Atalanta has not had a lot go right the last of month. From injuries, to transfers, to direct rivals somehow unearthing seemingly more points than available to earn the last few terms, Atalanta is now in a dogfight for a Top 4 finish rather than an outside push at the title. And of course to rub salt into the wound, the bad boys from Turin were next on Atalanta’s docket. Given the slight turmoil brewing around the Atalanta camp, Juventus was probably the last team Atalanta wanted to face at this junction.
Or perhaps, it was just fuel to Atalanta’s fire?
Atalanta had so many reasons to crumble and lick its wounds; but instead, the men rallied together and put in an historic performance. The mood was slightly dampened by Juventus’s late equalizer, but it was still a hero’s performance. The media was having everyone believe that Juventus were expecting to surge after its key signings and one victory in Serie A. Rather, Atalanta threw some much needed cold water on the hype train and grounded everyone back in reality. Juventus is good, but not unbeatable. And in Atalanta’s case, everyone goes through a rough patch once or twice a year. For Gian Piero Gasperini and his men, it may be looking like Sunday’s result revitalized a dormant and determined squad. Three points would have been exquisite, but its great to see the boys back on track for the remainder of an exhausting calendar that will not relent. Now about that game!
The Good
This segment would be a couple thousand words if everyone received the plaudits they deserved; so for the sake of time it will be kept brief. Everyone spilled their heart and soul onto the pitch, and there was no player or decision that could be singled out as detrimental to the cause. At the back, Marco Sportiello and the defensive three only allowed low probability chances to Juventus’s ‘vaunted’ attack. The midfield ran circles around a supposedly retooled unit (albeit one that didn’t include Denis Zakariah), and the attack did just enough to keep Juve’s backline in constant discomfort.
But the accolades have to go to Teun Koopmeiners and Jeremie Boga. Both players had shared the pitch together for sixty to seventy minutes prior to Sunday. Yet both slotted into the offense and worked off each other as if they had been teammates all year. Koopmeiners roamed the entire midfield like a one man wrecking crew, and Boga’s presence alone was a pressure diffuser. The dude didn’t even have to dribble to drum up apprehension and uncertainty into the Juventus defense. The ball at his feet was enough to do that, something Atalanta hasn’t had in awhile – speed kills!
And of course, Malinovskyi scores the goal of the year. Never again will we see a long shot of that caliber!
The Bad
Its hard to find a lot to criticize, so this segment will be short. Danilo’s late header was the third instance this season that Atalanta has been pegged back in extra time. This feels like it happens far too frequently for Atalanta, but it is difficult to blame any one facet of La Dea’s setup. On Sunday; however, I noticed that Mario Pasalic was the man beaten by Danilo ultimately leading to the game-tying goal. Pasalic had not been on the pitch for even two minutes, and he’s immediately being forced to duke it out in the box after sitting on the bench for 90 minutes. Not a criticism on Mario, but I think it raises a valid concern on endgame substitutes. Are fresh legs and bigger bodies more valuable late on, even if the players are not acclimated to the rhythm of the match? Maybe an unanswerable question, but it bit Atalanta Sunday.
The Ugly
A good game can never be without controversy, and there was a surprising quantity of questionable decisions that are worth discussing. Is it an Old Lady bias, a deep league conspiracy? How knows, but three instances that favored Juventus helped keep Allegri’s club within striking distance for its stoppage time equalizer.
First, Wojciech Szczesny’s half-hearted and clumsy attempt to win a tackle against Koopmeiners. Normally I wouldn’t err on the side of forgiveness for this challenge, but it was almost a carbon copy of what got Juan Musso sent off against Cagliari – except that Juan Musso actually made contact with the ball unlike Szczesny. In this case, Juventus did not receive a red card, nor a yellow card. Atalanta didn’t even get a free kick. It was business as usual, as if the ball rolled out for a harmless corner kick. Maybe its the right call, but I’d love to see some clarification as to why, as well as an apology to Juan Musso.
Second, Jeremie Boga is gliding down the pitch and strikes a shot right into the body of Mattijs de Ligt. Innocent enough of a play, but on the replay its quite evident that de Ligt parries the ball away with his forearm. No VAR check, one quick replay on TV, and game on. Again I don’t mind letting the game move on, but when instances like this are frequently given as penalties in Serie A – it forces one to question the consistency of the rules and referee’s decision making.
Finally, Dusan Vlahovic had a decent game. He was respectable as the focal point of Juventus’s attack, but he was not able to get off any shots of meaningful impact against the bend-don’t-break Demiral. Instead, he looks to theatrics. Already on a yellow, Vlahovic completes the most egregious in the box dive I have seen in some time. No contact from Atalanta players, just a good old fashion tumble. You could tell Vlahovic was spooked that he was going to be booked for simulation, but nothing. The only argument saving Vlahovic is dives are rarely called. But if referees brandish calls for only the most obvious instances, the Serbian’s antics certainly should have been up for consideration leading to a second yellow card.
Atalanta Passione Match Ratings
Goalkeeper: 7 – A really nice game for Sportiello. None of his saves were particularly difficult, but he was steady, confident, and manned his area well.
Defense: 7.5 – Commentators would have you believe that Juventus lost this game because of poor finishing. I wholeheartedly beg to differ. Only one chance, Dybala’s shot wide, had the power and substance to actually beat Sportiello – and it all goes down to the work of the defense. The backline didn’t have any problems letting Juventus win aerials and 50/50s. Rather a Demiral led group was much more concerned about not leaving space for dangerous runs and one-on-one opportunities. As a result it led to tepid chances from distance. Demiral flustered Vlahovic all match bringing a much needed dose of reality back to the Vlahovic hype train.
Wingbacks: 6.5 – Hans Hateboer had a chance to ice the match, but otherwise the wide men’s impact on the match was minimal. They did possess good shape to prevent attacks forming on the flanks, and it is good to see Hateboer a bit more adventurous going forward.
Midfield: 7.5 – Koopmeiners was everywhere, de Roon kept Dybala relatively quiet, and Freuler picks up the easiest assist of his career (as well as being Teun’s perfect compliment). This is the second match with all three midfielders on the pitch at the same time, and again it works wonderfully and is likely the go to formation against the elite clubs.
Attack: 7 – Boga and Malinovskyi were sublime, but Luis Muriel brings the rating down a bit with his disinterested play. Boga already looks to be a lock in the starting squad. He elicits so much joy as he runs around with his arms barely flailing as if he’s holding a brick in each hand!
Atalanta Passione Man of the Match – Teun Koopmeiners
I have previously written about a preference to see Koopmeiners act as a roaming backline player to act as a safety valve. Sunday doesn’t necessarily change my opinion, but it is confirmation on his versatility to be used pretty much anywhere on the pitch. Send eleven Teun Koopmeiners out onto the field, and this team can be competitive.
When victory was so close, the late minute equalizer would normally leave an incredibly bitter taste in the mouth. But with all the carnage and uncertainty swirling around the squad, Sunday’s draw is a perfect springboard to build off for the rest of the season. And the timing couldn’t be better. As Atalanta host Olympiakos midweek in the Europa League, La Dea should have be beaming with confidence to now make another deep run in Europe. A wonderful statement match, and as always Forza Dea!!!
