Atalanta vs Genoa Prediction: La Dea to edge lively Coppa Italia clash

The Coppa Italia action gets underway in the early afternoon on Wednesday (14:00 GMT, Premier Sports 1) when Atalanta host Genoa at New Balance Arena in a round-of-16 clash that should go the way of the hosts.

Below are my Atalanta vs Genoa predictions, as well as all the essential team news and match odds.

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La Dea appear rejuvenated following the dismissal of ex-Southampton boss Ivan Juric and appointment of Raffaele Palladino as head coach earlier this month.

Back-to-back wins over Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League and Fiorentina in Serie A have been accompanied by clean sheets, and they now turn their attention to a cup competition they have been desperate to conquer.

Although they too have struggled in Serie A, Genoa arrive in Bergamo buoyed by a four-game unbeaten run that has seen them score a combined total of nine goals.

Daniele De Rossi’s side have nothing to lose, and the Genoa coach would dearly love to take them all the way to the final in May back in his home city of Rome.

Team News

Atalanta boss Palladino, a former Genoa winger in his playing days, is expected to rotate his squad but still field a strong XI.

Veteran goalkeeper Marco Sportiello is set for his first start of the season, while Sead Kolasinac should get valuable minutes in defence.

Honest Ahanor and either Odilon Kossounou or Isak Hien may share duties at centre-back.

On the flanks, either Raul Bellanova or Davide Zappacosta will feature on the right, with Lorenzo Bernasconi returning on the left.

Football Odds

Genoa, meanwhile, will give opportunities to some of their talented teenagers, with Lorenzo Venturino tipped to start alongside fellow 19-year-old Jeff Ekhator in attack.

Inter Milan loanee Valentin Carboni is also due another opportunity up front, while Nicolae Stanciu, Morten Frendrup and Patrizio Masini form the midfield core.

Atalanta vs Genoa Odds

Atalanta are priced at 1/2 to win, with Genoa available at 11/2 and the draw at 11/4. Over 2.5 goals is 10/11, while both teams to score is 1/1. Gianluca Scamacca is 5/4 to score anytime, while Genoa’s Carboni is 6/1.

Atalanta to win & Over 2.5 Goals @ 7/5

The Coppa Italia remains a major target for Atalanta, who have reached three of the last seven finals but lost each time.

Their only domestic cup success came in 1963, and they are desperate to bring the trophy back to Bergamo again.

With qualification for next season’s Champions League a distant prospect – Palladino’s side are 11 points adrift of fourth – this competition offers a realistic chance of silverware.

Their upturn in form of late has been impressive, with Ademola Lookman scoring goals and Charles de Ketelaere playing like a proper targetman up top.

Back-to-back clean sheets have also fostered fresh confidence in defence, and they should have enough quality and experience to handle whatever Genoa throw at them.

De Rossi will unleash some exciting young talents at New Balance Stadium, and the match could quickly turn into an end-to-end affair. Genoa have scored nine goals in their last four games, so expect this one to feature three or more successful strikes.

Today's Football Fixtures

Lazar Samardzic Anytime goalscorer @ 9/4

Samardzic is likely to get some minutes again on Wednesday, with a potential starting role not out of the question.

The Serbian attacking midfielder has been a little underused of late, featuring for only 14 minutes in the three matches under Palladino so far and failing to get on in either of the last two wins.

But he can be a devastating finisher on his day, as he proved when he smashed home Atalanta’s long-range winner against Marseille just six minutes after coming on in Juric’s penultimate game in charge.

Samardzic has scored three goals in nine starts and a handful of substitute appearances this season and will be desperate to show the new boss what he can do.