Atalanta vs Sassuolo: BBC live stream and Serie A opener guide
Atalanta host Sassuolo in the Serie A season opener on Sunday, August 23, with UK viewers able to follow BBC Sport's expanded Italian coverage on BBC iPlayer. Scottish duo Kieron Bowie and Josh Doig start for Sassuolo at the New Balance Arena as Maurizio Sarri's Atalanta face Alberto Aquilani's visitors in Bergamo.
It is the first Serie A fixture of the 2026-27 campaign for both clubs, and the meeting carries extra interest on British shores after the BBC added 38 live league games this season.
Key Takeaways
- BBC Sport will stream 19 Serie A matches on BBC iPlayer this season, with BBC ALBA showing 19 more.
- Scotland duo Kieron Bowie and Josh Doig both start for Sassuolo on their trip to Atalanta.
- Atalanta have appointed Maurizio Sarri; Sassuolo finished 11th last season under new boss Alberto Aquilani.
- Tipsters highlight Sassuolo or draw at 6-4, citing Sarri's slow start and last season's 3-0 Sassuolo win in Bergamo.
- Bleacher Nation lists Atalanta at -188, Sassuolo at +470, and the draw at +324.
How can you watch Atalanta vs Sassuolo live in the UK?
The BBC has expanded its Serie A footprint for 2026-27, committing to 38 live league matches across the season, one per round. Nineteen fixtures air on BBC ALBA with Gaelic and English co-commentary, while BBC Sport streams another 19 on BBC iPlayer with English commentary.
Kick-off is listed at 7.45pm UK time on Sunday, August 23, matching Racing Post's fixture listing for the Atalanta versus Sassuolo opener. US audiences see a 2.45pm ET start, per Bleacher Nation.
The deal sits alongside BBC Sport's existing European football coverage, including Bundesliga and La Liga highlights. For readers who follow our Bizarre News & Florida Man desk, cross-border sporting oddities like Scottish internationals starting together for an Italian side fit the same unexpected-headline brief.
Why are Scottish starters the headline for Sassuolo?
According to BBC live reporting, Kieron Bowie and Josh Doig both start for Sassuolo on Sunday's visit to Atalanta. They are part of a wider Scottish contingent in Serie A this season, though Napoli's Scott McTominay remains the highest-profile name in Italy.
Sassuolo finished 11th in their first campaign back in the top flight and have since appointed Alberto Aquilani after Fabio Grosso departed for Fiorentina. Aquilani's first competitive match in charge was a 3-0 Coppa Italia win over Serie B side Cesena.
What shape are Atalanta in under Maurizio Sarri?
After a middling first season in the post-Gian Piero Gasperini era, Atalanta turned to Maurizio Sarri. The former Chelsea and Lazio coach is shifting La Dea from their familiar three-man defence to a back four, and Racing Post notes he is unlikely to abandon that plan quickly.
Thursday's 0-0 Conference League draw with Hapoel Tel Aviv was hardly a glowing debut, and with a return leg still to come, Atalanta may enter the Sassuolo fixture distracted. That context matters because Sassuolo won 3-0 at the New Balance Arena last season before completing a 2-1 home victory in the reverse fixture.
What do betting markets say about Atalanta vs Sassuolo?
Racing Post tipster Jack Ogalbe singled out Sassuolo or draw double chance at 6-4 with Ladbrokes, Coral and BoyleSports. Bleacher Nation's pre-match lines list Atalanta at -188 on the moneyline, Sassuolo at +470 and the draw at +324.
Data cited by Bleacher Nation shows Atalanta went 5-2-1 when favoured at -188 or shorter last season, while Sassuolo were 2-2-4 as underdogs of +470 or longer. Nikola Krstovic and Gianluca Scamacca led Atalanta's scoring charts, with Armand Lauriente and Domenico Berardi among Sassuolo's key names.