Brave Atalanta close on Champions League by playing the Ajax way - Blog di atalantini
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Brave Atalanta close on Champions League by playing
the Ajax way
Fabio Capello has likened Gian Piero Gasperini’s Serie A top scorers to the thrilling
Dutch side in the way they commit to one on one battles all over the pitch
A lesser team would have broken. On 15 April, Atalanta played out one of the most
imbalanced draws in Serie A history: a goalless stalemate at home to Empoli in
which they produced 47 shots to their opponents’ three. Eighteen went on target. The
last Serie A club to rack up so many attempts on goal in a single game were Roma, against
Catania in 2006, in a game they won 7-0.
At full time, Atalanta’s players crumpled to the floor. The draw had cost them a share of
fourth place, dropping them to sixth with six games to play. Next up was an away game
against Napoli, with visits to Lazio and Juventus still to come.
It felt like the moment when reality catches up to the underdog. Atalanta are not built to
compete for a Champions League berth. Their wage bill at the start of this season,
according to Gazzetta dello Sport, was the 14th-largest in Serie A: roughly one-eighth the
size of Juventus’s. The city they represent, Bergamo, is home to a modest 120,000
people.
They had punched above their weight all season, as they have consistently since Gian
Piero Gasperini took over as manager in 2016. Few expected them to pick themselves up
from the emotional let-down of that draw against Empoli and continue to defy the odds.
And yet, they have. Atalanta conceded first against Napoli, but came back to win 2-1.
They eat Fiorentina to secure a place in the Coppa Italia final, and closed out April with
a 2-0 win at home to Udinese that – coupled with Milan’s defeat to Torino last weekend – vaulted them back into fourth. On Sunday Atalanta travelled to Lazio – direct rivals in the European race. Once again, Gasperini’s team fell behind early. Marco Parolo followed his own deflected cross into the penalty area in the third minute, taking a knockdown from Felipe Caicedo and powering the ball home. Lazio remained on the front foot and the Atalanta keeper Pierluigi Gollini did well to thwart Ciro Immobile. But Duván Zapata equalised in the 23rd minute, punishing Lazio for affording him too much space inside the box, and his team never looked back. The hosts were dominating possession, yet the visitors were the only ones creating chances on goal. Josip Ilicic fired wide from six yards, before being denied from a similar distance by Thomas Strakosha. No matter. Atalanta continued to press high, and in the 58th minute forced an error from the Lazio defender Wallace. He passed the ball straight to Papu Gómez, who cut it back for Timothy Castagne to score. Even with a lead, Atalanta refused to sit back. They made it 3-1 from a corner in the 76th minute, Wallace deflecting into his own goal. That completed a nightmarish afternoon for the Brazilian, who had been responsible for losing Zapata on the visitors’ first goal as well. His mistakes had eased Atalanta’s path to victory, yet they were authors of their own success. No other Serie A team has played with such consistent courage this season: applying constant pressure on the ball and attacking as a team even if that means leaving themselves open at the back.
Wallace (top right) scores an own goal under pressure from Atalanta’s Berat Djimsiti. Photograph: Vincenzo Pinto/AFP/Getty Images Fabio Capello likened them recently to Ajax – observing how both teams commit players to one-on-one battles all over the pitch: embracing the risk and reward. It is a philosophy that Gasperini has followed since his second stint at Genoa, where he experienced a Eureka moment as he prepared for a game against Juventus. “Up to that point, retaining numerical superiority in defence was a dogma,” he told Gazzetta last November. “But I had [Nicolás] Burdisso, a really strong marker. I left him and [Sebastien] De Maio against [Carlos] Tevez and [Fernando] Llorente. They played a fantastic match, and I gained a spare man that I could commit to tactical manoeuvres. It was worth the risk. The Atalanta defenders you see attacking constantly today were born from that intuition.” Atalanta have scored 71 goals in 35 games: most in the division. They have taken more touches in opponents’ penalty areas (and it’s not close) than any other side: a statistic which reflects both a habit for dominating opponents and the fact they are often winning back possession in advanced positions. Gasperini has shown himself capable of getting the most out of both developing young talent and older players who had never quite fulfilled their potential elsewhere. Ilicic, 31, has played the best football of his career over the past two seasons. Zapata, 28, had never scored more than 11 goals in a Serie A season, and now has 22 in this campaign – two shy of the club record set by Pippo Inzaghi. Gasperini saw something in Zapata that no previous coach had: recognising that despite his size and strength he could be more effective running at goal than playing as a targetman. A willingness to experiment with players’ roles has been decisive. Against Udinese, Marten de Roon started in central midfield, dropped in at centre-back, then moved forward again and scored the penalty that broke the deadlock. Victory this weekend tightened Atalanta’s grip on fourth. Lazio, seven points and four places behind, are effectively out of contention. The gap to fifth-placed Roma, who drew with Genoa, is three points.
