Wow! What else can you say? At most I was hoping for a draw to set us up for a huge final Group Stage match against Ajax, but Gasperini and the boys did us one (or 2 points) better. Playing at Anfield is no easy task for opponents, regardless of which starting XI Klopp decides to put on the field. In the Gasperini demonstrated his willingness to learn and some creativity that put a unique formation on the field that helped us win the midfield and free up Papu to orchestrate the offense.
While the day was overshadowed by perhaps the world’s greatest number 10, it is fitting that both of our best performances of the match came from Argentinians. I don’t know if its poetic justice, but chapeau to Papu and Cuti for putting in performances that would make Maradona smile. So in honor of Maradona, and Thanksgiving for America, here’s a unique twist on the match recap, and 10 things I’m thankful for:
10. Wingback play has got its groove back- It’s pretty evident that both Liverpool and Atalanta require so much from their wingbacks. And in a game that didn’t feature Trent Alexander-Arnold nor Robertson until the end, Liverpool didn’t look the same. Oppositely Gosens and Hateboer did their thing, and linked up for a classic Atalanta wingback combo goal. Didn’t I tell you Gosens was my weapon of choice?
9. Cuti Romero is the rock in the middle we’ve been missing- The whole back 3 was immense yesterday, but Cristian Romero ultimately stole the show. He bossed the Liverpool attack, leaving Mane and Salah with hardly any breathing room to do anything. Atalanta’s obvious weakness has always been getting burned at the back on the counter, but Cuti is continuing to establish himself as the rock that throws off counters and controls the backline… Personally my MOTM
8. Gasperini isn’t as stubborn as one may think- I was a little confused about his lineup decision, going pure 3-5-2 without a true striker on the pitch, but it worked. The inclusion of Pessina on the pitch allowed for another body in the midfield to clog up space, win the ball back, and force Liverpool into hoofs or poor decisions. I love Gasperini’s ability to adapt, and its good to see he’s playing chess on the field always looking three moves ahead. Should be crucial going into the Serie A campaign too, making La Dea less and less predictable.
7. Ilicic finally gets back on the scoring sheet- Myself and many others have been critical of Ilicic since his return. He hasn’t caught up to speed, and with a very similar player who’s been excellent in his minimal time on the pitch in Lesha, it seemed foolish that Josip kept getting game time. But boy, how could you not be happy for him to squeeze that goal past Allisson. Pure joy, and hopefully that’s the boost of confidence he needed to get back on pace. If so, watch out!
6. The sheer presence of Gollini- Interestingly we’ve had clean sheets in Gollini’s only two starts of the year. Not saying Gollini is a world beater, but the defense just looks more comfortable with him at the back. There’s more of a sense of calmness, no issues with backpasses, and more fluidity. Sportiello filled in admirably during Gollini’s absence but having the in-house rapper back on the pitch is a welcome.
5. We’re nearly healthy- Gosens may have picked up a small knock at the end, but boy its great to have a full squad at your disposal. The de Roon-Freuler partnership is back to doing its thing, and having Gosens back was like injecting steroids into the left side of the pitch. There’s still some injury worries about Hateboer’s back-ups in dePaoli and Piccini, but having healthy players in key positions back makes you appreciate them so much more.
4. Resiliency- Time and time again this club proves its resiliency. Not too many teams could come back after a 5-0 embarrassment and put up a clean sheet without giving up a shot on target in one of the toughest stadiums to play in (fans or no fans). Kudos to Gasperini’s leadership, and Papu’s captaincy to ensure the boys never lose hope and always believe in their abilities.
3. Italia is representing in Italy- I’m expanding this to encapsulate all of Italy. Besides Conte and Inter throwing up stinkers, 3 Italian clubs have a very good chance of advancing to the final 16. In a time where every league besides the Premier League gets donned as a farmer’s league, seeing Italy put up good performances in Europe is extremely encouraging.
2. Papu is a quintessential number 10- Papu’s performance yesterday would’ve made Maradona proud. While he didn’t score, he orchestrated the offense as we’ve come accustomed to, and assisted (and hockey assisted) both goals. On a day that was probably extremely heavy for him, he delivered a performance for the ages. (Interestingly both of the best performances on the field came from the Argentinians).
1. Atalanta Football has made this year easier to navigate- This has been the toughest year for a lot of people (including myself). Not knowing what really lies in store as we go forward into 2021, its nice to get lost in the world of football, and specifically the adventures of La Dea. People can poo-poo sports as wasteful, but that’s foolish. Sports encapsulate everything about life (personally and professionally), and its beautiful to live and die with a team and just get away from everything for awhile. Thank you Atalanta! It’s cheesy but following the club, writing up recaps, and interacting with other Atalanta fans has been a joy and one of my top things I’m thankful for this year….. As always Forza La Dea!
