Sitting down to write this piece in the days after Atalanta’s 3-0 defeat at the San Siro and I have a strange feeling about things of late. On paper, 3-0 against a more than under performing Milan team seems like an awful result. But, when you actually look at the match, there are positives to take.
I will not argue the fact that the Nerazzurri were well and truly played off the pitch for the first 20 or so minutes against Milan. Robinho and two chances for Bryan Cristante could have seen the Rossoneri out of sight before the game even began. However, they missed their chances and Atalanta began to grow into the game.
Throughout the first half La Dea looked as if they could catch the home side on the counter attack. Ironically enough, this is how Milan took the lead. Atalanta over-committed to a set piece and the pace of Urby Emanuelson cost them as he burst forward to release Kaka’. Cristian Raimondi rattled the woodwork just before half time and had this gone in it could have been a different game completely.
Then after the break came a period of complete and utter dominance from the Orobici. They created more than enough chances to not only level but to put themselves a goal or two ahead of their Lombardy rivals.
On another day they would have gone ahead as Germán Denis uncharacteristically fluffed more than one chance and unfortunately if he doesn’t score, Atalanta don’t really score either with him leading the clubs scoring charts with six goals, with the next highest goal-scorers being four behind.
This brings me to my first big… Sorry, BIG cause for concern for La Dea. they have scored 18 goals in the league this season. That works out at one per game.
This is worrying enough s it is. It becomes more worrying when the list of top scorers is led by Il Tanque on six, then come two defenders in Davide Brivio and Guglielmo Stendardo who are joined on two goals by Maxi Moralez and Marko Livaja. Goals need to find their way around the team better. Giacomo Bonaventura needs to contribute much more in the second half of the season (that is, if he isn’t on his way to Juventus) as he looks to secure a place in Cesare Prandelli’s World Cup squad.
Although it is not his primary concern, Luca Cigarini may look to add more goals to his six assists. This is not a criticism of the great man, he is one of a few players who I can’t really point the finger at for under performing this season. You might remember I even named him my best performer of the season to date in the Atalanta side.
Poor performances on the road epitomises the season so far. The Orobici’s away results read: Loss, Loss, Loss, Won, Loss, Loss, Loss, Loss, Draw, Loss. (I realising saying “poor” was an understatement.)
On the other hand, their home form has been good. The La Dea supporters have something to be proud of. Picking up 14 of their 18 points at the Stadio Atleti Azzurri d’Italia.
This will give them some optimism as their next two games come in Bergamo and they are against extremely beatable opposition in the form of Catania and Cagliari. Catania are currently sat at the foot of Serie A and haven’t won on the road at all this season. Cagliari are only three points ahead of Atalanta and by the time they meet could well be on level points.
Cagliari too, are yet to win on their travels this season so there is absolutely no reason to suggest why the Nerazzurri can’t pick up six points from their next two games.
On that positive note, I think it’s time to wrap things up before the usual pessimism kicks in.
A big couple of weeks lie ahead – FORZA ATALANTA!
Follow Conor Clancy on Twitter: @concalcio
