Its not too often that a squad scores three goals against Juventus; but with the offensive freight train that Atalanta recently has been, La Dea can now count itself as the second Italian team this year to put more than three past the Old Lady. But with the good, unfortunately, comes the bad. Heart attack Atalanta is now back, and it helped to keep the match in equilibrium – shipping three goals of its own. Still Gian Piero Gasperini and company will be happy with a decisive point in Turin, and more reaffirmation that this team still knows how to score; all without superstar Teun Koopmeiners.
Still Atalanta has some kinks to address. When the team isn’t pressing all out, the lack of intensity tends to drift far too far into the realm of passivity. It burned Atalanta on the two goals it conceded in the first half, and it acts as a good data point of how La Dea needs to regroup when the main objective is to conserve a bit of energy, but also not permit opposition to waltz right through the area.
But when it clicks for Atalanta, boy does it click! The whole unit was on seek and destroy mode for the first ten minutes to open both halves. And if and whenever they are able to replicate such domination for longer stretches, look out! Until then, let’s take the positives and run with the point – and take solace in the fact that this new look offense can score against porous and stingy defenses alike!
Nick’s Match Ratings
Juan Musso: 6.5 – He had no chances on his goals, but this was one of his more assertive matches controlling his box.
Rafael Toloi: 6.5 – He left Arkadiusz Milik sneak free for his goal, but was otherwise a solid performer.
Jose Luis Palomino: n/a
Giorgio Scalvini: 7 – His long and lunging legs always surprise opposition, including leading to Maehle’s goal.
Hans Hateboer: 7.5 – The left side of the Juventus offense was surprisingly quiet, and a lot of it is thanks to the work from the Dutchman. The old fox (not really that old) still has a trick or two up his sleeve, especially when it comes to angering entitled wonderkids!
Joakim Maehle: 7.5 – A striker’s finish on his goal, his ball possession was good, and his energy came alive in the second half.
Ederson: 5 – The weakest link on the pitch, as he looked lost defensively and was frequently a step or two out of position.
Marten de Roon: 7.5 – He covered the midfield nearly singlehandedly in the second half, putting in a heroic defensive effort.
Jeremie Boga: 7.5 – Two more assists for the Ivorian, who talent continues to turn into results.
Ademola Lookman: 7.5 – Another brace for Mola, a little help from Woj, but he beautifully demonstrated his ability to score with legs and head alike.
Rasmus Hojlund: 6.5 – A good learning match for the Dane who had Bremer draped all over him. He got no help from the referee with Bremer’s aggression, but his presence still opened up space for his teammates to still put home three goals.
Merih Demiral: 5.5 – His attempt at dribbling skill nearly gave the game to Juventus. Otherwise he wasn’t nearly as dominant in the air against Milik than I would have liked.
Mario Pasalic: 6.5
Luis Muriel: n/a
Berat Djimsiti: n/a
Matteo Ruggeri: n/a
Nick’s Man of the Match – Marten de Roon
This one could have gone in a few directions, with Maehle, Boga, Lookman, and even Hateboer deserving shouts. However, de Roon stole it for me. Not only did he do his own job in clamping the midfield down in the second half, but he carried Ederson and his multitude of miscalculations. Could you even fault in for his “foul” on Manuel Locatelli that led to Juventus’s third and final goal? When Locatelli is the one that kicks de Roon in the foot, I’d just chalk that up to good defensive positioning once again.
Three Key Takeaways
One- Maybe it was my confirmation bias sensor going into hyperdrive, but how off the pace was Ederson in this match? He lost almost every 50/50 ball, and did far too much tracking back in this one. Fortunately Atalanta’s plan A involved Koopmeiners and de Roon, but there still will be ample opportunities for Ederson to contribute. With the attack at Atalanta’s disposal Ederson isn’t necessarily relied upon to be an offensive instigator. His value should first and foremost come from good defense and positioning – and then from there he can get on with the dribble when the opportunity presents itself. Playing midfield for Gasperini isn’t easy, we’ve just been spoiled with de Roon, Remo Freuler, and Koopmeiners, and it may just take him some time to perfect his situational duties first.
Two- Jeremie Boga has now compiled 5 assist and 1 goal in his last 200 minutes on the pitch. Where this version of Boga was hiding for so long is a mystery, but the offense shoots out like a catapult when he’s on the pitch. The tone of the offensive was noticeably tamer when Boga was subbed off and Ademola Lookman moved over to the left wing. No knock on Lookman, but his movement is better served off the ball, in my opinion, and Boga being the prime build-up threat is what takes this offense into over-drive.
Three- It has now been two consecutive matches that Danilo equalized for Juventus off a set-piece. Just a fun piece of data, although relatively meaningless.
Although Juventus needing to rely on drawn-up free kicks worth < 0.10 xG to equalize demonstrates how effective Atalanta’s defense was at the end. Oftentimes the flow looked dangerous to Atalanta’s detriment, but the unit was generally in control of proceedings. Besides Danilo’s goal and Fabio Miretti’s gimme strike thanks to Demiral’s dribbling blunder, Juan Musso was only seriously tested one other time in the second half. In fact 0.48 of Juventus’s 0.78 second half xG was thanks to a Bremer header off a corner. A chance that was far more difficult than the coinflip chance it was rated.
Amid the Juventus scandal and the decision to dock 15 points from their current tally, this game now holds twofold importance. First, and most important, it earns Atalanta a valuable point against (in a regular season) a direct rival. Second, as the petty side of me comes out, Atalanta denies Juventus an immediate phoenix scenario in which Massimiliano Allegri leads his unjustly treated team out from the ashes to a heroic and momentous victory.
Can you imagine the headlines if Juventus won this match? I don’t want to even think about it. And thanks to a strong offensive performance, we don’t have to. Serie A thanks you Atalanta! A point in Turin is always welcomed, and will be a good springboard into the second half of the season. Until that time, Forza Dea!
