Bologna vs Atalanta preview - Bologna keen for home comforts

Posted Sunday, October 30, 2011 by PA

Bologna coach Stefano Pioli has stressed to his players the importance of improving their poor home form, starting with Sunday's game against Serie A surprise package Atalanta.

Pioli's side have yet to pick up a point from their three games at the Renato Dall' Ara stadium this season, scoring just once and conceding seven in the process.

"We are working hard and the team is improving," Pioli said."Results at home will be crucial in our fight to remain in the top flight.

"Hence, we must start getting points in Bologna."

Despite their troubles at home, Bologna go into Sunday's game in good spirits having celebrated their second league win on Wednesday.

The Rossoblu won 1-0 at Chievo to climb out of the relegation zone and up to 17th place in the table.

The victory was all the more impressive considering that for only the second time this season, Bologna kept a clean sheet.

"My players gave a solid performance against a very good side," Pioli said. "We also showed an improvement in defence."

Atalanta, meanwhile, have not wasted any time in making their mark since gaining promotion to Serie A this summer.

The Bergamaschi were handed a six-point penalty at the start of the campaign after a match-fixing investigation and few would have expected they would be 12th in the standings after eight games and with just one defeat all season.

But Stefano Colantuono's men have shown a fighting spirit and hunger which has earned them the respect of their opponents.

Atalanta followed their 2-1 win at Parma last weekend with a 1-1 draw against Inter Milan on Wednesday, and Colantuono's side were denied a three-point haul against the Nerazzurri after German Denis' late penalty was saved by Inter goalkeeper Luca Castellazzi.

"I have to congratulate my players," Colantuono said. "Once again they played a good game and I can only be satisfied with my players' performances."

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