Atalanta Bergamo – Lecce
Atalanta Bergamo has scored in the second half in all five previous matches against US Lecce, a remarkable streak that will be put to the test on Sunday at the Gewiss Stadium. The Bergamaschi welcome the Salentini on matchday three of Serie A as clear favorites with odds of 1.40 to the visitors’ 8.00. After two draws, Atalanta are 11th in the table, while Lecce are 17th with just one point. Coach Ivan Juric will still have to do without Scamacca, whose knee problems are still unclear, which is why Krstović could move into the center. Lookman returns after his national team duty but is not yet fully fit. On the other side, Lecce coach Di Francesco faces a decision between Camarda, who has recovered from a head injury, and Štulić as striker. The last direct encounter between the two teams in April ended in a 1-1 draw, but Atalanta clearly dominates the overall record with three wins from five meetings. For both teams, this match will be decisive for the rest of the season.
- Venue: Gewiss Stadium, Bergamo
- Date and time: 14.09.2025, 3:00 p.m.
- Competition: Serie A (Matchday 3)
Atalanta form & record check
Atalanta has had a mixed start to the new season and is still waiting for its first win after two matchdays. The 1-1 draw against Parma and the home draw against Pisa show a team that is still searching for its identity under Ivan Juric. The Nerazzurri are currently in 11th place with two points, level on points with Fiorentina and just one point behind Bologna. The Bergamo team’s defensive vulnerability is particularly striking: they have conceded at least one goal in all five games so far, which seems uncharacteristic for a Gasperini-trained team. At the same time, the offense has been consistently accurate, which is at least a positive sign. Pašalić’s late 1-1 equalizer against Parma highlighted both the team’s fighting spirit and the qualities that still exist in the final third. Juric is currently struggling with personnel shortages, which are limiting his tactical options. Scamacca is still suffering from knee inflammation and will probably have to be replaced by Krstović. The absence of Éderson until the end of September significantly weakens the midfield, while the long-term injuries to Kolasinac and Bakker are putting pressure on the defense. Interestingly, Lookman is returning after his transfer drama and international matches with Nigeria. The winger could be back against Lecce after settling his differences with the club. His return should give the attack a new boost, even if a place in the starting lineup still seems questionable.
Coach Ivan Juric is likely to field Atalanta in their usual 3-4-2-1 formation. However, the personnel situation remains tense, with Éderson, Scamacca, and the long-term injured Kolasinac and Bakker all missing. The absence of the $50 million playmaker Éderson is particularly painful in midfield. Krstović could make his first start after Scamacca continues to struggle with knee problems. In attack, Lookman is back in contention after returning from international duty, but is likely to get his chance against PSG. The back three of Scalvini, Hien, and Djimsiti seems set, while Bellanova and Zalewski could get the nod on the wings.
Lecce Form & Record Check
US Lecce are still struggling to find the right balance in the new season after the first two matchdays. Their 17th place in the table with just one point reflects a bumpy start, with the Salentini level on points with Verona and Parma in the lower reaches of the table. Recent performances show a team that is defensively compact but too harmless in attack. Against Genoa in the season opener, they only managed a goalless draw, followed by a 2-0 home defeat to Milan. Particularly striking: Lecce has not conceded any goals in the first half, but has also failed to score before the break. Eusebio Di Francesco’s team is extremely defensively oriented. All of their matches have had fewer than 2.5 goals, which indicates a cautious approach to the game. The statistics from the last five games confirm this trend: Lecce keeps the games close but is rarely able to develop the decisive punch up front. In terms of personnel, Di Francesco continues to be without several regulars. Jean and Marchwinski are out long-term with cruciate ligament tears, while Pierret remains doubtful due to muscle problems. At least Camarda is fit again after his head injury against Milan and is competing with Stulic for the striker’s spot. The positive trend from the second half of last season, when they remained victorious against both Lazio and Torino, seems to have been interrupted for the time being. One might think that the team still needs time to fully internalize Di Francesco’s tactical instructions and develop more courage in attack.
Lecce are likely to line up in their usual 4-3-3 formation against Atalanta, with Di Francesco facing an interesting decision in attack. Camarda has fully recovered from his head injury and, after individual training sessions, is fighting for a starting place against Stulic, who returned from the international break without any travel fatigue. In midfield, Sala could make his Giallorosso debut after his chances have recently increased. Di Francesco will still have to do without the injured Marchwinski and Jean, as well as Pierret, who is out with muscle problems. However, the expected lineup remains speculation until the official announcement.
H2H Atalanta – Lecce Head-to-head comparison & statistics
The last five meetings between Atalanta and Lecce show a clear pattern, with the Bergamaschi clearly dominating this fixture. With three wins, one draw, and only one defeat, they have clearly had the upper hand. Atalanta’s strength in the second half against Lecce is particularly striking. In all five encounters, the Orobici have scored after the break, while they have never lost in this phase. The most recent meeting in April 2025 ended 1-1, after Atalanta had previously recorded three consecutive wins against the Salentini. The games between the two teams tend to be cautious in the first half. In four of the five encounters, fewer than 1.5 goals were scored before the break, before the games picked up pace after the interval. Lecce has a problem in this regard, conceding at least one goal in the second half in all five matches. Four of the five games ended with fewer than 3.5 goals, which suggests more controlled matches. Lecce’s only win dates back to February 2023, when they surprisingly won 2-1 in Bergamo.
The first tip is based on Atalanta’s proven strength after the break, a pattern that has been confirmed in four of their last five games. Krstović as the new strike leader and Pasalić’s strength as a substitute suggest an increase in intensity in the second half, while Lecce have failed to score in four of five games during the same period. The betting markets are offering 1.40 for a home win, but the specific tip for success in the second half at 1.67 offers added value, especially as Juric could rotate his squad ahead of the PSG clash and fresh legs could make the difference. With under 2.5 goals, Scamacca’s knee problems speak for themselves, with Atalanta losing their main striker. Lecce have recently had five league games in a row under this mark, which seems interesting at odds of 2.04, especially as Serie A has started a low-scoring phase with 85 percent of games under 2.5 goals. The risky counter-bet on over 3.5 goals at 2.95 could be worthwhile if Lookman gets playing time and Atalanta rediscovers its offensive DNA. After all, the Bergamaschi have scored at least once in every game so far this season and have conceded goals just as regularly.
