Date: October 24, 2021
Time: 12:30 CET, 6:30 EST
With barely three days rest Atalanta are already back at it this weekend, as the boys are given the Sunday lunchtime slot against Udinese. Le Zebre have recently been somewhat of a pesky opponent for Atalanta, especially last season – in which Udinese was able to play Atalanta to a draw and make life difficult for La Dea in a 3-2 victory for the good guys. Now without Rodrigo de Paul and Juan Musso, Udinese became a trendy pick for relegation, but all indications point to the club from Udine have enough firepower to continue to make life challenging for the top teams in the league. The club has filled its main holes nicely. Spainard Gerard Deulofeu has deputized nicely for de Paul, and Marco Silvestri has done well filling the large shoes left by Atalanta’s own Juan Musso.
Even with Udinese’s strategic additions, the club has been faltering as of late- earning only two points in its last five matches. Recent draws against Sampdoria and Bologna are encouraging, but the gap in quality – even with Atalanta’s injury woes – will make it challenging for Udinese to take points off La Dea. After the Manchester United collapse, Atalanta’s short term memory will still be filled with anger and revenge, and Sunday seems like a ripe time for Atalanta to unleash a similar offensive onslaught to the one witnessed against Empoli. With that being said, Udinese cannot be counted out – they know how to pounce on mistakes and capitalize when chances fall to them.
Udinese Player to Watch- Nahuel Molina
Nahuel Molina stormed onto the scene last season, cementing himself as one of the best right backs in Italy. He certainly made his presence known against Atalanta. Using his pace and ball skills in attack, he was dominant in the clubs’ second meeting of the year – contributing two assists and being an overall nuisance to Robin Gosens. In five starts this season Molina has already slotted home a goal and provided an assist. Perhaps not an elite return in the early season, but nonetheless its still good for a 20% goal contribution for a wingback on a team that isn’t adept at dropping obscene amount of goals. With either Joakim Maehle or Giuseppe Pezzella occupying the left wing, extra caution will have to be taken to ensure neither gets beat for pace. Everyone certainly knows that neither, especially Pezzella, can take Molina in a foot race.
Atalanta Expected Starting XI
With injuries to six starters, including three of Atalanta’s top center back choices, Gian Piero Gasperini may have to get creative with his lineup out of necessity. The Marten de Roon experiment at center back did not go over well against Manchester United, but Udinese certainly does not have the same firepower as the Red Devils – so de Roon could still be a viable option at center back. Especially if Gasperini does not yet trust Giorgio Scalvini in a starting role – and he’s hellbent at playing three at the back.
Atalanta has yet to deploy a back four, but it may be a prime opportunity to do so. The calendar does not get any less congested over the next couple of weeks, and only using two center back slots permits more creativity – and perhaps even some reprieve for Jose Luis Palomino. Palomino has played the second most minutes on the squad – only second to Juan Musso – and he will at some point need a breather. Only playing with two center backs makes rotation easier, and permits the squad to rotate depth in areas where the squad actually has options. Like attack.
Playing three attacking midfielders is more of a wish than an expectation of what will happen. However, Atalanta will have to be on the front foot in attack – and its the perfect opportunity to reintroduce Aleksey Miranchuk back into the lineup. Having not played in a month, it was evident how rusty he was against Manchester United, and he could use some serious game minutes to help ride out the injury storm. A Pasalic, Miranchuk, Malinovskyi, with Zapata in front could is a dangerous yet balanced offensive lineup that should be able to provide consistent pressure to an Udinese defense that will most likely sit back and hit on the counter. Additionally it requires less attacking movement from the wingbacks who can sit further back to ensure neither Molina nor Stryger Larsen flies forward on the counter.
Atalanta Udinese Match Odds and Ends
Both Luis Muriel and Duvan Zapata scored against their former team last season. Both Colombians have scored in the same match only twice since the last Udinese match, with that one included. Getting both firing will be enormous for the club during this furious stretch of matches.
Mario Pasalic has now scored against both Manchester City and Manchester United in the Champion’s League. Don’t have the official stats, but he is probably doesn’t have a lot of company on this statistic. Having provided either an assist or goal in the last three matches, Pasalic has admirably deputized in Pessina’s absence – and is doing enough to make himself first choice in attack.
Udinese has the highest percentage of foreign born players in Serie A, with over 80% of the club hailing from outside of Italy. Atalanta percentage of foreign born players is not as high in recent years, with the inclusion of Zappacosta, Lovato, Scalvini, and Pezzella – but perhaps this match will eventually become the battle of the globetrotting clubs in Italy again soon.
With Sampdoria coming up midweek, and then a huge match against Lazio in a week’s time. Atalanta has no opportunity to rest until the next international break in a few week’s time. Injuries are testing Atalanta’s will and depth, and so far the club has held up to the pressure. Loss against Manchester United aside, the match was still close, and Atalanta has handled this rough Champion’s League stretch better in the early going than it did last year. To continue doing so means taking three points in matches such as this. It feels like a classic trap game, as does Sampdoria on Wednesday, so Atalanta will have to ensure to limit the brain farts. If Rodrigo Pereyra doesn’t score in the first thirty seconds, Atalanta should be able to dictate the flow and play its match! Stay smart at the back and ruthless in attack – and hopefully we’ll see three points come Sunday afternoon! As always, Forza Dea!!!
