The last time French football encountered Atalanta was obviously during the Final 8, with the quarter-final narrowly won by Paris Saint-Germain. PSG had escaped at the last minute, tossed around by a playful and unapologetic team. Next week, OM will face Dea, still masterfully managed by Gian Piero Gasperini. An a priori more affordable opponent than Liverpool, eliminated by the Italian team, but only a priori. Because Atalanta is capable of anything.
We know the workings, with this modular 3-4-2-1, where the threats often come from the two players supporting the attacker. In 2020, it was Ilicic, Zapata, Muriel or Malinovsky. In 2024, it’s De Ketelaere (who comes back to life after his failed stint at AC Milan), Scamacca, Pasalic (already there in 2020), Ederson, Lookman or Miranchuk. Atalanta managed to regenerate despite the departures. The players change, the Gasperini system continues. And the magic happens despite everything. On Wednesday evening, Dea pulled out all the stops to overthrow Fiorentina, after the 1-0 defeat in the Italian Cup semi-final first leg, with a 4-1 victory.
A team confident in its strengths
What is worth these laudatory comments in the columns of La Gazzetta dello Sport. “Gasperini’s Atalanta – that wonderful team which, over the past eight years, has entertained Italy, thrilled Europe and achieved various feats – was woefully lacking in a good Cup run. He took everything else: he beat everyone, including Liverpool; he built players then sold them to invent others; he played engaging and exciting football; he has gained unimaginable consideration, even on an international level. He lacks, in fact, a trophy, whatever it may be, to touch, to embrace, to raise towards the sky. »
Because if everyone agrees to praise the quality of Atalanta’s play, it has not led to any trophy. Here she is a stone’s throw from winning one, since she finds herself in the final of the Italian Cup (against Juventus), and in the semi-final of the Europa League. OM will therefore have to be very wary of this opponent with a less prestigious CV than Liverpool but with well-defined playing principles. His luck? The schedule for the 6th of Serie A is still plentiful and the Italian League has not postponed the championship meeting scheduled between the double confrontation against OM.
