Atalanta-Empoli 0-1: goal from Stulac

From our correspondent Marco Guidi

May 21
– BERGAMO

After five years, Atalanta remains out of Europe. To certify it is the defeat, yet another at Gewiss, 1-0 against Empoli. However, winning would have been useless, given that Fiorentina defeated Juventus at the same time. But here, ending a season below expectations in style would have been a small consolation. It didn’t happen that way. “Another season has passed, the shirt has always been sweaty: thanks guys”. The message from the North curve completely absolves Gasperini’s team. But from tomorrow at Atalanta we will begin to think about the future, with no cups ahead, but with a project to improve.

THE MATCH

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Orphan of Muriel injured and Malinovskyi suspended, Gasperini in attack raised Zapata and Boga from 1 ‘at the same time, with Pasalic behind them. Andreazzoli has no Pinamonti striker and grants a showcase to the La Mantia-Cutrone duo, with Henderson and not Bajrami in the role of attacking midfielder. You expect an attacking Atalanta and instead Empoli’s dribble is appreciated at the start. The Tuscans thus arrive to kick three times towards Musso’s goal in the first 8 ‘(Musso blocks on Henderson and Cacace, Cutrone aims wide with his right). But when the Goddess finally manages to occupy the other half of the field, Vicar has to start working his elbow. Within a minute, the goalkeeper flies to Zapata’s header, then relaxes well on the Colombian’s long-range attempt. Opportunities flock, the Nerazzurri are not even lucky: at 20 ‘Zappacosta with a sure shot, on valuable assistance from Zapata, hits Boga in full a few meters from the goal. The Ivorian tries to redeem himself shortly after, but Vicario raises his shot for a corner. The goalkeeper is repeated around half an hour on Koopmeiners. In short, the first half turns into target practice. And to close it is another diagonal of Zapata’s right stretched in a corner by the usual Vicar.

SURPRISE

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Not that the second fraction starts out differently. Andreazzoli inserts Bajrami for La Mantia, but the music remains the same and it is always Atalanta to play. At 6 ‘Koopmeiners to turn with the left: Vicar smanaccia diving. At 10 ‘it is Boga’s turn, after a dense and interminable network of passes at the edge of the area: nice shot from 16 meters, ball over the crossbar. He does not want to enter and Gasperini then tries to reshuffle the cards. Inside Pessina for Hateboer, Zappacosta goes to the right, Boga in full range to the left, Pasalic as second striker and the new entry as attacking midfielder. The right changes, however, are those on the other side. In particular that of Stulac, who at 34 ‘with a perfect execution from 20 meters leaves Musso in stone. It was already 5-10 ‘that Empoli put his nose out of his half, actually, after almost an hour of siege Dea. Who continues to try, with less clarity, even under a goal: Vicar of foot says no to Zapata.

WHO’S BACK

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At 38 ‘, Josip Ilicic is back. Four and a half months later, the Slovenian returns to the field of Gewiss. And already seeing him smile is good news. Perhaps it will be the last time in Bergamo (“Thanks for everything Ilicic”, says the banner displayed by the North at the end of the race, with Josip giving greetings left and right), but knowing that the worst could finally be behind us makes everyone happy . Starting with the many fans with the number 72 shirt, who started calling him from the stands in the pre-match bull with the reserves. The story with a happy ending would like Ilicic to score and Atalanta to go to Europe, but this Nerazzurri season has been bitter for at least five months. Also because Vicario really saves everything until the end and Fiorentina in the meantime beat Juve. Thus, for the first time in the Gasp era, the Goddess arrives eighth and remains outside of Europe. Even if the whole stadium calls on his coach, inviting him to stay with ad personam choirs. He speaks to the company.