Fiorentina – Atalanta Bergamo: Atalanta Claim Comeback Win After Chiesa Stunner (1-2)

Fiorentina hosted Gian Piero Gasperini’s Atalanta side in one of the highlight fixtures of this weekend’s Serie A schedule. It was a fairly one-sided affair as Atalanta survived a first half scare to claim victory in a game they controlled for long periods. 
Tactical analysis and match report by Julian Chingoma.

In their last outing, Fiorentina ended up on the wrong side of a resounding 3-0 result, despite giving a good account of themselves against the reigning champions Juventus. The fourteenth-placed hosts welcomed Atalanta Bergamo, who were looking to put a strong grip on fourth spot having a game in hand on their nearest rivals for Champions League football, AS Roma.

It was a 3-5-2 formation to start off with for Fiorentina, set up by their manager Guiseppe Iachini. Bartłomiej Drągowski was the hosts’ goalkeeper with the trio of Nikola Milenković, Germán Pezzella and Igor in front of him. The midfield three of Marco Benassi, Erick Pulgar and Gaetano Castrovilli were then flanked by Pol Lirola and Dalbert Henrique. Federico Chiesa and Patrick Cutrone were then the pair that led the attack. 

Gian Piero Gasperini sent out the visitors in a 3-4-1-2 formation. Pierluigi Gollini was the man between the posts and he had Rafael Tolói, Berat Djimsiti and José Palomino as the three ahead of him. The wing-backs were Timothy Castagne and Robin Gosens, and the duo in central midfield consisted of Remo Freuler and Mario Pašalić. In support of the two . . .