Atalanta Bergamo – US Sassuolo: Atalanta Run Riot Over Sassuolo In Dominant Display (5-1)

Atalanta's clash with Sassuolo pitted Serie A's artisan outfits against one another. But in what promised to be a competitive matchup, a mixture of rough marking and clever dismarking saw the home team dismantle the pretenders to their throne with a ruthless showing.
Tactical analysis and match report by Emmanuel Adeyemi-Abere.

Atalanta still seek to fly out of the traps, but they are yet to look fleet of foot. Bursting into the public imagination with a mythical Champions League run, the fairytale is under threat of unraveling. A 4-1 humbling to Napoli began a run of results that puts the home team in seventh place. In the meantime, Papu Gómez's fallout with Gian Piero Gasperini has left the talisman's future up in the air. Have the gods called time on divine intervention in Bergamo?

If so, Sassuolo have quietly been the side most likely to take on their mantle. New to Serie A in 2013, they are reaping the fruits of patience in a sporting project. Under the tutelage of precocious manager Roberto de Zerbi, the guests began the weekend at the lofty height of fourth place, their highest ever ranking in the table at this point of the season. Similarly unwavering in their principles, they hoped to win out in this clash of stylistically attractive outfits.

Gasperini lined up his side in their 3-4-1-2 system. Gómez's future continues to . . .