineups and squad availability become the main lens for assessing where the opening-day edge lies.

Odds and prediction models lean clearly towards the hosts. Atalanta are given a 50% chance to win and a 50% chance for the draw, with Sassuolo rated at 0% in the outcome probabilities. The betting markets are even more bullish: home odds range from 1.46 to 1.59, implying roughly a 63–69% chance of an Atalanta victory. Against that backdrop, the expected starting lineup choices and how each coach manages key absences will be decisive.

Atalanta Team News & Expected Lineups Today

Atalanta enter the opener with a few notable issues in defense and attack. I. Hien and K. Sulemana are ruled out with muscle and knee injuries respectively, while youngsters H. Ahanor and G. Scalvini are listed as questionable. That immediately affects depth at the back and in the forward line and will shape the expected structure Gian Piero Gasperini (or his successor) leans on for this first game.

With no recent league form data yet (last season’s numbers are reset, and current form is listed as null), the focus is on continuity and seniority. The core of the expected lineup today should still be built around experienced names such as M. Carnesecchi in goal, a seasoned defensive unit featuring S. Kolašinac and O. Kossounou, and a midfield base of M. de Roon and Éderson. In attack, G. Scamacca and G. Raspadori headline the predicted lineups as the primary goal threats, supported by creative profiles like C. De Ketelaere and Mario Pasalic.

Atalanta Predicted Lineups & Starting Lineup

Predicted Starting XI:
GK: M. Carnesecchi
DF: S. Kolašinac; O. Kossounou; T. Kristensen; D. Zappacosta
MF: R. Bellanova; Éderson; M. de Roon; Mario Pasalic; C. De Ketelaere
FW: G. Scamacca

This expected starting lineup balances Atalanta’s usual attacking intent with enough defensive experience to manage Sassuolo’s counter-attacking threat. Carnesecchi is the clear first-choice goalkeeper and should start ahead of M. Sportiello and the other backups. At the back, the absence of I. Hien and the doubts over G. Scalvini push Kossounou and Kristensen into prominent roles, with Kolašinac offering leadership and Zappacosta providing width and overlapping runs on the flank.

In midfield, de Roon remains the primary screening presence in front of the defense, allowing Éderson to step forward and link play. Bellanova’s energy from wide areas and Pasalic’s late surges into the box give Atalanta multiple runners beyond the ball. C. De Ketelaere is expected to operate between the lines, drifting into pockets to combine with Scamacca, who leads the line as the central forward and main target in the box. With no top scorers or assists data yet for this specific Serie A season, historical roles and status within the squad make Scamacca and De Ketelaere the two key attacking reference points in this predicted lineup.

Sassuolo Team News & Expected Lineups Today

Sassuolo’s squad situation is more complicated. F. Cande, I. Koné, Y. Paz, and E. Pieragnolo are all ruled out, significantly reducing options in defense and midfield. On top of that, three important names are questionable: D. Berardi (ankle injury), D. Boloca (muscle injury), and defender S. Walukiewicz (leg injury). Berardi’s status in particular looms large over any discussion of lineups today, as he remains Sassuolo’s primary attacking talisman when fit.

With league form also reset to null, Sassuolo are likely to approach this trip to Bergamo with a cautious, compact game plan. The expected starting lineup should lean heavily on experienced figures such as A. Murić in goal, Nemanja Matić anchoring midfield, and attacking outlets like A. Laurienté and A. Pinamonti. Given the number of injuries, there will be opportunities for younger players, but the predicted lineups still revolve around those with Serie A experience to stabilize the side away from home.

Sassuolo Predicted Lineups & Starting Lineup

Predicted Starting XI:
GK: A. Murić
DF: J. Doig; J. Idzes; C. Odenthal; F. Missori
MF: N. Matić; A. Ghion; K. Thorstvedt; Vasilije Adžić
FW: A. Laurienté; A. Pinamonti

Murić is expected to get the nod in goal ahead of S. Turati and L. Nyarko, providing a commanding presence and distribution from the back. In defense, the confirmed absence of F. Cande and the question mark over Walukiewicz push Idzes and Odenthal into central roles, flanked by Doig on the left and Missori on the right. That back four will likely sit relatively deep to limit space for Scamacca and De Ketelaere.

