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In another round of fixtures in the UEFA Champions League, Atalanta are set to host Manchester United at the Gewiss Stadium on Tuesday. After three matches, Manchester United are at the top of their group with six points while Atalanta are third with four points.
Manchester United mounted an extraordinary comeback to secure victory against the Italian side in the reverse fixture between the two. The Red Devils scored three goals in the second half to overcome Atalanta's two-goal lead and win the game 3-2.
Atalanta are unbeaten in their last three matches in all competitions after their loss against United in October. Gian Piero Gasperini's side are 5th in the Serie A table after taking 19 points from 11 matches.
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Manchester United, on the other hand, are enduring a mixed run of form. Ole Gunner Solskjaer's men were handed a 0-5 thrashing by Liverpool but they have turned it around to win 3-0 against Tottenham Hotspur.
The heavyweight encounter is a must-win game for Atalanta, whereas Manchester United would want to keep their momentum with them. On that note, let us give our
Top five predictions for Atalanta vs Manchester United
#5 Paul Pogba to start the game
After starting the current campaign in a sensational manner, Manchester United star Paul Pogba is going through a rough patch.
The Frenchman had his worst game of the season against Liverpool, where he was shown a straight red card after coming on as a substitute. His horrendous challenge on Naby Keita meant he will miss three Premier League games.
Solskjaer has also been reluctant to hand Pogba a starting spot, as evident in their last few games. Solskjaer prefers the duo of McTominay and Fred in midfield and Pogba's red card does not help his case.
Despite his poor showing, Pogba remains a key piece in the puzzle for the Red Devils. The 28-year-old has provided seven assists in the English top flight and remains one of Manchester United's best midfielder. Pogba is likely to start in the high voltage clash against Atalanta.
#4 Atalanta to play their signature attacking football
One of the most entertaining teams in Europe, Atalanta are a treat to watch when they are in full flow. Gasperini's men are notorious for their offensive style of the game and they always take the fight to their opponents with their approach.
The Italian team has already scored 20 goals in Serie A so far and five in three Champions League games. Atalanta showed their prowess when they took a 2-0 lead against United in the reverse fixture, nearly securing a win at Old Trafford.
Our guess is that they will stick to their attacking approach and keep entertaining us with their free-flowing football.
#3 Manchester United to stick with 3-5-2 formation
After a brutal five-goal humiliation against arch-rivals Liverpool, pressure was on Manchester United boss Solskjaer to deliver the goods.
Much to the surprise of fans and critics alike, Solskjaer opted for a switch in formation against Tottenham Hotspur in their previous match. He went with three at the back with a trio of Raphael Varane, Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof. He played two upfront with Cristiano Ronaldo and Edinson Cavani.
Goals from Cristiano Ronaldo, Edinson Cavani and Marcus Rashford helped the Red Devils secure a comfortable 3-0 win.
It goes without saying that a tactical switch to the 3-5-2 formation worked wonders for Manchester United. The two-man forward line looked more fluid than usual, with the wingbacks helping them out with an offensive approach. The three-man backline was also solid, which helped them keep a clean sheet against Spurs.
Solskjaer is still under pressure and it is likely that he will stick with the formation that worked in their last game.
#2 Key Absentees to be a concern for Atalanta against Manchester United
Atalanta will be without some of their star players in the high voltage encounter against the Red Devils. Robin Gosens, Hans Hateboer, Matteo Pessina, Rafael Toloi and Berat Djimsiti are all out due to injuries.
The Italian team will be seriously depleted with their coach Gasperini facing an uphill battle in the Champions League. The major absence of Gosens and Toloi from their defense is a point of concern for Atalanta, which is evident from their defensive woes this campaign.
Atalanta have conceded 14 goals in Serie A in just 11 games whereas opponents have scored five goals against them in three Champions League games. Their unorganized backline only proves their woes in defense.
Our guess is that Manchester United will take due advantage of their key absentees.
#1 Cristiano Ronaldo to win it for the Red Devils
Despite Manchester United's recent slump, Cristiano Ronaldo has kept showing his prowess in front of goal. The Portuguese great has racked up seven goals and one assist in all competitions for the Premier League giants since arriving in the summer.
Ronaldo scored the winning goals for Manchester United in their two victories in the Champions League, against Villareal and Atalanta. The forward has been crucial for his team in the final third, scoring a goal and providing an assist against Spurs in their last game.
There is no doubt that Ronaldo is the greatest player ever in the Champions League. The 36-year-old knows how to step up in big matches having won the tournament numerous times in his illustrious career. It is highly likely that he will once again be the difference maker between the two teams with his caliber.
