On the upcoming Thursday Atalanta and Lyon will play against each other within the sixth round of the Europa League group stage. This encounter will decide the fate of the first place in Group E and bookmakers consider the future hosts slight favorites of the encounter and one may agree with that.
In Autumn 2017 Atalanta threw their biggest forces on the Europa League, therefore the Bergamo representatives couldn’t make it in Serie A. After 15 rounds in the Italian elite, the Black-and-blues have in the asset and the gap to Sampdoria, which are in the top six is six points. Atalanta are on the first position in the Europa League after five rounds, the first match against Lyon, which was held in France, brought a 1:1 draw i.e. to retain the first position the future hosts only need to have a goalless draw or win with any score.
A big question is will Lyon bring the first squad to Bergamo and will that team fight for the first position place in the group. After 16 rounds in Ligue 1, Les Gones are situated on the second position, but have the same amount of points as Monaco and Marseille, i.e. the competition in France is very high. A very difficult voyage to Amiens is ahead for Lyon, who play very powerfully at home.
There is no doubt, that Atalanta will play with close-to-first squad but it is hard to say what squad will Lyon bring to play. Besides, Atalanta themselves are a domestic team, which are in a great sporting shape.
Prediction for the match: Atalanta to win with 0.0 Asian handicap
