Atalanta weigh defensive changes before Pafos and Milan tests

Atalanta have only three days between their Conference League opener against Pafos and a trip to fifth-placed AC Milan, making two defensive assessments central to Thursday’s plans. Giorgio Scalvini and Raoul Bellanova are being checked after physical problems against Venezia, and their availability could shape the back four as well as the team’s workload across the week.

Atalanta host Pafos at the New Balance Arena on Thursday, 15 October, at 21:00. It is their first match in this Conference League campaign. The next assignment is away to Milan on Sunday, 18 October, so the selection decision is not just about getting through the opener: Atalanta also need to manage a short turnaround before a league meeting with an unbeaten opponent.

If Scalvini and Bellanova cannot play, Davide Zappacosta could fill the right-back role. Oliver Kristensen and Sead Kolašinac are projected in central defence, with Lorenzo Bernasconi on the left. That makes the forecast back four conditional on the assessments, rather than a settled lineup.

There could be movement further forward, too. Gianluca Scamacca is in contention to start after Nikola Krstović scored twice and played 90 minutes. Giacomo Raspadori and Eljif Elmas are also options on the wings. The projected XI is Carnesecchi; Zappacosta, Kristensen, Kolašinac, Bernasconi; de Roon, Ederson; Samardžić, De Ketelaere, Lookman; Scamacca.

The league table adds weight to the Sunday fixture: Atalanta are 10th with nine points from six games, while Milan have 12 and sit fifth. A strong European start matters, but the close scheduling puts a premium on how Atalanta use their squad against Pafos and whether the defensive options are available for both matches.

The match will be shown on Sky Sport in Italy and streamed on Sky Go and NOW. The assessments of Scalvini and Bellanova will help determine whether the projected defensive changes remain in place for the opener.