RasenBallsport Leipzig – Atalanta Bergamo: Enthralling And Intriguing Tactical Battle Ends With The Tie Finely Poised (1-1)

If there ever was a tie to define ‘Europa League heritage’, it was RB Leipzig versus Atalanta. Two incredibly exciting sides that play transition-heavy football were destined to create a memorable match for neutrals, and they certainly delivered both in terms of excitement and tactical intrigue.

Tactical analysis and match report by Neel Shelat.

RB Leipzig’s season began fairly poorly as Jesse Marsch did not enjoy a successful spell at all, but things have very much been getting back on track after his departure and the appointment of Domenico Tedesco. Under him, they have been the best side in the Bundesliga in 2022 based on points per game, and have also qualified for the last eight of the Europa League and the semifinal of the DFB Pokal, quite possibly en route to their first-ever trophy.

Atalanta’s campaign has followed somewhat of an inverse trajectory. They seemed to quite comfortably be the best of the rest in Serie A behind the two Milan clubs and Napoli for quite a while, but they have recently dropped out of the final Champions League spot behind both Juventus and Roma. Their only shot at a first major trophy since 1963 is in the Europa League, but a tie against such an in-form Leipzig side was a very big hurdle indeed.

Leipzig lined up in a 3-4-1-2 formation with Péter Gulácsi in goal behind a back-three of Lukas Klostermann, Willi Orban and Joško Gvardiol, who had Benjamin Henrichs and Angeliño ahead of them on either side as the wingbacks. Konrad Laimer partnered Kavin Kampl in midfield behind Dani Olmo, whilst in-form French forward Christopher Nkunku joined forces . . .