With Inter drawing Roma 2-2 on Sunday, it has now become mathematically impossible for Atalanta to finish less than 4th place, and with that Champion’s League for next season! First of all, congratulations to La Dea for the fantastic work and effort they put in to secure itself atop the Serie A Table, but even with 4th wrapped up there’s still work to be done.
With Inter and Atalanta tied on points, and Lazio still only two points behind there is still a dogfight to be had for 2nd place, and a larger share of Serie A TV money. With Atalanta’s notable shoestring budget, any extra cash in the coffers will help with La Dea to either negotiate more lucrative contracts for players they want to retain (looking at you Gosen, Castagne, and Zapata), or even bolster a part of their lineup to continue challenging both in Italy and Europe.
Before we get too far ahead of ourselves, we still have four games remaining which will ultimately decide the fate of our season, and if this past week is any indication of what’s to come there are still some things Gasperini needs to sort out. The Brescia game was pure domination, and it was tough to glean anything meaningful save that some B squad youngsters can at least gel into the system. However, the Verona game, much like the first, was uncomfortable and only a backline error by Hellas and a tank like Zapata goal was the difference between a loss and squeezing out a point.
There always seems to be a point in the match where Atalanta go brain-dead, even if its just for 10 minutes. They lose shape, lose defensive responsibility, and overall just look out of sorts. Against Verona, Pessina was able to capitalize as the Atalanta back three were cemented to the ground allowing Pessina to beat the “off-side trap” and equalize. And from there the game was settled, Pasalic nearly garnered the 3 points with a last ditch effort that just sailed wide of the post, but ultimately Atalanta really didn’t have what it took to score a 2nd goal.
The most obvious difference against Verona was Papu’s frequent position on the left side of the pitch, whereas previously he’d be allowed roam freer, and even drop deeper than de Roon and Freuler to wrangle up the ball. Against Verona he was put into uncompromising positions where he’d be cornered or staring down 3 men all looking to prevent a deadly cross into the box. While he was still able to get a few crosses off, you he can’t connect every game, and much credit has to go to Verona who with Juric are definitely taking a page out of Gasperini’s book. To finish off the year, I’m much more keen to see Papu given more of that free role, especially if either Pasalic and Malinovskyi are in the lineup, as it allows them to move further forward where they’re more comfortable than playing the classic Freuler or de Roon double pivot role.
Speaking of Pasalic, is there a more frustrating player on the squad? He goes from calmly nailing a hat-trick against to missing a sitter that would’ve completely changed the tempo of the Verona game. It seems to happen quite frequently with Super Mario, who has a penchant for heroics, but not consistency. Playing a more DM/CM role allows him to get lost in the flow sometimes, although he still knows how to get forward and put himself in places to smack in goals. Perhaps Gasperini is still experimenting with how he wants to use Pasalic, and wants him to continue bolstering his shuttling and defensive abilities, but I still have my doubts that he can be more than an attacking midfielder. Fortunately Gasperini still has time to experiment with Pasalic [as he’s not too old] (and Malinovskyi to a degree, who continues to feel more and more like Ilicic’s replacement), and find a true role for him.
With four tricky figures still remaining, including a revenge game coming up against Bologna, I don’t want to see full experimentation mode from Gasperini just yet, 2nd place would still be huge for the club and for morale going into the “brief brief” off-season. Plus there’s nothing more than I’d like than to kick Milan off its high horse, who if Twitter was any indication of a club’s sentiment feel invincible over the past three weeks. A nice dominating win over Milan at Atalanta 2nd home “The San Siro,” would put the icing on the cake to an already spectacular Serie A season. Post COVID has been a wild ride with non-stop football, and while I don’t want it to end, in a way I’m excited to get to the end of the season, take inventory on what we have, and see if we have the chops to dismantle PSG, and Juventus next year for the Scudetto. And as always, Forza La Dea!
