Football Previews
Atalanta defender Boukary Drame has urged his team-mates to continue their battle for Serie A survival with a victory over Empoli on Sunday. The Bergamaschi hold the last position of safety and last weekend’s 1-1 draw at Roma moved them seven points clear of the drop zone with seven games remaining. Atalanta, coached by Edy Reja, have lost just one of their last six games and will be looking to pick up where they left off against Roma when Empoli come to town. “We are extremely happy to have taken an important point against a great side like Roma,” Drame said to the Italian press. “We knew it would not be easy but we prepared well for the game and we were rewarded. “Now we have a crucial game at home. “We want to pull Empoli closer to us and to stave off the threat of relegation.” Atalanta will have to show a vast improvement for they have mustered just one win in their last five games at the Atleti Azzurri d’Italia stadium. Empoli are one place and for points above Atalanta. The Tuscan outfit have won just one of their last six league games and their 2-2 draw against bottom-side Parma last time out extended Empoli’s winless run to three games. Coach Maurizio Sarri preferred to focus on the positives. “We took a small step forward,” Sarri said. “I’m proud of how my team reacted after going 1-0 down. “We are happy with the point but we still have some work to do. “Now we must focus on a very difficult game in Bergamo “Victory at Atalanta would be a huge step towards defending our Serie A status.” Empoli have not won away from home since November 23. The visitors are without midfielder Tiberio Guarante and striker Simone Verdi who are both out injured. Atalanta welcome back defender Giuseppe Biava and midfielder Luca Cigarini from suspension but the team’s top scorer Mauricio Pinilla will serve his third and final match ban this weekend.
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Team
MP
W
D
L
F
A
G
P
1
SSC Napoli
12
8
2
2
19
9
+10
26
2
Atalanta
12
8
1
3
31
15
+16
25
3
Fiorentina
12
7
4
1
25
10
+15
25
4
Inter Milan
12
7
4
1
26
14
+12
25
5
Lazio
12
8
1
3
25
14
+11
25
6
Juventus
12
6
6
0
21
7
+14
24
7
AC Milan
11
5
3
3
20
14
+6
18
8
Bologna
11
4
6
1
15
13
+2
18
9
Udinese
12
5
1
6
15
18
-3
16
10
Empoli
12
3
6
3
9
10
-1
15
11
Torino
12
4
2
6
15
18
-3
14
12
Roma
12
3
4
5
14
17
-3
13
13
Parma
12
2
6
4
16
18
-2
12
14
Verona
12
4
0
8
17
27
-10
12
15
Como
12
2
4
6
13
23
-10
10
16
Cagliari
12
2
4
6
12
22
-10
10
17
Genoa
12
2
4
6
9
22
-13
10
18
Lecce
12
2
3
7
5
21
-16
9
19
Monza
12
1
5
6
10
15
-5
8
20
Venezia
12
2
2
8
11
21
-10
8
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