Forty shots, eleven on target, zero goals… Does this sound familiar to anyone privy to La Dea’s history with Empoli? Before it was Bartłomiej Drągowski pulling off wonder saves for Empoli, this time around it was Guglielmo Vicario. Amid his wonder saves, Empoli was also able to sneak a goal past Juan Musso to put Atalanta out of its misery this season. A lopsided 1-0 victory for the visitors was just another embodiment of Atalanta’s season that had the club on the wrong sides of the result far too many times.
If there’s any silver lining on Saturday’s loss its that Roma and Fiorentina took care of their business in a battle for European placements. It eliminates the woulda, coulda, shoulda had either side not reigned victories. Instead, we can focus on what needs to be done next year to get back into European competitions.
Atalanta Passione’s Match Ratings
Goalkeeper: 6.5 – Juan Musso had one of his more boring matches. He probably has no chance to stop the pinpoint goal that gave Empoli the lead.
Defense: 6.5 – Like Musso, the defense really did not have a lot to do all match, with one brain fart sealing its fate. Jose Luis Palomino was stellar, again, like he has been all year – putting up double digit combined tackles and interceptions.
Wingbacks: 5.5 – No starter has played himself out of the starting lineup for next year more than Hans Hateboer. His offensive killing traits make the attack considerably worse down the right, putting all the onus on Davide Zappacosta. Whille DZ77 is more direct and effective, his final ball misses more than one would want from a wingback.
Midfield: 6.5 – The last few matches may have may have been our first glimpse of Remo Freuler trekking down the mountain from his magnificent peak. Age looks to have caught up to the Swiss a bit, making him less ruthless in his usual role as pest. Teun Koopmeiners on the other hand looked good, with his long balls especially being on point again.
Attack: 6.5 – Zero goals barely begins to tell the story for an offensive trio that peppered Empoli’s goal with shots all match. Perhaps a bit less hesitation dribbles from Jeremie Boga, but its really hard to fault a frontline that put double digit shots on target.
Substitutes: 5.5 – Matteo Pessina killed the team’s flow, again, and the team was instantly worse once substitutes were made, until… Josip Ilicic came on for perhaps his final match in Atalanta black and blue. He didn’t have a whole lot of time to influence the match, but his presence is still enough to open up offense elsewhere.
Atalanta Passione Man of the Match – Duvan Zapata
Unlucky day for the big Colombian who adeptly played both creator and ‘almost’ scorer. Amazingly Zapata amassed over 1.7 post shot expected goals. To score none is supremely unlucky and just an embodiment of the season. A more superstitious man may suggest that his fortune has reversed ever since he changed hairstyles. It may be time to head off to a new barber now.
Other Match Odds and Ends
Atalanta xG: 3.95 – Empoli xG: 0.29 – I have an article coming up about the on-field lopsided performances that did not go Atalanta’s way this year. This match may be the most egregious of the bunch.
Merih Demiral again came off the bench for Atalanta in the waning minutes of the match. He hasn’t started for Atalanta since the beginning of the month against Salernitana. Its interesting that Gasperini has not preferred the Turkish international recently, and it may suggest that Atalanta expects to cash out once the purchase with Juventus goes through. Literally Cuti Romero 2.0.
Josip Ilicic only played 10 minutes, but it was incredibly to see him back on the pitch. He certainly isn’t as lithe as he way in 2021. But Josip Ilicic is better than no Josip Ilicic. With his contract expiring in June, it is difficult to envision a future with him at Atalanta, so it is incredibly important he got one last run in front of the home supporters.
For the first time in years the schedule will look light next year with only Serie A and the Coppa Italia to focus on. Maybe that’s what Atalanta needs. Atalanta played more matches than any other Serie A team in 2022, besides Roma, and the squad definitely looked ragged at times – injuries notwithstanding.
There’s a lot of questions going into the offseason, and such a drop in form for what the Atalanta faithful are accustomed to will likely usher in some needed changes. The team is getting old and slow in some key positions, and relying on guys on the wrong side of thirty to consistently stay healthy is not a sound strategy. Regardless, we fight on. If this season was played thousands of times, Monte Carlo simulation style, this outcome was certainly on the wrong side of what an expected average would be. But at the same time, teams can make their own luck – and Atalanta plodded to the finish line in far too many matches. The key pieces and spine of the team still looks to be intact, let’s just go retool and come back even stronger. Keep the faith, and as always Forza Dea!!!
