- 1 Atalanta vs Sassuolo : seven opening-day wins out of eight for one, three straight opening-day losses for the other
- 2 Atalanta : Sarri scraps the back three with the treatment room full
- 3 Sassuolo : Aquilani gets his first taste of the top flight after an uneasy build-up
- 4 Serie A Prediction Atalanta vs Sassuolo
- 5 Before anything else, a note on our free picks
- 6 No commitment from us
- 7 Information moves fast
- 8 Your role
- 9 Responsible gambling first
- 10 Legal age
- 11 About the images…
Atalanta vs Sassuolo : seven opening-day wins out of eight for one, three straight opening-day losses for the other 
Atalanta have won seven of their last eight Serie A opening weekends, scoring almost three goals a game across that run. Sassuolo, by contrast, have lost their last three season openers without scoring once and have shipped seven in total.
The two sides meet on Sunday 23 August at 20:45 in Bergamo, at Atalanta’s home, to kick off the 2026-27 season. It is also Maurizio Sarri’s first league match in charge.
The Tuscan boss took over La Dea after a strained exit from Lazio. He succeeds Raffaele Palladino, who himself arrived mid-season to lift a side left in mid-table by Ivan Juric.
Sarri’s first official outing has not exactly set pulses racing. On Thursday, Atalanta were held to a 0-0 home draw by Hapoel Tel-Aviv in the first leg of their Conference League play-off.
Sassuolo come into this trip with the opposite mood. Eleventh last season, the Emilian club replaced Fabio Grosso, who left for Fiorentina, with Alberto Aquilani, promoted from Catanzaro.
The odd thing about this fixture is the recent head-to-head. The Neroverdi have won their last two Serie A meetings with Atalanta, including a victory in Bergamo last November.
Over the longer run, though, the balance still tilts heavily the other way: Sassuolo have lost eight of their 12 league trips to La Dea. This clash sits right between that long-term trend and a short-term edge for the visitors.
Atalanta : Sarri scraps the back three with the treatment room full 
After several seasons punching above their weight, including an Europa League title in 2024, Atalanta missed out on the top four last season. Palladino did enough to drag them into Conference League football, but the board have opted for a fresh start.
Maurizio Sarri has wasted no time in changing the club’s tactical identity. The back three, a Bergamo trademark for years, has gone in favour of a back four.
That shift comes at a awkward time for the defence. Isak Hien and Honest Ahanor are out, while Giorgio Scalvini limped off with an ankle injury in midweek.
Thomas Kristensen, signed in the summer of 2026, could now be in line for a first full start. Either way, the home back line will be reshuffled for the opener.
The midfield, though, has gained an unexpected boost. Ederson stayed in Bergamo after his move to Manchester United collapsed and is expected to start for Atalanta on Sunday.
Up front, the main question is who gets the nod. Gianluca Scamacca and Nikola Krstovic both scored 10 league goals last season, with the Montenegro striker posting 31 goal contributions across his last two Serie A campaigns.
Two wingers are missing, though. Charles De Ketelaere, who has a leg problem, and Kamaldeen Sulemana, who is out with a knee injury, are both unavailable.
Pre-season had offered decent enough signs on paper, with three wins and only one defeat. Thursday’s 0-0 in Europe was a reminder that turning that into results that matter still needs work.
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Sassuolo : Aquilani gets his first taste of the top flight after an uneasy build-up 
Sassuolo secured survival on their return to the top flight by finishing 11th in 2025-26. Fabio Grosso’s move to Fiorentina, though, forced a change of direction this summer.
Alberto Aquilani, the former Liverpool and Roma midfielder, was promoted from Catanzaro. This is his first shot at management in Italy’s top division.
The pre-season results do not inspire much confidence. After opening with a 4-1 win over Padova, the Neroverdi failed to win any of their next five friendlies.
Last season also ended with three defeats in a row. Thankfully for them, their first competitive game reset the mood, as they beat Cesena 3-0 in the Coppa Italia on Monday.
The 2026 summer window has altered the squad balance. Benjamin Dominguez and Vasilije Adzic have come in, while Tarik Muharemovic has joined Leeds United and Ismael Kone suffered a serious injury with Canada.
The attack is still in flux. Andrea Pinamonti, the club’s top scorer in 2025-26, is being linked with a move to Hull City or Lazio, and summer signing Kieron Bowie started against Cesena.
The absentee list is getting longer for this trip. Fali Cande and Edoardo Pieragnolo are out, while minor fitness issues threaten Daniel Boloca and captain Domenico Berardi.
That Coppa Italia win also sends the Emilians to face Frosinone next month. There is no let-up for Aquilani in the immediate calendar.
Predicted Atalanta XI : Carnesecchi; Zappacosta, Kristensen, Scalvini, Bernasconi; Samardzic, Gaetano, Ederson; Zalewski, Scamacca, Raspadori
Predicted Sassuolo XI : Muric; Missori, Walukiewicz, Idzes, Obrador; Lipani, Matic; Volpato, Adzic, Laurientè; Bowie
Serie A Prediction Atalanta vs Sassuolo
Our pick : Atalanta win
Seven wins from their last eight Serie A opening weekends, with nearly three goals scored per game: Atalanta have the strongest record in the division for this sort of fixture. Manager turnover has never really dented that consistency.
Sassuolo’s run is just as clear, only in the opposite direction. They have lost their last three Serie A openers without scoring a single goal, conceding seven.
The squad situation backs that reading up. The Emilians travel without Muharemovic or Kone, with Pinamonti edging towards the exit, Cande and Pieragnolo sidelined, Boloca and Berardi doubtful, and a coach who has not won any of his last five friendlies.
Atalanta’s missing men are mostly in defence, but Scamacca, Krstovic and Raspadori are all available to make the difference. Back Atalanta to win.
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