Champions League: Why you should root for Atalanta

Atalanta attacks from anywhere and everywhere.

Imagine that you are alone in the woods. It’s dark, and there is the rustling of trees and leaves signaling a pack of wolves.

Then you look around to see where the strike will come from first. The ominous sounds are coming from everywhere and anywhere.

Without sight or preparation, you predict that the first wolf will come from the left, then you realize its coming right at you.

This scenario illustrates the magic formula of Atalanta’s offensive success and what makes them incredibly hard to defend. It’s impossible to know where the attack is going come from next.

Gasperini uses a 3-4-1-2 formation that features an incredibly fluid attack. The offensive attack can come from any player on the pitch. They will use a combination of unplanned changes of positioning while on the break with the pre-planned rotation of forwards and mid-fielders.

The result of these movements is to find numerical advantages in the mid-field where there is space created to move forward. Central midfielders may be wing-backs and vice versa. The lone “1” may be anywhere on the pitch like a queen on a chessboard.

The typical and interchangeable trio of Papu Gomez, Josip Ilicic, and Duván Zapata have combined for 40 goals and 27 assists in league play. Luis Muriel, who only has started ten matches, has added 18 goals, tied with Ilicic as the club’s top goal-scorer.

Atalanta leads Serie A in goals, expected goals (xG), and non-penalty expected goals (npxG). They are second best in goal finishing with a ratio of +12.84.