Gian Piero Gasperini celebrates a crucial victory in the Rome rain. Photograph: Riccardo Antimiani/AP Milan can move within the same distance if they can beat Bologna on Monday night. Nothing about their form, though, suggests they are ready to keep pace. Milan have five points from their past seven games. Atalanta are unbeaten in 12 across all competitions. They will return to Rome to face Lazio again in the Coppa Italia final in 10 days’ time. To win it would be a landmark achievement for a club that last lifted the trophy in 1963. Yet so would qualifying for the Champions League. “We are going for all of it,” said Zapata when asked which objective mattered more to him and his teammates. “We are going for everything that we can have, and that is how we must continue. There is no middle road.”
JBGrenouille 1
1d ago
Bloody hell I actually rarely enjoy the Serie A articles anymore. I wish they'd sadly shutdown the comments sections too. All we see is people berating
the league, running out the cliché ridden chat about it being slow and boring etc etc.
It's becoming so tedious here. there's some really good commenters on here and people who know a lot about Serie A yet it's drowned out by the usual
crap.
Why If you don't like something do you go onto the article and moan about it or slag it off? seems a weird way to spend your time.
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soontomove JBGrenouille 1
Some don't appreciate tactics. They prefer hoofball and denigrate teams that do not play that way.
Today Godin made it official, what most of us have known since December. He's leaving Atleti for Inter. We'll miss him in Spain.
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Zurdo34 2
1d ago
Gasperini deserves recognition for the body of his work.
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thebigfeller 4
2d ago
This is brilliant. Absolutely brilliant. Serie A desperately needs a story of real interest to the neutral - and Atalanta are providing it. Wonderful stuff.
In the 90s, when so many of us grew up watching Italian football every weekend, there were so many easy on the eye teams who also provided genuine
excitement for the neutral. Sampdoria, Parma, Fiorentina and Lazio all fit the bill at different points. Italian football needs that. Back then, Milan's
dominance followed by Juve's dominance was difficult enough for everyone else to handle: sport needs unpredictability and a sense that many sides
can win at the start of any season. It's become a complete joke since then: first Inter, now Juve, and a sense that the latter's ironclad grip will never end.
Juve win another scudetto. So effing what?! The interest is elsewhere. Even Napoli and Roma monopolising the CL positions in recent years has
become very passe; now, here come Atalanta to shake things up, embarrass everyone else in the sheer daring and boldness of their approach, and
hopefully, fingers crossed, get what they deserve. A place in the Champions League and their first major trophy in 56 years. All the best to them.
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Jim shelley thebigfeller 1
Come on Atalanta , they and Getate in Spain are showing teams with small budgets can occasionally complete with the big boys ie Ajax
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ZODIACKILLER 0
2d ago
The Ajax way? Sell your best two players? Aw shame no CL run next season then.
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Pangeran 9
2d ago
I present the Serie A live coverage in my country (Indonesia). Having watched most games week in and week out, I can fairly say that Atalanta are the
most entertaining side to watch in Italy this season. Even more entertaining than Juventus. I find myself cheering for them more often than not and hope
they’ll get that Champions League ticket.
Duvan Zapata will certainly nicked by bigger clubs if they dont make it to UCL next season. Hope he stays if Atalanta make it. And seeing Papu Gomez,
a wonderful artist on the pitch, pulling strings on European night next season will be a glorious spectacle.
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Shinsengumi Pangeran 1
Heh. Didn't know you comment here on the BTL. Best of luck with the job, mate.
