"Atalanta is a team that attacks and attacks again, scoring a lot of goals." Thomas Tuchel, the coach of Paris SG, did not need to push his analysis in depth to identify the main force of Atalanta Bergamo, the future opponent of the champions of France in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. A formation which will pass a real test this Saturday evening, during the 32nd day of Serie A, while moving on the field of Juventus Turin. With nine points behind the Old Lady, the "Dea" - her nickname in reference to the goddess Atalanta who in reality was only a simple princess - can maintain a slim hope of title if successful in Turin. Above all, a victory would bring their total to seven in a row since the resumption of the championship, after the interruption linked to the coronavirus pandemic and would consolidate their place on the podium.
To try to disturb Juve, Atalanta will therefore rely on its offensive sector, impressive efficiency both nationally - 85 goals scored in Serie A, 18 better than Inter Milan, its runner-up in the field -, that European - 16 goals scored including 8 just in the round of 16 against Valencia (4-1 then 3-4 in Spain on the return). A real scoring machine that almost no one can resist, since only three teams since the start of the season have managed to finish an encounter without going after the ball at least once. These are Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League, and the Cagliari-Sampdoria tandem in Serie A. On the other hand, others have taken the water from all sides, such as Udinese (7-1), Torino ( 0-7) or even AC Milan (5-0).
A multi-headed attack
Figures all the more impressive since Atalanta does not have big stars in attack. But a formidable trio composed of Josep Ilicic, Duvan Zapata and Luis Muriel. The first, which peaks at 1.90m, is not only a good lead player but has a very safe and destabilizing technique. His only fault? A lack of regularity which has always prevented it from passing a course on the international level. Zapata is also a beautiful baby of 1.86m and 80 kilos, powerful but also very mobile, author of 14 goals in Serie A. As for Muriel, he is quite simply the best joker in all European clubs. Holder only ten times in the championship, this did not prevent him from scoring 17 goals already in a more fierce register than his two partners. A variety of poison on the offensive level which would be nothing, however, without the playing master Alejandro Gomez, the essential number 10 of 3-4-1-2 set up by Gian Piero Gasperini. With a vision of play well above the average, the Argentinian international, at 32, arrived at the top of his game with 6 goals and especially 15 assists this season in the league.
An attack all the more formidable as the danger really comes from everywhere. In the Champions League, Atalanta has ten different goalscorers, a record. Likewise, in the league, the club of Bergamo likes to torment their opponents with substitutes who like to score a lot of goals out of the bench, which has happened 17 times in Serie A. Carried by the offensive instructions of their coach Gasperini, a redoubtable tactician with a very assertive requirement, the players of the "Dea" multiply the possible dangers, like the Croatian midfielder Mario Pasalic (6 goals) and especially the left left German Robin Gosens (9 goals) revelation of the season. Even behind, the Toloi-Palomino-Djimsiti trio participate in the all-rounder with 6 achievements (two each), with a freedom to ride rare in current football.
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A desire to bring danger to the opponent's goal which is based, beyond the quality of the players and the tactical excellence of the coach, on an irreproachable physique. What made Gomez say at the end of April in a direct on Instagram: “During the week, it's very hard in training. Fortunately there is the match to rest on the weekend. ” A dimension that could prove decisive against Paris SG, which we know will have played only two official matches of competitions - the finals of the Coupe de France (July 24 against Saint-Etienne) and the League ( July 31 against Lyon) - before challenging the Transalpine formation in the Champions League on August 12. The Parisians will immediately have to put enough intensity to resist the opposing pressing and the infernal rhythm that Atalanta will not fail to try to impose on them.
A defense necessarily crumbly
However, this offensive table, scary for PSG, is tempered by a defense far from being as formidable. With 16 goals conceded in the Champions League, Bergamo presents the most porous rear guard of the teams still qualified. As very often in the case of a formation carried forward, many imbalances are emerging, with situations of one against one which could benefit Neymar or Kylian Mbappé, especially since the defenders of Atalanta are not not known for their peak speed. Moreover, the only international of the three usual defense holders is Berat Djimsiti with Albania. A whole symbol. If the PSG will therefore sometimes have to back up to resist the Italian attacks, it will also, and above all, take advantage of the cons that will not fail to offer itself to him. While being wary of the mentality of this Atalanta team, which qualified despite a single point taken in its first four games. Back from far away, the Italian team believes in its lucky stars, which is always dangerous.
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