CAGLIARI, ITALY – DECEMBER 14: Nicolò Zaniolo of Atalanta celebrates his goal 0-1 during the Serie A match between Cagliari and Atalanta at Sardegna Arena on December 14, 2024 in Cagliari, Italy. (Photo by Enrico Locci/Getty Images)

Gian Piero Gasperini will rotate his Atalanta squad for a Coppa Italia match against Cesena, using 19-year-old talent Marco Palestra, experienced goalkeeper Rui Patricio and Nicolò Zaniolo at centre-forward.

It starts at 6:30 p.m. CET (5:30 p.m. GMT) at the Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo.

Matteo Ruggeri, Giorgio Scalvini and Gianluca Scamacca are injured while Juan Cuadrado is suspended for La Dea.

Several sources, including Sky Sport Italia, claim that Rui Patricio will start in goal and Nicolò Zaniolo will be named as the lone striker, supported by Marco Brescianini and Lazar Samardzic.

Marten de Roon and Ederson are fighting for a starting spot in central midfield, where one of them will line up alongside Mario Pasalic.

Gasperini is expected to deploy rising talent Palestra on the right wing, with Davide Zappacosta on the opposite flank.

The winner will face Bologna in the quarter-finals in February.

Atalanta vs Cesena – where to watch on TV

The game will be broadcast live on Premier Sports 1 in the UK and Paramount+ in the US. The game is also available for free in Italy on Italia Uno.

Atalanta vs Cesena – likely lineups

Atalanta (3-4-1-2): Rui Patricio; Toloi, Djimsiti, Kossounou; Palestra, de Roon, Pasalic, Zappacosta; Samardzic, Brescianini; Zaniolo.

Cesena (3-5-2): Pisseri; Curto, Ciofi, Pieraccini; Adamo, Francesconi, Mendicino, Bastoni, Celia; Van Hooijdonk, Tavsan.