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Pangeran Shinsengumi 1
Actually at my earlier phase of sports journalism, I used to send tons of email to Guardian live blog/MBM. The place to be.Reply Share Report
thegutterpoet Pangeran 0
Juve have been appalling to watch. Effective in grinding out victories domestically but entertaining in probably 1-2 games max...they are a
benchmark of winning through playing very poor to watch football, not entertainment.
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Kropotkin72 0
2d ago
Atalanta used to be (still is) AC Milan's satellite team. I expect Atalanta to give way, if asked.
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ronocop Kropotkin72 0
?
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WhoskerDo Kropotkin72 0
No.
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nauosa rini Kropotkin72 0
During its history Atalanta has been selling players to Juventus FC much more than AC Milan. Genoa has been (and still is) Milan’s preferred team
(Piatek is only the last example).
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smallmusic 4
2d ago
Well, to finally find a full appreciation of Gasperini’s Atalanta one has to read a British newspapaper, as in Italy almost nobody takes care: they only talk
about Juve, Inter, Milan, Roma, Lazio, Napoli, that’s all. Then, of course, every goal by Ronaldo, even the more banal ones, gaines rivers of ink by the
football columnists. Italy is a very, very conservative place, where everything changes in order not to change (I hope my translation of Giuseppe Tomasi
di Lampedusa’s words is correct).
Anyway, I must point out that Bergamo, notwithstanding its “modest 120,000 people” is one of the richest towns in Italy, with very little problems,
comparing, for instance, to Torino, which has little less than 900,000 inhabitants, but is going through a huge decline, since several years.
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Jakech11 0
2d ago
Brilliant, we all love an underdog. I’d be delighted if both Atalanta and Getafe qualified for the champions league.
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Wonder123 2
2d ago
I would argue that Empoli are dangerous opponents for any team at the best of times...it is perhaps remiss to assume they will be an easy 3 points for
Inter?! And that they will already be relegated come the final weekend?!
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Guardian User Wonder123 0
Forza Atalanta!
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YeOldPhart 0
2d ago
Untill Juve are challenged by more than one team for a whole season CR7 cannot get them to win the CL. Same problem for PSG. Both teams coast
week in week out in the league so can't up the ante against better CL teams. Juve (and indeed PSG) could go on and win their league for the next 10
years but will continue to struggle in the CL. The harder teams are pushed week in week out the more the players are battle hardened for CL rigours.
The Dutch league have improved Ajax and the pressure in the English league is well known plus now the big 2 Spanish teams don't have it their own
way - all the semi finalists have difficult domestic leagues that keep their intensity up.
Reply Share ReportMetalman Night YeOldPhart 1
They might not win it, but it's a bit far-fetched stating they are "struggling" in the Champions League.
These last 5 years they have been twice finalist, twice quarter finalist and one time first knock-out round.
I'd say that is pretty impressive. Off course I'd prefer see them win it a couple of times, but the competition is quite impressive.
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anankastic 0
2d ago
And only 2 Italians in the starting 11 against Lazio!!
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chaconne 4
2d ago
Italian football. What has happened?
Your league used to be the supreme one, where you would find all the star players. The Milan team competing with Napoli, Inter, Juve, all glorious
clubs.
Of course the financial situation is the obvious answer, PL has taken over, the stars go there nowadays.
But isn´t there more to contemplate? Where are the Italian super stars? Baggio, Zola, the waterproof defense of Maldini, Costacurta and Baresi, I miss
their adepts, the young ones inspired by the masters, guys which would provide me with excitement and pleasure.
Maybe the inflow of foreign talent was bad for Italian club football, the clubs relied on buying instead of producing young domestic footballers, I do not
know.
Not an Englishman but one wonders, will the same happen to PL? For every domestic player in PL there are two foreigners, never before has a league
been so dependent on imported players.
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BurgherofCalais 0
2d ago
Italy ought to have four Champions League spots as it is the best league in the world. No one does it better.
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blaggard BurgherofCalais 9
not sure if serious, but given that Juventus have won the last 8 titles, it seems doubtful.
And Italy *does* have 4 Champions League spots...
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punk90 blaggard 1
It does have have four Champ league spots. Inter were the last team to win it and there was about 9 years ago or something. Juve who win year
after year haven’t won it since 1996 hahah
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Metalman Night punk90 0
They haven't won it since 1996 indeed. Whereas Juve has always had an edge over Milan in the Scudetto race, Milan have a far better European
pedigree.
