Atalanta Bergamo – Napoli: Overpowering Osimhen Trumps Left-Sided Transitions (1-2)

A sign of an elite team is when they still pick up results, without being in top form. Napoli extended their lead at the top, despite dangerous transitional threat coming from Atalanta Bergamo’s left side. Once Victor Osimhen was unleashed, two interactions were enough to swing the result in their favor.  

Tactical analysis and match report by Joel Parker.

Three different champions in three years. Serie A’s competitiveness has brought back a lost reputation, with two new challengers making up the top positions.

When Atalanta Bergamo appeared to have ended their time in the spotlight, the Goddess cast one of their own. Gian Piero Gasperini is still in charge, but Atalanta is back to winning games, without the immense amount of control they used to inflict on others. Man-to-man high pressing has been replaced by a solid medium block, which may still concede shots but not of high quality. Only Juventus had conceded fewer goals and Ademola Lookman has hit the form of his career upfront.

Gasperini’s team may have only lost once in their first twelve games but could be eight points off the league leaders with a defeat. Napoli has led the charge at an astonishing rate, with a highly flexible, highly attacking style which has seen them play the best football in Europe. Liverpool ended their unbeaten start to the season, but Napoli topped their Champions League group and had an opportunity to extend their hold on Serie A further.

No changes were made from Atalanta’s starting eleven that . . .