TipResumen

ATALANTA

This is only the fourth time Atalanta have done enough in Italy to make it into European competition and they are playing in the Europa League in back to back years having done the same in the UEFA Cup in the early 1990's. Last year Atalanta showed they can compete at this level as they were narrowly beaten in the Last 32 by Borussia Dortmund, and they are making easy work of the Qualifiers this time around. The competition will get much tougher for Atalanta beginning with this Play Off Round tie after seeing off Sarajevo and Hapoel Haifa in the last couple of Rounds by a combined 16-3 scoreline. This time they face one of the stronger teams coming out of Denmark, although Atalanta will remain a big favourite having won 4 of their last 6 home European games played over the last twelve months. Atalanta have only lost 1 of their last 13 games in all competitions and they opened up their new Serie A season with a convincing 4-0 win over Frosinone on Monday evening. Balancing domestic and European commitments can be very difficult, but Atalanta will be putting their 7 game unbeaten run in all competitions at home on the line. Atalanta have won 4 of their last 7 here.



KOBENHAVN

It is only thanks to rivals Brondby winning the Danish Super Cup that an extra place opened up in the Europa League for Kobenhavn who have been more used to beginning life in the Champions League. Playing in any European competition Group Stage is considered a very positive experience for clubs like Kobenhavn so they will not be looking to lie down for what looks the superior team on paper. Football is not played on paper though and Kobenhavn have plenty of experience of playing in European competition and they reached the same Last 32 Round of this competition as Atalanta last season. Wins over KuPS, Stjarnan and CSKA Sofia have helped Kobenhavn through to the Play Off Round of Qualifiers this time around, but before those away wins at all three of those grounds, this team had lost 4 of 6 away European games. Kobenhavn have a 10 game unbeaten run in all competitions to bring into this fixture and they have won 8 of those games. They had won all 5 away games played in all competitions in the 2018/19 season before Kobenhavn had to settle for a 1-1 draw with AGF in their most recent game on their travels.



HEAD TO HEAD

This is the first time these two clubs have met in a competitive fixture.



PREDICTION

While Atalanta will go into this Play Off Round tie in the Europa League as a strong favourite, they will know they are facing an experience European campaigner from Denmark. That makes it a tougher tie than others have received, but Atalanta showed they can play very well at this level by reaching the Last 32 of the Europa League last season. Kobenhavn did the same, and they also reached the Last 16 the season before last, but they have also lost some key players and Atalanta have continued their strong progress in Italy. I do think it will be a close tie over two Legs, but home advantage has to be a difference maker when they meet in Italy. Atalanta have been scoring goals for fun to open the season and they should have enough to edge out their opponents on Thursday. No one will suggest it will be easy, but Atalanta should have some kind of lead to take to Denmark and I will back them on the Asian Handicap