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Last year, everyone was crazy about it. Atalanta Bergamo, coached by Gian Piero Gasperini, amazed the football world with their spectacular, festive and offensive play. In the last Serie A session, the Bergamasques, whose city was hit hard by COVID-19, finished Italy’s best attack with the trifle of 98 goals, 17 more than are main opponents in this small ranking: Inter Milan!
But in Europe, it wasn’t bad either. With zero points at the end of the first three days in a pool made up of Shakhtar Donestk, Manchester City and Dinamo Zagreb, the Italians had managed the feat of qualifying for the round of 16 by winning two of the last three meetings (a draw more). A well-established game system, with a Papu Gomez as a conductor and clinical center-forwards allowed them to join the knockout phase.
Real Madrid are affected
Disregarding their status as a little thumb, the Transalpines atomized Valencia by winning 4-1 in the first leg and 4-3 in the return (8-4 on the double confrontation) and then rubbed shoulders with Paris SG in a match unique in the Final 8. And the Parisians without the unexpected savior Eric-Maxim Choupo Moting would have fallen in front of this surprising team. But this year, they had the joy of tasting again the most prestigious of European competitions.
They came out of a group consisting of Liverpool, Ajax and Midtjylland. AND here they are back for the round of 16, against Real Madrid this time. Casa Blanca is a big piece and it remains so even if it will be without Karim Benzema, injured, and his performances are disappointing this season in La Liga in particular. But the question everyone is asking: can Atalanta repeat exceptional performances like last season?
Carelessness lost
It’s relatively complicated to answer this question. In the first part of the season in Italy, Gian Piero Gasperini’s players were relatively efficient. They are also the second best attack of the Boot behind Inter. They are ranked 5th, but this is mainly due to the excellent courses of AS Roma and AC Milan in particular. However, it seems that something else is emerging from this roster this year.
As if the kind of recklessness had left them. Papu Gomez, in conflict with his leaders and his coach (transferred to Sevilla FC in the winter transfer window), during the first part of the season, had a little less magic in his feet, the weight of the years also being felt. Duvan Zapata wasn’t last season’s efficiency monster either, and the rear guard looks as feverish as last year, but this time the attackers don’t score one more goal than the opponent.
The new players (Miranchuk, Maehle …) are having a hard time, for the moment, to integrate and remain effective when the coach gives them playing time. If facing Casa Blanca, it should pass, since the Zidane’s men seem very psychologically damaged, we will probably not have a soaring game like those that Atalanta played in numbers last season. Even if the level has dropped a little, we can rejoice in the spectacle on offer. It is not because there is less that there is no longer …
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