Atalanta Bergamo – Bologna: Motta’s Manoeuvre Counters The Gasperini Game Plan (1-2)
The Champions League spots are firmly in the balance, but Bologna has taken a huge step to be there. After Gian Piero Gasperini had adapted to face their buildup, Thiago Motta found a solution for three massive points.
Tactical analysis and match report by Joel Parker.
The hipster's choice of yesteryear faced off against the current version in a close-fought battle for Champions League spots.
Just one point separated fourth-placed Bologna and sixth-placed Atalanta, the revitalisation of Roma threatens to knock both teams out of the running. Atalanta started the new year in terrific stride, but results against the Milan clubs have slowed them down. Charles De Ketelaere is responsible for their impressive goal-scoring numbers as of late. Still, Gian Piero Gasperini has not had an easy time against teams that have matched their quality.
Bologna’s mix of relationist and positional play has piqued the interest of football observers. Thiago Motta has created a unique game plan, one which is effective in picking apart man-marking systems (like Atalanta) and has enabled them to keep control against teams with more individual quality. Both of these teams are over-performing in their respective ways, but room on Europe’s grandest stage is limited.
Atalanta made three changes to the team that
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