At the peak, the Nerazzurri won a precious victory to stay in the running for a place in Europe. Green is not enough for the Ligurians to secure salvation
Atalanta does not give up the fight for a place in the Europa League. In the 36th day of Serie A the team of Gasperini beats Spezia 1-3 and goes to -3 from Lazio a 59 points. At the peak in the first half Muriel (16 ‘) unlocks the game coldly, then the Goddess gets distracted on a long throw e Verde (30 ‘) equalized on the counterattack. In the second half, the Nerazzurri increased their laps and closed the match thanks to a header by Djimsiti (73 ‘) and a pool shot of Pasalic (87 ‘). For the Ligurians fourth knockout in a row e all postponed for the salvation speech.
–
THE MATCH
With salvation in his sights, Thiago Motta changes form at the Peak and opts for a dynamic 3-4-3 with Hristov, Erlic and Nikolaou in defense, Maggiore and Kiwior in the control room and Agudelo in the trident completed by Verde and Gyasi. Bench instead for Manaj. Formations in hand, some news also for Gasperini in the run-up to the area valid for Europe. With Zapata out of action, Malinovskyi is in front behind Pasalic and Muriel. Behind, however, is De Roon next to Palomino and Djimsiti. With so many men under the line of the ball, Spezia leaves waiting for the Goddess and playing for the throw-in. An attitude that closes the spaces, stifles the Nerazzurri’s play in central streets and forces Atalanta to maneuver wide. For ten minutes on the pitch, balance reigned and there were no noteworthy occasions, then Bastoni entered with the right times on a verticalization by Maggiore and his left footed on the outside post. An opportunity to which Gasperini’s gang responds immediately by increasing the laps between the lines with Malinovskyi and unlocking the race with Muriel, good at jumping two men with control and beating Provedel coldly. Goal that opens up the spaces and lights up the match. The advantage and under pressure, the Goddess raises the outside and pushes to hunt for the knockout blow, but Pasalic wastes a good opportunity and the Nerazzurri are surprised by Green on a long pass on an open ball. Network that sends Gasperini into a rage, puts the result in a draw and forces Atalanta to take possession of the game again. Taken by Koopmeiners with the tachometer, Freuler misses the big target. Then the first half ends on a Malinovskyi fireball from the edge walled up by Erlic and a high shot from Maehle.
The second half opens with the entries of Demiral and Reca for the injured Palomino and Hristov, with a free-kick from Malinovskyi rejected with punches by Provedel and an attempt by Agudelo blocked by the Nerazzurri defense. Then Bastoni’s injury changed Spezia’s tactical set-up, who went all-in by letting Manaj in and moving on to 4-2-3-1. A move to which Gasperini responds by removing Freuler and Malinovskyi and throwing Hateboer and Boga into the fray to increase the pace and give more thrust to the maneuver. Served on the run by Maehle, Muriel touches the intersection of the posts with a powerful right and risks being sent off for a reaction on Amian, then Boga heads off well in the area, but his shot doesn’t hit the goal. Attempts that increase the Nerazzurri pressure and prepare the ground for the doubling of the Goddess. On the development of a free kick, Demiral serves Djimsiti the ball to hit and his gore directs the match on the Nerazzurri tracks. Back in the lead, in fact, in the final, Atalanta hits a crossing of the posts with Boga and, after a sensational opportunity wasted by Giasy, closes the accounts with a delicious low shot from Pasalic. A shot that on the one hand puts the result safe for the Goddess and keeps the hopes of going to Europe alive and on the other hand trims the fourth defeat in a row to Thiago Motta, complicating the plans to secure salvation in advance.
REPORT CARDS
Verde 6,5: moves on the entire offensive front without referring to the Nerazzurri defenders. He draws coldly on the counterattack and manages the ball well when it passes by his side
Maggiore 6: he makes wood in the middle of the field and as soon as he manages to try to verticalize for the tips. His throw for Green on the equalizer
Giasy 5: he never sees himself and when he makes himself noticed in the second half he does so by failing a great opportunity
Muriel 7: with the ball between your feet is always a delight and knows how to hurt. He unlocks the game with class and precision, then touches the intersection with a powerful right and serves the assist to Pasalic. He risks red for a reaction on Amian
Djimsiti 6: in the first half he is surprised by the long throw for Verde together with his team mates, in the recovery however he is forgiven by signing the doubling of the head
Pasalic 7: tiptoe quality. He moves next to Muriel always being found by his teammates and in the final he puts his signature on the match with a billiard shot
THE TABLE
SPICE-ATALANTA 1-3
Spice (3-4-3): Provedel 5.5; Hristov 6 (1 ‘st Reca 5.5), Erlic 5.5, Nikolaou 5.5; Amian 6, Maggiore 6 (33 ‘st Antiste sv), Kiwior 5,5, Bastoni 6 (12’ st Manaj 6,5); Agudelo 5.5 (22 ‘st Kovalenko 5.5), Gyasi 5, Verde 6.5.
A disp.: Zoet, Zovko, Bourabia, Ferrer, Salcedo, Sher, Nguiamba, Bertola. All.: Thiago Motta 5.5
Atalanta (3-4-1-2): Musso 6,5; De Roon 5,5, Palomino 5,5 (1 ‘st Demiral 6), Djimsiti 6; Zappacosta 5,5, Freuler 5,5 (13 ‘st Hateboer 6), Koopmeiners 6, Maehle 6; Pasalic 7; Malinovskyi 6 (13 ‘st Boga 6,5), Muriel 7 (47’ st Mihaila sv).
A disp.: Rossi, Sportiello, Pessina, Renault, Miranchuk, Cissé. All.: Gasperini 6.5
Referee: Maresca
Markers: 16′ Muriel (A), 30′ Verde (S), 28′ st Djimsiti (A), 42′ st Pasalic (A)
Ammonites: Batons, Major (S); Malinovskyi, Freuler, Muriel (A)
Expelled: –
THE STATISTICS
– Berat Djimsiti is Atalanta’s 20th different scorer in this Serie A: in the five major European leagues only Barcelona (22) count more in 2021/22.
-Atalanta found the goal with the first shot attempted in the match against Spezia.
– Daniele Verde has scored seven goals in Serie A this season, breaking his scoring record in a single edition of the competition (six in 2020/21).
– Luis Muriel has taken part in eight goals in his last four Serie A appearances, thanks to four hits and four assists.
– Two of Ruslan Malinovskyi’s four assists in this Serie A have come thanks to a goal from Luis Muriel (today and 9 January v Udinese).
– Mario Pasalic is one of the two Atalanta midfielders capable of scoring for four consecutive Serie A appearances since the beginning of the last decade (from 2010), together with Josip Ilicic (in 2017).
– Berat Djimsiti regains the Serie A goal he missed since 21 June 2020, 686 days away.
– Djimsiti scored his first away goal in Serie A, fourth total in the competition – all of his top-flight hits came on dead ball developments.
– 100th presence for Matteo Pessina in the Italian top league.
–
