Juventus – Atalanta: Spalletti’s Compactness, Transitions And Set-Piece Punishment (2-0)

Few sides expose the value of space quite like a Sarri team. Juventus invited Atalanta to dominate possession, only for their compact block to limit the routes forward before Conceição exploited the space out wide, with Spalletti’s side then controlling the second half and Bremer’s set-piece finish completing a disciplined victory.

Tactical analysis and match report by Mustafa Hassan.

Luciano Spalletti’s Juventus lined up in a 3-4-2-1 formation, using three centre-backs to provide security in the first phase while Nico González and Zeki Çelik operated as the wing-backs. Guglielmo Vicario started in goal behind Pierre Kalulu, Gleison Bremer and Juan Lucumí, who formed the defensive line. Douglas Luiz and Weston McKennie formed the central midfield pairing, while Francisco Conceição and Kerim Alajbegović played behind Randal Kolo Muani, who led the attack.

Juventus’ structure allowed González and Çelik to provide width while Conceição and Alajbegović occupied narrower positions around Kolo Muani. This gave Spalletti’s side a compact defensive structure without the ball, while the front three could attack the spaces left behind Atalanta’s defensive line. After taking the lead, Spalletti adjusted the shape to a 4-2-3-1, moving González higher into the attacking line and giving Juventus another presence between the lines.

Atalanta, meanwhile, lined up in a 4-3-3 formation under Maurizio Sarri. Marco Carnesecchi started in goal behind Raoul Bellanova, Thomas Kristensen, Giorgio Scalvini and Marco Bernasconi, who formed the back four. Lazar Samardžić, Franck Kessié and Éderson operated as the midfield three, while Charles De Ketelaere, Nikola Krstović and Jonathan Rowe formed . . .