Date: July 28, 2020
Time: 13:30 EST
Now more than ever would be the time for a nice 5 goal performance. With only 4 goals shy of 100, and Inter coming up over the weekend, La Dea’s match-up against Parma may be their last realistic chance to reach the coveted 100 goal mark. Fortunately, last time out against Parma, Atalanta were able to put up 5 goals in relatively easy fashion. Unfortunately, Parma haven’t given up more than 3 goals since they last played Atalanta. In other words, they’ve been stingy, even though there have been quite a few 3 goals conceded performances peppered in their latest results.
Granted at this point, I just want to see 100 goals. Juventus have already locked up the Scudetto, Champion’s League is already determined, and the only real difference between 2nd, 3rd, and 4th is cash and bragging rights. Extra cash is always nice, but when you’ve already sold Parma foe Dejan Kulusevski to Juventus next season for practically the entire wage bill of the squad, an extra 5-10 million euros helps, but isn’t necessary to keep La Dea above water. But 100 goals hasn’t been done since the 1950’s! The fifties! Rock’n’Roll barely existed, and probably all the parents of the current Atalanta squad weren’t even born yet! A fleeting few will remember that Juventus won the Scudetto this year, but every Serie A fan will remember the Gasperini team that slotted 100 goals!
Besides goal-scoring heroics, we finally get to see what we may or may not have missed out on with Dejan Kulusevski. Dejan, who did not play, in the squad’s first match in January has lit up Serie A this year with 9 goals and 9 assists, and along with Gervinho has been the engine that has kept Parma close to the top 10 all year. I’ll admit, watching him play is extremely enjoyable. Full of energy, paced, and some cheeky lefty tricks he is a show stopper; hell, it’s why Juve forked over so much dough for him. He will definitely give either Djimsiti or Palomino a lot to handle on the right side.
Now if Atalanta can neutralize Dejan, La Dea should be able to dictate the pace and flow of the game. Asides from their 2 game winning streak, Parma were on dreadful form before beating Napoli and Brescia, only managing 1 point in their previous 7 matches. Depending on how each team is handling fatigue, the match could we wide open with both sides flying up and down the flanks. At this point there’s nothing left to lose for either club, so why not throw caution to the wind? Of course, Atalanta can afford any dumb injuries, as the PSG task just got a little easier with Mbappe being ruled out. But a free flowing game would bring us an entertaining match considering both clubs really exploit their flanks to generate offense. But the end, what I want is goals. Inter is too stingy to guarantee 2 goals, so at a minimum, I’d be comfortable with 3 in the march towards 100. If anyone can do it, Atalanta can. So with that, Forza Atalanta, and here’s to being 1 step closer to the triple digits we all crave (at least a little)!