In midfield, Matić remains the pivotal figure, tasked with screening the defense and dictating tempo under pressure. Ghion and Thorstvedt can shuttle between boxes, with Adžić offering a more creative profile capable of carrying the ball forward. Up front, Laurienté’s pace and dribbling from wide areas are crucial on the counter, while Pinamonti leads the line as the primary penalty-box finisher. With Berardi and Boloca both doubtful, this predicted lineup leans on work rate and structure rather than star power, aiming to frustrate Atalanta and hit quickly in transition.

Injuries and Suspended Players Impact

The injury list on both sides has a direct impact on how this match could unfold, especially in terms of defensive stability and attacking variety. Atalanta’s issues are concentrated in central defense and depth up front, while Sassuolo are missing several squad players and sweating on the fitness of their most decisive forward.

Atalanta Absences:

• I. Hien — Muscle Injury (Missing Fixture)
• K. Sulemana — Knee Injury (Missing Fixture)
• H. Ahanor — Muscle Injury (Questionable)
• G. Scalvini — Injury (Questionable)

Sassuolo Absences:

• F. Cande — Knee Injury (Missing Fixture)
• I. Koné — Broken Leg (Missing Fixture)
• Y. Paz — Knee Injury (Missing Fixture)
• E. Pieragnolo — Knee Injury (Missing Fixture)
• D. Berardi — Ankle Injury (Questionable)
• D. Boloca — Muscle Injury (Questionable)
• S. Walukiewicz — Leg Injury (Questionable)

For Atalanta, the doubts over Scalvini and the confirmed absence of Hien reduce options for rotating or adjusting the back line mid-game, increasing the load on Kolašinac and Kossounou. Sassuolo’s missing full-backs and midfielders limit their flexibility, and if Berardi is not fit to start or only appears from the bench, their attacking ceiling drops significantly. That disparity in available firepower is one of the key reasons models and odds lean so heavily towards the hosts.

Tactical Analysis: How the Lineups Match Up

The predicted setups point towards an Atalanta side that will dominate territory and possession against a Sassuolo team prioritizing compactness and counter-attacks. Atalanta’s back line of Kolašinac, Kossounou, Kristensen, and Zappacosta has enough physicality and recovery pace to hold a relatively high block, especially with de Roon and Éderson shielding in front. This allows Bellanova and Zappacosta to push on, creating overloads in wide areas and feeding crosses and cutbacks towards Scamacca.

Sassuolo’s expected shape is more conservative. With Matić and Ghion anchoring midfield, the visitors will likely form a narrow, dense central block to deny space between the lines for De Ketelaere and Pasalic. The key tactical battle will be whether Laurienté and Pinamonti can exploit the space left behind Atalanta’s advanced full-backs. If Sassuolo can transition quickly through Thorstvedt and Adžić, they have the tools to create high-quality chances despite seeing less of the ball. However, Atalanta’s depth in midfield and the presence of multiple late runners into the box give them a clear advantage if the game turns into a sustained siege around the Sassuolo penalty area.

Match Prediction and Verdict

All available indicators point towards Atalanta having the upper hand. The prediction model rates them as the likely winner or at least not to lose, with a 50% chance of a home win and 50% for the draw, and Sassuolo effectively given no probability of victory. The head-to-head comparison index also leans 60% to 40% in Atalanta’s favour overall, and the betting markets imply roughly a two-thirds chance of a home success based on the range of odds.

Given Atalanta’s stronger squad, home advantage, and Sassuolo’s reliance on several questionable players, the most plausible scenario is a controlled home performance where the hosts eventually break down a stubborn visiting block. With the goals projection unspecified, a conservative expectation is that Atalanta edge it by a single goal while limiting Sassuolo’s chances.

Predicted Outcome: Atalanta 1–0 Sassuolo

How to Watch Atalanta vs Sassuolo Worldwide

Here is how you can watch the match and see the official lineups today live:

• Spain: Local pay-TV sports channel / streaming platform
• UK: Major sports broadcaster or official Serie A streaming partner
• USA / North America: Regional sports network or dedicated Serie A streaming service
• South America: National sports cable channel or OTT football platform
• MENA: Regional satellite sports network or official league streaming partner