Peak coronavirus frenzy has finally arrived. As the contagious disease continues to spread across the globe, it is not only affecting global markets, trade, and how humans interact with one and other, it has also creeped into competitive sport. As you probably already know, Italy has been one of the hardest hit countries so far in Europe, with nearly 150 deaths caused by the deadly virus. While originally just a problem in the northern regions of the country (including Lombardy, where Bergamo is gently nestled), the virus has now spread across the entire country, raising questions about how the Italian Government will handle the situation.
To paraphrase the old joke, in heaven the lovers are Italians, but in hell everything is organized by the Italians. So there will certainly be drama and perhaps questionable choices made on determining how to handle the disease within the country. Certainly Serie A has not been devoid of its own drama as of late with the cancellation of certain fixtures, the apparent giving into the will of Juventus by canceling the Derby d’Italia against Inter, and now, the ultimate decision to play games behind closed doors for the next month; at a minimum.
This does not bode well for what seemed to be a cracking and burgeoning title race between Juventus, Inter, and Lazio; since for the first time in years Juventus do not seem to have control on the outcome of the league. Its extremely unfortunate luck for Serie A which was trending upward across the globe for neutrals potentially looking for competition outside of England and Liverpool’s dominance. The chart below isn’t supposed to be scientific in any sort of way, but there was an obvious upward trend in Serie A searches on Google, until of course, the Coronavirus took over mainstream media the last month:
So what does this mean for Atalanta? Unfortunately La Dea’s enormous clash with Serie A leaders will be postponed until next week to give teams who could not play last week a chance to catch up on missed fixtures. As a result, Atalanta will not have a home crowd behind them to potentially turn the tides against a potent Lazio attack. However, if we we’re to view empty stadiums for the same lens, it is not all doom and gloom, considering Atalanta’s midweek clash with Valencia at the Mestalla will also be played behind closed doors, much to the chagrin of angry Valencia supporters. Perhaps rather fortuitously, the postponement of Lazio game will give La Dea additional rest against a Valencia squad that is extremely tough to knock out at home. Combine that with an empty stadium, and it perhaps provides just an extra bit of cushion to Atalanta’s already comfortable lead over Los Ches.
In the end, empty stadiums are terrible for football. Besides the lack of revenue generated, the atmosphere is simply not the same, and the overall experience can only deter from the games. I recall a baseball game several years back in which the Baltimore Orioles played against the Chicago White Sox in an empty stadium, due to ongoing riots in city streets, and the lack of safety it would pose to fans trying to go to Camden Yards. The one word that everyone seemed to use to describe the game was eerie. Fans are such a staple of the sporting events, the closest thing I can think of equating it to is a dream where you forget to put on pants, underwear, shirt, or something. The game feels naked without fans.
Once is fine, it is a unique experience that everyone will remember, and can look back at. But continual games without fans, who embody so much of the football atmosphere will truly be a shame. Obviously health and safety for the general public will and should trump sporting events, but in a world where so much revolves around “timing,” its extremely unfortunate for Serie A that the perfect storm of a worldwide crisis happened right in the middle of the best Serie A campaign in years. All we can do is hope and pray for those affected to quickly recover, and that a cure, breakthrough, or anything else is quickly found so that we can return to normal life. As always, even with empty stadiums, Forza Atalanta, and we’ll continue to support you as hard as ever, even if it has to be from our couches!
