Torino vs. Atalanta 8/21/21 Serie A Soccer Pick, Odds, and Prediction

Torino and Atalanta are clashing at Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino in round 1 of the Italian Serie A. Torino has won only 1 of their 4 preseason games, and that was after a penalty shootout in the Coppa Italia. Atalanta has been hot and cold in their preseason with 2 wins and 2 losses, and their defense hasn’t looked well.

Torino was very lucky last season, and they have barely escaped the relegation zone. Torino ended last season in 17^th place with 37 points, just 4 points above the relegation zone. Offensively, Torino was solid with 50 scored goals, but they have conceded 69 goals which are just terrible. Torino has signed some great players in the offseason, and I think they will be much more competitive in Serie A this season, but they will need to stay consistent on the defensive end, which they aren’t at the moment. The offense is Torino’s strongest part once again, and I’m sure they will score a lot of goals once again this season, but they really need to shift focus to defense if they want to have a better season than the last.

Atalanta has lost some good players, but they have also signed some players who are still getting used to Serie A soccer. In their 4 preseason games, Atalanta has scored 10 goals while conceding 7 goals. Hateboer is injured, De Roon, Toloi, and Freuler are all suspended for this game. Atalanta was in the title race for a long time last season, but the depth problems, injuries, and some bad mood in the team have cost them a lot, and Atalanta has ended last season in 3^rd place with 78 points. Offensively, Atalanta was the best team in Serie A with 90 scored goals, and I think they will score a lot this season as well, while their defense was solid with 47 conceded goals. This is the team that still has Zapata and Muriel in the attack, Gosens, Miranchuk, and Pasalic in midfield, and Demiral, Maehle, and Toloi on the defensive end, and I think they will do well once again, possibly even challenge Inter, Juventus, and Milan for the title.

Torino has a new coach who knows how to set up the defense but we are not seeing that just yet. Atalanta has a lot of the same players as last season, but they have been hot and cold lately. The trends are pretty even in this matchup, and I think we will see a lot of chances in this game, and with that a lot of goals. As far as the winner goes, I think this could go either way because both teams are a bit sloppy, which is why I will stick to goals.