Atalanta director Umberto Marino reiterates the head-to-head with Juventus is ‘like a Cup Final. Champions League qualification is our version of the Scudetto.’
It kicks off at 19.45 GMT, you can follow all the build-up and action as it happens on the LIVEBLOG.
“We are approaching this as a Cup Final, because playing at this level and against the top six or seven is so tough, we couldn’t possibly lower our guard,” Marino told DAZN.
Luis Muriel starts upfront with support from Jeremie Boga and Teun Koopmeiners, so trying to use their pace to unlock the Bianconeri back line.
“It’s difficult to predict how the game will unfold. We are against a tank like Juventus, and regardless of their position, Juve are always Juve, as we’ve seen over the last 12-13 rounds.
“We will try to make life difficult for them with our characteristics, but it’s not easy when facing defenders like Leonardo Bonucci and Matthijs de Ligt.”
Duvan Zapata is out for at least two or three more months, having already missed much of the campaign, so will Atalanta bring in a free agent to replace him?
“As I said last week, I will leave these post-transfer market ideas to you reporters,” shrugged Marino.
Juventus are currently in fourth place, but Atalanta still have a game in hand, so the battle is wide open.
“Getting into the Champions League is our version of the Scudetto. Aside from the economic advantages, it is above all a wonderful prestigious occasion and very difficult considering the six or seven sides battling for those four places.”