Atalanta Vs Manchester United
Atalanta Vs Manchester United Tuesday, 2 November 2021 – 20:00
UEFA Champions League
Pick: Over 2.5 Goals/Both Teams to Score
Odds: 8/11
Bookmaker: Boylesports
(All betting odds correct at time of writing: 31 October 2021)
Preview: Neutrals must be hoping for a similar encounter to that at Old Trafford last time out, when Atalanta raced into a 2-0 half-time lead only to succumb to a Manchester United onslaught in the second period. The English side running out 3-2 winners. Can the Italian outfit strike back in Bergamo?
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Table of Contents
Atalanta – Perfect qualification record in jeopardy?
Even with a 2-0 advantage at Old Trafford, there never felt like Atalanta had control on proceedings. It made the second half collapse all the less surprising. Alhough losing their best performer on the night to injury didn’t help. Defender Merih Demiral is back and available for the return clash, however, providing a timely boost for a team now third in Group F. Albeit level on points with second place Villarreal.
Le Dea have never before not made it through to the knockout stages of this competition, though, doing so in their two previous participations in 2019-20 & 2020-21. Their record in Italy also stands up to scrutiny, even if wins have been something of a rarity. Losing just four of 26 home European matches altogether but winning three of the nine (D3 L3) to have taken place in the Champions League.
That mixed bag is also reflected in their form shown this season in Italy, where they sit fifth in Serie A following Saturday’s entertaining 2-2 draw with Lazio here in Bergamo. Gasperini’s men left it incredibly late to rescue a draw. Crucially, they have now won only two of their last six matches across all competitions (D2 L2) – with all six seeing both teams score – and, again, just twice all season at home (D3 L2).
Manchester United – Ronaldo to prove the match winner again?
Three points in Italy would see Manchester United move a step closer to their 19th appearance in the knockout stages of the Champions League, with that a record among English sides. The Red Devils went top of Group F after Cristiano Ronaldo maintained his 100% scoring record in this season’s competition by scoring another late winner on Matchday 3, sealing the comeback victory over Atalanta.
Should he find the back of the net in Bergamo, Ronaldo would become the first United player to score in four consecutive Champions League appearances for more than eighteen years. A win for the Red Devils, meanwhile, would not only strengthen their position within the group – currently top, two points ahead of Villarreal and Atalanta – but ease the pressure on their manager ahead of Sunday’s Manchester derby.
Their prospects do appear healthy as well. For United have only lost one of their previous eleven matches against Italian sides (W8 D2), recording a win in five of the last six. However, their fortunes on the road more recently in the competition are altogether less inspiring. They are currently on a three-game losing run away from home in the Champions League, losing their only such fixture this season 2-1 to Young Boys.
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Atalanta Vs Manchester United Betting Advice
Saturday’s comprehensive 3-0 win away at Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League went some way to alleviating the pressure on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. The Manchester United boss needed a big performance to go alongside a positive result following the humiliating result against Liverpool, and he got it. But Spurs were rancid, if we’re being completely honest, and this fixture looks an altogether tougher proposition.
Atalanta Vs Manchester United – Key Facts:
- The clubs are meeting for only the second time, thirteen days on from their five-goal epic at Old Trafford which Man Utd eventually won 3-2, despite trailing 2-0 at half-time.
- Atalanta’s record when hosting English opposition remains mixed (W1 D1 L1), whereas Man Utd are looking to build on a record of five wins in their last six versus Italian sides.
- Neither of these teams’ defences has proven reliable this term. It has lead to a deluge of goals recently, with Over 2.5 Goals landing in five of the past six games for both sides.
A depleted Atalanta showed their quality at Old Trafford. Unfortunately, lack of numbers at the back told, as a makeshift backline eventually wilted under a torrent of United attacks. Both teams must recognise the importance of obtaining a result of some kind here, though, so a repeat cannot be ruled out. Over 2.5 Goals returned in five of the past six matches for both teams, with all of Atalanta’s seeing both teams score.
Best Betting Odds – Atalanta Vs Manchester United
Atalanta – 7/4 (BetFred)
Draw – 3/1 (Betfair)
Manchester United -29/20 (WilliamHill)
