What else can you say? Three brilliant points against a one of Atalanta’s bogeyman ever since they’ve climbed back into Serie A! It had been 20 years since Atalanta have beaten Juventus in Serie A, and it feels like all the waiting was worth it – given the magnitude that three points earned means. Now sitting firmly in third place (only two points behind Milan), Atalanta have continued to become a difficult team to line up against with Gasperini constant tinkers and tweaks in the lineup. It won Atalanta the match in the 2nd half, and will continue to make La Dea a difficult matchup going forward. The players know what each other do so well that they can effortlessly transition between formations. Just add a bit of Malinovskyi Magic and it can be the recipe for dethroning Italy’s elite squad.
Sunday’s victory truly was a team victory, especially the play of the back seven. Even though Juventus was able to get into some dangerous positions, and often times Cuadrado and Rabiot were given freedom to make forward runs without a midfielder stepping in to thwart the attack, the eighteen yard box was constructed with grade A masonry. Freuler was all over the place (again), and de Roon was a man possessed keeping up with the pacier Juan Cuadrado. But the anchor of the defense deserves the most accolades, “El Vaquero” Jose Palomino. Filling in for the absent Cristian Romero, CB could’ve been the weakest position on the club’s lineup sheet – oppositely, it was the most robust. Palomino played as perfect a match as you could’ve asked for, making life difficult for Morata, and putting in some manly tackles and headers. A clean sheet is tough for Atalanta to muster in general, but against Juventus it talks an heroic backline effort, and Palomino and his posse did everything they needed to do.
As mentioned up top, the game was won with substitutions, and Pirlo was taken to school by Gasperini today. Out of necessity Pirlo had to take off Chiesa with an injury, but all his substitutions were like for like alterations – offering very little else for Atalanta to prepare against. The tactics were rigid, and Atalanta had few adjustments to make to combat the substitutions. On the other hand, Ilicic came for a true #9, and Malinovskyi was substituted for… you guessed it Maehle at right wing back. When a goal was necessary, Gasperini had no issue altering from his back three going to a more offensively oriented back four. And boy did it pay off! Malinovskyi continues his meteoric rise; first with a bullet free kick wonderfully stopped by Szczesny, but then the dagger with a fire cracker off the hand of Sandro that bounced into Szczesny’s opposite corner. We’ve been waiting for a Malinovskyi missile for awhile, and like the dramatist that he is, he saves it for the most important match of the season. I’m really starting to wonder what his limit actually is, with his passing, dribbling, and possession play all being excellent.
Let’s just take the day to enjoy a marvelous victory that was a long time coming. Atalanta deserved victory last year in the 2nd leg of the season, but everything evened out today. A win today puts much less pressure to earn a victory over Roma (although it would still be very very welcomed), and Atalanta are now in the driver’s seat to dictate the Top 4 race. I reckon it won’t take another 20 years to beat Juventus in the league, but what a statement and punch in the mouth to give Juventus just a bit more to think about in the upcoming May Coppa Italia final. What a win today everyone, and as always Forza Dea!!