It still sickens me that their 1995-1997 sides have won only one out of 3 finals, especially given they won the hardest one on paper (against Real
Madrid), and won the (again, on paper) seemingly easier ones against Ajax and Borussia Dortmund.
Then again, this is also what football is about, learning from gnawing defeat and enjoying the very brief happiness of a trophy.
But still, that's one CL out of 6 finals since '95 ...
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Michael Pirone BurgherofCalais 0
It does have 4 champions league spots
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Buffalo72 1
2d ago
Brilliant team to watch, I hope they do get into the Champions League.Reply Share Report
Zheroen 5
2d ago
Between Gomez, Ilicic, and Zapata, you've got an attacking force that is definitely more impressive than that of the more storied/prestigious Italian
sides. I reckon they could surprise a lot of teams in Europe next season if they can strengthen the center of defence and perhaps add an upgrade in
goal over Berisha.
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smallmusic Zheroen 0
Berisha lost its place, now there is Gorrini. But it’s true, the goalkeeper is their weaker player. If they had Sirigu, already this year they would
conquer the second position. At least..
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TheBabyJeezusNavas Zheroen 0
From the national team I can confirm that Berisha is rubbish.
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RoyalLoyalBlue 0
2d ago
I really thought that CR7 would help Juve win the CL. Guess I was wrong.
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NLsigns RoyalLoyalBlue 3
Like Neymar was going to help PSG win the CL?
Just doesn’t happen, unless the player is Messi.
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MatthewGQ NLsigns 1
Hahaha That's Rubbish
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denothemeno 4
2d ago
Cristiano Ronaldo rescued Juventus from defeat in the derby, but his hopes of finishing as capocannoniere are fading. Fabio Quagliarella scored
twice in Sampdoria’s 3-3 draw with Parma, and sits top of the scoring charts with 25 goals. Ronaldo is third, on 21.
If there's anyone that would prefer Ronaldo ahead of the Quag as top scorer, then you need to have a word with yourselves :)
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Pinturricchio denothemeno 1
Quag da man ;-)
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BetterOffTed denothemeno 2
Agreed, as an unbiased Torino fan.
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misterbear 12
2d ago
Well done Atalanta. and on the 70th anniversary of Superga, don't overlook the improvement in Torino this season. Europa League? Grande Torino
again!! FORZA VECCHIO CUORE GRANATA!
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BetterOffTed misterbear 6
Big Walt has worked miracles. The state of how the team was performing last season under Sinisa, and then the loss of Ljajic at the beginning of
the season, but the signings of Izzo and Meite, the loan of Aina, and the emergence of Lukic, he's completely transformed us from underachieversinto a team with a far more respectable position.
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PJMiata 5
2d ago
If I'm not mistaken, Atalanta also has a big youth academy, plus the most players on loan from any European professional team. If I'm not mistaken,
Atalanta currently has 56 players out on loan.
So, my question, has this Atalanta success been many years in the making? And if yes, can their youth academy and system of loaning players ensure
that they are going to remain at this level for years to come?
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punk90 PJMiata 2
If I am not mistaken, if I am not mistaken... hahah
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David K Blake punk90 13
Rude.
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punk90 David K Blake 1
Funny though...
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TheBabyJeezusNavas punk90 8
I forget you have a degree in English Literature. Enlighten us.
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punk90 TheBabyJeezusNavas 1
Who are you? His wife? Haha.
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Zheroen punk90 6
you've certainly added a lot to this thread.
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BetterOffTed Zheroen 0
If I'm not mistaken, you're right there.
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BobBobson PJMiata 4
It's 76 on loan. They are propping up whole teams in the lower divisions.
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Guido Van Asselt PJMiata 1
they are top of the table in the reserves
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norfsider BobBobson 1
Ahh, so PJMiata WAS mistaken.
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Jonny McIntosh norfsider 1
PJMiata said Atalanta currently has 56 players out on loan if he (or she) is not mistaken. He (or she) didn't say anything about how many players
are out on loan if s/he is mistaken. So there's no mistake. That's just logic.
Reply Share ReportSufghan Sarwar Khan David K Blake 5
This guy punk is a muppet.
