So far, the Coppa Italia’s Round of 16 has yielded few surprises, except Empoli’s penalty shootout victory over Fiorentina — though even that result can be explained. Based on the competition’s current dynamics, Atalanta is the clear favourite, given their exceptional form. However, Cesena, despite competing in Serie B, could still present a formidable challenge and potentially surprise La Dea.
Atalanta Team News
After a crucial away win over Cagliari earlier this week, Atalanta can now shift their focus to Italy’s domestic cup. The team enters the competition at the Round of 16 stage, with their match against Cesena serving as the first challenge for Gian Piero Gasperini and his squad. Atalanta has reached at least the quarter-finals in the last three editions of the Coppa Italia and even made it to the final last season. The visitors face an uphill battle when you factor in that Atalanta will be hosting Cesena, along with the team’s impressive home form under Gasperini. Despite Atalanta’s recent 2-3 loss to Real Madrid in the Champions League, that defeat ended a six-match unbeaten streak at home, further highlighting their strength on familiar ground.
Cesena Team News
Cesena’s season has been impressive so far, with the team currently sitting 5th in the Serie B table and firmly in the promotion race. In the Coppa Italia, Michele Mignani’s side has already eliminated two opponents—Padova in the preliminary round and, more notably, Hellas Verona and Pisa. The win over Verona stands out, as they are a Serie A team, and Cesena managed to secure a 1-2 victory away from home. However, it’s important to note that Verona is currently experiencing significant turmoil, with results falling far below expectations, a situation Cesena was quick to capitalize on.
Against Atalanta, Mignani will need to pull out all the stops to pull off an upset. His team’s recent away form, however, offers little optimism—Cesena has recorded 3 wins, 5 losses, and 2 draws on the road, with two of those wins coming in the Coppa Italia.
Head-to-Head-Games
Atalanta and Cesena last faced each other in 2015, so there are no recent head-to-head statistics to consider. However, Atalanta has won 4 of their last 5 encounters with Cesena, and all three of their most recent meetings have seen goals from both sides, with over 3.5 goals per game. One of those victories came in the Coppa Italia, where Atalanta triumphed 3-1 at home against Cesena.
Atalanta – Cesena Betting Prediction
While Cesena has been performing admirably in both Serie B and the Coppa Italia, I believe Atalanta will prove too strong for them. La Dea has reached the quarter-finals in their last three Coppa Italia campaigns, and now they gain a significant advantage by playing at home. Gasperini’s team has been exceptional on their turf, making them a formidable opponent for any side. I expect Atalanta to win this match with relative ease, which is why my pick would be a -1.5 Asian handicap in favour of Atalanta.
Betting Tip: Atalanta -1.5 AH
Bookmaker: BC.Game
Odds: 1.65
BC.Game
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