CAGLIARI, ITALY – DECEMBER 14: Nicolò Zaniolo of Atalanta celebrates his 0-1 goal during the Serie A match between Cagliari and Atalanta at Sardegna Arena on December 14, 2024 in Cagliari, Italy. (Photo by Enrico Locci/Getty Images)
Gian Piero Gasperini will rotate the Atalanta team for the Italian Cup match against Cesena, starting the talented 19-year-old Marco Palestra, the expert goalkeeper Rui Patricio and Nicolò Zaniolo as center forward.
Kick-off is scheduled for 18:30 CET (17:30 GMT) at the Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo.
Matteo Ruggeri, Giorgio Scalvini and Gianluca Scamacca are injured, while Juan Cuadrado is suspended for La Dea.
Multiple sources, including Sky Sport Italia, claim that Rui Patricio will start in goal and Nicolò Zaniolo will be chosen as the lone striker, supported by Marco Brescianini and Lazar Samardzic.
Marten de Roon and Ederson are competing for a starting place in midfield, where one of the two will partner Mario Pasalic.
Gasperini is expected to field emerging talent Palestra on the right flank, with Davide Zappacosta on the opposite flank.
The winner will face Bologna in the quarter-finals in February.
Atalanta-Cesena – where to watch it on TV
The match will be broadcast live on Premier Sports 1 in the UK and on Paramount+ in the US. The match is also available for free in Italy on Italia Uno.
Atalanta-Cesena – probable lineups
Atalanta (3-4-1-2): Rui Patrizio; Toloi, Djimsiti, Kossounou; Palestra, de Roon, Pasalic, Zappacosta; Samardzic, Brescianini; Zaniolo.
Cesena (3-5-2): Pisseri; Curto, Ciofi, Pieraccini; Adamo, Francesconi, Mendicino, Bastoni, Celia; Van Hooijdonk, Tavsan.
