By Diego Valceschini
Round number 16 of the championship marked the first split at the top of the championship: perhaps the real three-way scudetto fight in which Atalanta will try to intervene between the two favorites Inter and Napoli. The fall of the former Italian’s Fiorentina in Bologna, punished by the Dane Odgaard, and the ruinous one of Lazio, an absurd 0-6 at home in Monday’s direct clash against Inter perhaps definitively launches the three rivals, even if I fear more the Inter of Napoli, especially after the Nerazzurri’s show of strength at the Olimpico against Baroni’s upset team.
ATALANTA FORCE 10 – As the news arrives of African Golden Ball to Lookmanwell deserved after the great season with Atalanta, culminating with the hat-trick in the Europa League final, Atalanta celebrates their tenth consecutive victory in the league, and their second week at the top of the table, even if the success at the Unipol Domus Arena it arrived after a difficult match, in which the the real protagonist was Carnesecchi: the Nerazzurri goalkeeper was the protagonist of several prodigious interventions that saved the inviolability of the Orobic goal; practically on Saturday Marco was surrounded by a sort of unbeaten aura where no one would have been able to score against him.
This is demonstrated by the sensational interventions on Piccoli and Zortea, but above all the one on Pavoletti after the lead. The match goal was scored by Zaniolo, who came on for two minutes, after an exchange with the great former Bellanova player, but wanting to see the Dea also had other opportunities, such as those of Brescianini in the first half and that of Kossonou in the second half, as well as at the post of Lookman who would have closed the race definitively. The Sardinians protested about a possible penalty at the hands of Kossonou, but the dynamic appears rather controversial, there are extenuating circumstances. Three precious points after the European commitment in which they held their own against Real Madrid.
THE REST OF THE TURN – It started on Friday, with the Granata success in Empoli decided by Adams’ goal from midfield, then on Saturday Napoli’s response, victorious in a comeback in Udine after freeing themselves from the psychological block of the first half, closed down, and relaunched by a great David Neres. In the evening yet another draw, the tenth in the championship, for the Juve fell to -9with Vlahovic saving the Bianconeri with a penalty in the 95th minute from a home defeat against bottom team Venezia and then arguing with the fans who dared to boo. On Sunday lunchtime, Lecce’s important success, which beats Monza, leaving them in trouble and leaving the dark areas of the standings, as well as Verona’s other important success in Parma, while Roma’s fall in Como makes noise, with two goal in final injury time.
Just as Milan’s home draw with Genoa was greeted with boos on the evening of the celebrations for the 125th birthday. Rossoneri who are currently slipping out of Europe, in eighth place, overtaken by Italiano’s Bologna, also three points behind Juve.
AND NOW THE CUP… ITALY – Meanwhile On Wednesday afternoon 18 December comes the debut in the Italian Cup, a trophy in which the Goddess is the outgoing finalist, which earned them their first participation in the extended Super Cup.
The opponent in Bergamo is the Cesena by Michele Mignani, one of the two Serie B clubs still in the running (the other is Sampdoria, playing against Roma, while Sassuolo was overwhelmed by Milan). A round that on paper should not give Gasperini’s men great worries, who would go on to challenge Bologna in the quarter-finalsalways at home. Obviously all matches must be played, but the Romagna club, fifth in Serie B together with Cremonese and Juve Stabia, does not seem to have the numbers to achieve a result in Begamo: among other things, their best player, the Albanian Cristian Shpendi, top scorer of I’m a cadet with 10 goals who was injured on Saturday in the home win against Cosenza.
In the Romagna area also two sons of art: goalkeeper Jonathan Klinsmannson of the German ex Inter and Sampdoria, even if it has chosen US nationality and Dutch striker Sidney van Hooijdonk, Pierre’s son. Speaking of Africans, special mention for the acrobatic Sierra Leone striker Augustin Kargbo and the Gambian defender with a Swedish passport Joseph Ceesay. Here too there is an ex: he is the midfielder Leonardo Mendicinohired in the summer from Atalanta Under 23.
The last match in official matches with Cesena in Bergamo dates back to the 2014/15 season in Serie A with Colantuono on the bench: on 7 December 2014 a 3-2 success over the team then coached by Bisoli after a comeback from 0-2. Benalouane, Stendardo and Maxi Morales overturned Defrel’s brace. The only Atalanta player from that match still present today is Davide Zappacostahowever replaced after 32 minutes due to injury.
Tuesday 17 December 2024
