Another week, and another stretch of evading defeat. While the wins and draws are beginning to look a little uglier and a bit more labored, points are points, and La Dea still control their own destiny for 2nd place over Inter and Lazio (even with Inter creeping into 2nd place this weekend). Both matches this week saw Atalanta score only once, which is seemingly a shocker to anyone who follows them, and a less potent offensive force is putting a 100-goal Serie A season in jeopardy. With a stingy Inter matchup in the final game of the season, La Dea may need to net 4 against Parma (which they’ve already shown they can do) to have a puncher’s chance of eclipsing triple digits.
While the offense isn’t up to it’s normal level of competency, it’s evident fatigue is finally catching up to a team that presses with an unmatched level of intensity. The last few games, and especially against Milan the wingbacks aren’t pushing nearly as far forward to cause havoc in the opponents half, almost as if they are focusing on keeping a cleaner defensive shape than normal. Gosens has been close to non-existent in the attacking half, and often times Toloi will end up creeping further up the pitch than Hateboer on the opposite side. At the end of the day who can blame them? A game every three days in sweltering Italian summer heat doesn’t do any team any favors. And with Gasperini’s close to stubborn refusal to rotate his starting squad, you begin to wonder if relief will ever come.
Granted some guys can are handling the workload spectacularly, and they deserve a shout-out. Beginning with Duvan, while he looks gassed every time a camera pans in on him, he’s still scoring at a great clip and doing yeoman’s work holding off aggressive central defenders. Second, Remo Freuler has a non-stop motor in the middle. While he’s got some time off through substitutions, and hasn’t started every game, he really has bossed the midfield and has been fantastic at bullying attackers off the ball and setting up potent offensive attacks. And finally, what else is there to say about the wind-up-toy Papu Gomez? He literally never stops, tracks back furiously to play defense, and has the stamina of an Iditarod sled-dog. Even if fatigue is becoming an issue, the boys are obviously still giving there all (not just these 3), and its a testament to coaching, the team’s desire, and everyone aiming for the same goal.
While watching the Milan match, the usually boring ESPN commentator(s) happened to make an interesting comment about Atalanta and Gasps’s tactics, and perhaps how they’re not showing everything in preparation for the Champion’s League match-up against PSG. And it makes sense, especially when Champion’s League is locked up for next season. Why show all your cards to fight for a long-shot Scudetto chance, when you can save your best tactics and strategy for a loftier goal? Perhaps the lack of movement from the wingbacks, less overlap, hiding Ilicic, and taking less offensive risks is all gamesmanship to throw off the PSG scouts and not give them a clear read on what to ultimately expect. It reminds me of Bill Belichick, in general, but especially against the Rams two Super Bowls ago. The Rams were an offensive juggernaut that season, but the Patriots (a team synonymous with offense and Tom Brady) put up a defensive masterclass against Sean McVay’s potent attack, obviously introducing brand new defensive schemes just for the Rams, and it worked, and was one of the Patriots most impressive Super Bowl victories (as much as I despise them!). Now I’m not saying this is what Gasp is doing, but knowing him, and coaches in general, holding something back or having something special up his sleeve for Champion’s League would not surprise me a bit. And ultimately, I hope that’s the case. 1-0 victories against Bologna won’t cut it against Neymar and Mbappe who can put up 5 goals before you blink.
Granted Atalanta can do that too on their day, so let’s hope that’s what we have saved in the tank going into the final week and Champions League. Here’s to 100 Serie A goals and Champion’s League success, and as always Forza Atalanta!
