Now real contenders for the scudetto. What is the phenomenon of Atalanta?
The race for the championship title in Italy has become one of the main highlights of this European season. The situation is so tight that the gap between first and fourth place is only four points. But who would have thought that after 17 rounds, Atalanta would be leading the pack? Today, Dailysports explains the phenomenon behind the team from Bergamo.
Astonishing facts about Atalanta’s season
Atalanta currently holds the best winning streak in Europe’s top leagues—11 matches. This is unprecedented for the “Goddess,” as no such record has existed in the club's history before. The previous record was nine matches.
Atalanta's winning streak:
- Genoa 5:1
- Venezia 2:0
- Verona 6:1
- Monza 2:0
- Napoli 3:0
- Udinese 2:1
- Parma 3:1
- Roma 2:0
- Milan 2:1
- Cagliari 1:0
- Empoli 3:2
Extending this streak to 12 wins will be incredibly tough, as Atalanta’s next opponent is Lazio. Nevertheless, this run has already cemented itself in the club’s history.
The main secret to success—the coach
Gian Piero Gasperini became Atalanta’s head coach back in 2016. In his very first season, the Bergamaschi managed to finish fourth in Serie A. At the time, however, only three Italian teams qualified for the Champions League, meaning Atalanta headed to the Europa League instead.
Even then, qualifying for European competitions was seen as a miracle, considering Atalanta was previously fighting relegation. The season before Gasperini's arrival, the “Goddess” finished 13th, and prior to that, they had narrowly avoided relegation by finishing 17th.
Gradually, Gasperini transformed Atalanta into one of Italy’s top teams. Under his leadership, the club has qualified for the Champions League four times, even reaching the quarterfinals of the tournament. This season, Atalanta has every chance to finish in the top eight of the league stage and advance to the round of 16. Their spot in the playoffs seems all but assured.
The biggest achievement, of course, was their Europa League triumph last season. In the final, Atalanta became the only team to defeat Xabi Alonso’s incredible Bayer Leverkusen that year, and they did so decisively, winning 3:0. For Atalanta, this trophy was their first major honor since 1963, when they won the Coppa Italia.
Gasperini is a stickler for his style of football, demanding maximum effort from his players during training. Players who have worked under him describe his sessions as among the hardest they’ve ever experienced.
The 66-year-old coach always employs a 3-4-2-1 formation, where wing play and pressing across the pitch are critical. This style demands exceptional physical fitness, a cornerstone for Gasperini. If a player can no longer handle the intensity, the club parts ways with them.
In many ways, Gasperini is a bit of a tyrant, but his methods deliver astonishing results.
Exceptional work off the field
Since Gasperini’s arrival, Atalanta has a transfer balance of +173.6 million euros. Among Serie A’s top eight teams, only Fiorentina (+14.7 million euros) also has a positive balance. All other clubs operate at a deficit.
This incredible figure highlights Atalanta’s ability to thrive without reliance on individual players. A prime example is Teun Koopmeiners, considered irreplaceable for the “Goddess.” However, when he moved to Juventus for 54 million euros this summer, the team barely missed a beat.
The same can be said for players like Rasmus Højlund, Robin Gosens, Cristian Romero, Gianluca Mancini, Timothy Castagne, Franck Kessié, and Bryan Cristante. Atalanta sold all of them for significant sums and found cheaper replacements.
Currently, Atalanta’s record signing is El Bilal Touré, who was acquired from Almería for 29 million euros. However, the Malian player has struggled in Bergamo. Meanwhile, the club has sold five players for over 30 million euros each.
Outstanding academy work
Atalanta’s academy is now one of the best in Italy and Europe.
This season, players like goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi, center-back Giorgio Scalvini, left-back Matteo Ruggeri, and right-back Davide Zappacosta—all academy graduates—play key roles for Gasperini’s team.
In the past, Atalanta even managed to sell academy products for significant sums despite limited appearances for the first team. Notable examples include Alessandro Bastoni and Dejan Kulusevski, who earned promotions after successful loan spells.
The current stars of Atalanta
“De Ketelaere is incredible. I wanted him in the team at all costs,” said Gasperini after the latest victory over Empoli.
It’s remarkable how Atalanta recruits players who have struggled elsewhere, only to see them flourish in Bergamo.
Take Charles De Ketelaere, for example. After a disastrous season at Milan, he has already tallied 24 goals and 20 assists in 74 games for Atalanta.
Of course, Ademola Lookman holds a special place in this team. The Nigerian, who failed to impress at RB Leipzig, Everton, Fulham, and Leicester, has thrived in Bergamo. Lookman scored a hat-trick in the Europa League final, finished 14th in Ballon d’Or voting, and was named African Player of the Year.
This season, Lookman remains in top form with 12 goals and 5 assists in 20 matches.
Italian international Mateo Retegui has also seamlessly integrated, scoring 14 goals in 25 games. He was brought in to replace Gianluca Scamacca, who tore his ACL. Once Scamacca recovers, Gasperini will face a tough choice between two excellent forwards.
Defensively, Atalanta relies on Raoul Bellanova, veteran Sead Kolašinac, newcomer Isak Hien, and Ivorian Odilon Kossounou. Giorgio Scalvini is expected to return to peak form soon.
Can Atalanta truly win the scudetto?
Atalanta’s main challenge is consistency. At their physical peak, they can outplay nearly any opponent. Even against Real Madrid in the Champions League, the “Goddess” created numerous chances, with only Thibaut Courtois denying them points.
However, when their physical form dips, Atalanta becomes vulnerable. Managing this balance throughout the season will be a monumental task for the coaching staff.
In their current form, Atalanta is undoubtedly a contender for the Serie A title. However, Inter remains the favorite for now.
Luis Torres
Dailysports's expert
