Bentornati ragazzi to another tactical breakdown of our amata Serie A.
In this analysis, we will take a closer look at how Atalanta dismantled Juventus on their own turf, inflicting the Bianconeri their worst home defeat since the 1967/1968 season. A result that not only raises more concerns for Juventus but also propels Atalanta into a potential title-deciding clash against Inter on Sunday, trailing Simone Inzaghi's side by just three points.
Prima di tutto, this victory was a testament to Atalanta's well-oiled chemistry and tactical cohesion. In contrast, Juventus seemed to struggle once again to forge a clear identity this season. Atalanta's performance was highlighted by an impressive 3.73 xG (Expected Goals), a metric that reflects the quality of chances created. For those new to the term, xG measures the likelihood of a shot resulting in a goal based on factors such as shot angle, distance, and the position of defenders. An xG of 3.73 is exceptionally high and underscores Atalanta's efficiency and threat in the final third. Truth be told, the match could have ended with an even larger scoreline given the chances created, especially towards the end of the first half.
Interestingly, despite this offensive output, Atalanta's possession was a mere 37%. This raises a key tactical question: how did they manage to create so many high-quality chances with such limited possession? Ecco perché it is crucial to interpret statistics in context. Football, unlike sports such as basketball where possession is more structured, is inherently chaotic. Possession percentages alone rarely tell the full story. In this case, Atalanta's plan was clear: absorb pressure, force errors, and strike rapidly on the counter. Their vertical approach was designed to exploit Juventus' defensive vulnerabilities, bypassing the midfield with swift transitions.
A perfect example of this strategy unfolded within the first three minutes. Juventus, pushing numbers forward, lacked precision due to numerous technical errors. Meanwhile, Atalanta's aggressive man-to-man marking and quick counter-attacks set the tone early on. Although Atalanta did not score from their initial break, they won a corner, signaling their intent to Juventus.
A fascinating tactical detail was the use of 'La Salida Lavolpiana', a build-up pattern attributed to Argentine coach Ricardo La Volpe, an influence on Pep Guardiola. In simpler terms, this approach involves a defensive midfielder dropping between the centre-backs to form a back three, allowing full-backs to advance wider. This tactic creates central space for midfielders to exploit. In this match, Khephrem Thuram and at times Manuel Locatelli executed this role effectively, at least in the first half, dragging Atalanta markers out of position and opening lanes for Juventus’ attackers.
In addition, they did resort to long balls from the goalkeeper, attempting to bypass Atalanta's press and create 1vs1 situations for their wingers.
Perhaps there was one notable tactical error in Juventus’ build-up. This was allowing Federico Gatti to handle Ademola Lookman alone in preventive marking—a risky move considering Lookman's speed and dribbling ability. A better alternative might have been to provide cover and create a 2vs1 scenario to delay Lookman's progress.
Special mention must go to Isak Hien for his stellar defensive display against Randal Kolo Muani. Hien's positioning and anticipation were flawless: a 100% tackle success rate, 3 clearances, and 3 recoveries effectively neutralized Juventus' focal point in attack. Kolo Muani was restricted to just 27 touches and zero chances, a testament to Hien's defensive mastery.
As the match wore on and the score reached 2-0, Juventus' tactical structure crumbled. Atalanta, sensing blood, pressed higher and more aggressively, eventually adding two more goals to seal a Gasperini masterclass in Turin.
This brings our look at Atalanta's historic win to a close. We hope you enjoyed this analysis! Please, let us know if you appreciate this type of content and make sure to keep following Serie A Spotlight on all social media platforms and wherever you get your podcasts.
ALLA PROSSIMA!
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