An extra day’s worth of preparation didn’t do Atalanta any favors, as La Dea dug itself an insurmountable hole it couldn’t climb out of. Needing a victory to advance to the knockout rounds of the Champion’s League, Atalanta decided to start scoring only after it had shipped in three goals against Villarreal. Atalanta’s La Liga foes were lethal on the counterattack, taking advantage of nearly each mistake Atalanta committed. Stalwart Arnaut Danjuma completed a brace for Villarreal, while running circles around Merih Demiral – and Etienne Capoue put home a loose ball that is becoming an all too common occurrence in Atalanta matches.
Even though the boys were down three goals, needing four to advance, they fought valiantly – nearly putting together a comeback for the ages. The two goals scored by Ruslan Malinovskyi and Duvan Zapata got La Dea within striking distance with ten minutes remaining – but it is the opportunities that the boys missed that will be rued over the coming weeks. All of Malinovksyi, Zapata, and Luis Muriel clanked shots off the woodwork – with Muriel’s shot rebounding to a perfectly placed Rafael Toloi who bodied the ball just wide of goal.
Three woodwork shots, plus pointblank headers missed by Toloi and Zapata make it so easy to think what could have been, but it is not an excuse. Atalanta’s recklessness put them in an unforgivable position, and good teams will take advantage of the situation. Thursday embodies Atalanta’s Champion’s League journey, with great goals coupled with shambolic defense. Shipping off late leads to Manchester United proved to be the demise of Atalanta, and its quality didn’t shine through enough when it mattered. The Europa League is a nice consolation prize in which Atalanta can make noise – but it stings not to advance to the knockouts for a third straight year. Villarreal was disciplined when it mattered, and now Atalanta can hopefully use this result as fuel for what could have been.
Atalanta Passione’s Match Ratings
Juan Musso: 6 – Unfortunately there was little he could do on Villarreal’s three goals.
Rafael Toloi: 6.5 – He was culpable on some of Villarreal’s chances, but his contribution offensively nearly got La Dea back in the game.
Merih Demiral: 5 – He froze like a deer in headlights leading to the first goal, and Danjuma proved to be too much for him all match.
Jose Luis Palomino: 6 – His work in the middle is consistently undervalued, but his slip (literally and figurately) iced the match for Villarreal.
Hans Hateboer: 5.5 – He’s clearly not up to full speed yet, and his decent ball retention was overshadowed by his heavy touch, and below average crossing.
Joakim Maehle: 6 – A smart decision to dish off to Malinovskyi on the first goal, but its embarrassing to say you got beat on the flank by Juan Foyth.
Remo Freuler: 6.5 – He continuously ensured that the offense was driving forward, but he wasn’t able to have much influence beyond that.
Marten de Roon: 6 – Perhaps he was underutilized, as he didn’t have much man marking to do on Dani Parejo.
Matteo Pessina: 5 – He looked like a fish out of water, weak with his passing, and lacked the strength to measure up with Capoue.
Josip Ilicic: 7 – Granny certainly gave it his all, topped by his brilliant assist to Zapata.
Duvan Zapata: 7 – He had so much work to do simultaneously against Raul Albiol and Pau Torres, and he never stopped. He deserved a goal, but could have done better to get at least one more, the chances were there.
Berat Djimsiti: 6 – The match was pretty much sewn up by the time he came on, but Danjuma was still able to slither by him.
Ruslan Malinovskyi: 7 – The thunder strikes keep coming, and he nearly put away a Puskas worthy freekick that clanked off the crossbar.
Luis Muriel: 6.5 – Again he was denied by the crossbar on a shot that was again nearly Puskas worthy.
Davide Zappacosta: s/v
Atalanta Passione Man of the Match – Ruslan Malinovskyi
Sitting a bit deeper back then we’re used to seeing him, Malinovskyi was much cleaner with the ball than he has been recently. While his retention was good, it was his thunderous left foot that separated him from the pack today. The aforementioned goal continues his streak of strikes outside the box, and his ability to score from nearly any freekick has to be devastating for defenses. Watching him play a bit deeper is always interesting, just as long as he can get in range for some thunderous strikes.
Other Atalanta Villarreal Match Odds and Ends
Merih Demiral’s mistake on the first goal was one of the strangest passes of play I have seen. In nearly any situation, displaying hesitancy in such a situation would just lead to a loss of possession. But this is Atalanta were speaking about. Naturally there was no one back to cover from his run forward, and its a shame that such an innocuous play cost Atalanta a goal. The most important thing is it doesn’t hurt Demiral’s confidence in making future runs forward.
Arnaut Danjuma is the exact type of player Atalanta can use. Right-footed, quick, shifty, and clinical enough to be dangerous. With Atalanta’s depth, bringing in a player of his ilk would give Atalanta the opportunity to put nearly any type of offensive tactic out based on the situation (check out the AtalantaPOD for our thoughts!).
So often there stretches of play in the second half where so many Atalanta players were just waiting inside the box for a cross to come in, as if the passage of play was resembling a free kick. Hans Hateboer has never been the best crosses, and the game screamed for Davide Zappacosta who has recently been excellent in converting his crosses. Its slightly puzzling he only came in once the match was decided.
In another strange lineup choice, Mario Pasalic didn’t even see the pitch. Duvan Zapata was getting double teamed so often in the match, someone with the slipperiness of Pasalic to sneak into the box could have been the perfect antidote to stave off the Zapata double team.
The last time Atalanta played in the Europa League, it had the misfortune of being drawn in the Round of 32 against, none other than Borussia Dortmund. This time around, Atalanta should have an easier opponent on its hand, but before thinking about Europa League, its hard not to lament for a bit about the rollercoaster of a match. As far out of reach the match seemed, there was always a glimmer of hope that Atalanta could have somehow pulled off the improbable.
And the guys nearly did! Couple two goals, with the three balls that hit the woodwork, and you can’t help but think what could have been. Regardless of the outcome, Atalantini can hold their heads high for a never giving up and making the second half a nail biter – even if the boys needed to score four goals (if anyone could have done it, it would have been Atalanta). Not making the knockouts is a shame, but its time to give the clubs in the Europa League all it can handle. La Dea has the firepower to make some noise, its just time to couple the offensive firepower with a little more defensive discipline! As always, Forza Dea!!!