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PJMiata PJMiata 1
My apologies for using the same sentence introduction twice. Annoying oversight - I wish BTL comments could be edited.
So, it sounds like Atalanta has even more players out on loan compared to the sources I'd found. And they are top of the table in the reserves. I'm
still not sure if that loan frenzy (and their strong academy) makes them likely to play with the big teams in the years to come - so I guess that
question will remain unanswered for now.
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punk90 1
2d ago
Amazing. Italian football is so boring. Juventus the old lady who bottles it in the Champ league but wins everything domestically.
Well done Atalanta..
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FabbyD punk90 1
I probably have low standards as a PSG fan but aren't Juventus great in the champions league?
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punk90 FabbyD 1
If great is winning in 85 and 96 and losing 7 finals , then they must be great ...
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FabbyD punk90 3
Well how many teams made 9 finals?
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UglyBaby punk90 2
Will you stop banging on about juve, articles about Atalanta.
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punk90 FabbyD 0
And lost 7 ... haha chokers
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punk90 UglyBaby 0
I am sorry I have made comments about Juve.. I promise I won’t do it again
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Jules Vernes 2
2d ago
What an incredible story! I am surprised there aren’t any more comments. Best of luck to Atalanta. Though it’s a shame that clearly their coach will be
bought by Chelsea for next season :-)
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Mockers85 4
2d ago
Atalanta are the most entertaining side in Europe. I said back in February that Celtic should break the bank for Gasperini, it's not going to happen now
as they are going to be in the champions league and he deserves it.
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Sonegel Mockers85 0
I guess he still won't be interested if they finish outside the top four.Reply Share Report
Sufghan Sarwar Khan 0
2d ago
Forza Juve
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punk90 Sufghan Sarwar Khan 4
Juve the bottlers , chokers , haven’t won the champ league since 96... 1996 but it might as will be 1896... haha
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misterbear Sufghan Sarwar Khan 2
Forza vecchio cuore granata!!!
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NLsigns punk90 4
And even the one in 1996 was not fairly won...
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BetterOffTed NLsigns 0
Juve not winning something fairly? Quelle surprise.
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Sufghan Sarwar Khan punk90 1
Man utd did not win it for 31 years 1968-1999
Barcelona only had 1 till 2006, 50 years and 1 ucl.
Inter didnt win it for 45 years 1965-2010
Idiot
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Sufghan Sarwar Khan NLsigns 0
Nothing was proved, just baseless allegations by louis van gaal and Dutch media.
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urugollum Sufghan Sarwar Khan 0
You are a Juventus fan? I've got the feeling you will win Serie A next season...
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punk90 Sufghan Sarwar Khan 1
But how many champ league finals have Juve lost ? 7 .. that’s seven ... that’s choking and considering they win the league every season unlike
United etc .. between 68 and 99United only started to win the league in 93 .. only one team qualified in those years.
Learn some facts before calling people idiots. Juve are chokers of the highest order ...
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punk90 Sufghan Sarwar Khan 1
Juve are dodge how many times have they got into trouble and relegated? Hilarious
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TheBabyJeezusNavas 23
2d ago
Footballing wise they are one of the best teams in Europe, putting the so-called 'big-boys' in Italy to shame with their attractive attacking style of play.
Beyond their excellent front three there isn't too much individual quality but it just goes to show that you can achieve/play high level football without
spending ridiculous money on so called stars. Manage the players you have at your disposal and come up with the best system for them. A few coaches
really don't really seem to understand even this basic philosophy.
Hopefully they make UCL, they have two 'easy' games and one 'hard' one against Juve, with a cup final sandwiched in somewhere. Hopefully they can
win that too. Gasperini is doing a fantastic job.
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Koeien TheBabyJeezusNavas 1
"Beyond their excellent front three there isn't too much individual quality", They've got Hansie though!
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Fatbob 0
2d ago
Beer Trautmann turned around a life that once was filled with hate and fear in order to make himself a symbol of reconciliation and peace. We could all
learn a thing or two from him.
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Dice47 Fatbob 0
Umm... wrong comment section
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Fatbob Dice47 0
No, this is sadly the only one available, due to the usual censorship.
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JBGrenouille Fatbob 1
Mmmmm Beer
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Fatbob JBGrenouille 1
I like beer
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