Atalanta vs Valencia
Champions League
Date: Wednesday, 19 February 2020
Kick-off at 20:00 UK/ 21:00 CET
Venue: Stadio Giuseppe Meazza (San Siro) (Milan).
Because they were last season, Atalanta is now a top score in Serie A game in which they averaged just under four goals.
They have played 31 games in all competitions this season, failing to score in just three and attacking prowess of Luis Muriel, Duvan Zapata and Josip Illic Valencia will definitely cause problems.
Los Che for their part have been very unpredictable this term, which was thrashed 4-1 by La Liga Mallorca fought one week, before comprehensively outplaying the champions Barcelona to a 2-0 win just six days later.
In the Champions League, Valencia have won away at Chelsea and Ajax, finishing ahead of the two teams to top their group, and on their day they are suitable for anyone.
News team
Atalanta
Bosko Sutalo, who arrived from NK Osijek in the January transfer window, is the only player unavailable for Atalanta with an ankle injury. Rafael Tolói available for selection after missing their final group match due to suspension.
Gasperini is expected to manage his team in a 3-4-1-2 formation with Gollini vigil Pierluigi goal for the hosts. The three-man backline should consist of Toloi, Jose Luis Palomino and weight Djimsiti. Hans Hateboer and Robin Gosens will become wing-backs on the right and left respectively and will be tasked with providing a wide front.
Netherlands Marten de Roon is expected to anchor the midfield for Atalanta, in partnership with Remo Freuler, meaning Mario Pasalic will have to make do with a place on the bench on Wednesday night. Creativity in the field will come from club captain Alejandro Gomez, who will be slotting as No. 10 against Valencia.
The tw0-man strikeforce for Atalanta will consist of Duvan Zapata and Josip Ilicic, while Luis Muriel will provide additional firepower off the bench if needed.
Possible Lineup (3-4-1-2): Gollini; Toloi, Palomino, Djimsiti; Hateboer, de Roon, Freuler, Gosens; gomez; Ilicic, Zapata
Valencia
The visitors, not like Atalanta, has a number of injury concerns heading into Wednesday's game. Valencia will be without the services of Ezequiel Garay, Cristiano Piccini and Manu Vallejo, but the biggest blow came in the absence of star forward Rodrigo Moreno. Gabriel Paulista suspended for that match after being sent off in the last group match.
By Jasper Cillessen fit again, he is likely to start in front of the goal of Jaume Domenech. Daniel Wass is expected to get the nod at right-back, while Jose style is pretty much guaranteed to feature on the left side of the line behind Valencia. By not Gabriel, Mouctar Diakhaby and Eliaquim Mangala should form a central defensive partnership for Los Che.
Geoffrey Kondogbia scored a second equalizer for Valencia against Atletico last time. All she had got a start in the middle of the park alongside captain and key player Dani Parejo.
Ferran Torres is a shoo-in on the right wing while Carlos Soler edge out the possibility of Goncalo Guedes for a spot on the left side of midfield. They will be key in creating opportunities for the strike partnership in the form of Maxi Gomez and Kevin Gameiro, who will start in the absence of Rodrigo.
Possible Lineup (4-4-2): Cillessen; Wass, Diakhaby, Mangala, Style; Torres, Parejo, Kondogbia, Soler; Gomez, Gameiro
Key Statistics
It will be the first meeting between Atalanta and Valencia. It was also the first time that La Dea will face Spanish opposition in a competitive fixture.
Valencia have won only one of their eight away games against Italian opposition in the Champions League (D2 L5), 1-0 victory against Roma in the 2002/03 second group stage. They have also failed to find the net in six of eight games.
Atalanta is the first Champions League debutants to make it into the knockout stages of the Champions League since Leicester City in 2016-17. They also were the first team to qualify for the last 16 of the Champions League after losing their opening three group games.
Valencia are in the knockout stages of the Champions League for the first time since 2012/13. It's been 13 years since the last made it past the round of 16 (2006-07).
Valencia have not won an away game in the Champions League knockout stage (D4 L5). They also only ever kept one clean sheet in nine events, a goalless draw against Leeds United at Elland Road in the semi-finals back in 2000-01.
Prediction
Atalanta are the only side in Champions League history to make the knockout stage despite losing their first three group matches. It is their maiden Champions League campaign and they have been handed a dream draw in the last 16 Atalanta have lost one of their last seven home games.
Valencia was not in good form ahead of Wednesday trip to Italy. They have failed to win their last three games in all competitions and have lost three of their last five games on the road - two of which are heavy defeat to Getafe and Mallorca. Los Che had a very had six red cards over their last 13 games on the road and in each of the two Champions League away matches their last.
Prediction: Atalanta 2 1 Valencia
Atalanta vs Valencia Betting Tips
Atalanta to Win @ 1.80 (4/5)
Both Teams Score @ 1.75 (3/4).
