Gasperini's Atalanta vs Bayer Leverkusen
How To Beat The 'Unbeaten'
thread.
How To Beat The 'Unbeaten'
thread.
From the first minute, we can see how aggressive Gasperini’s Atalanta with their man-to-man press.
Their double pivot (Ederson & Koopmeiners) pushed high to press Leverkusen’s Palacios & Xhaka.
Djimsiti (RCB) & Hien (CCB) followed Wirtz & Adli into the opposition’s third.
Their double pivot (Ederson & Koopmeiners) pushed high to press Leverkusen’s Palacios & Xhaka.
Djimsiti (RCB) & Hien (CCB) followed Wirtz & Adli into the opposition’s third.
Ederson & Koopmeinders made sure that the space for Leverkusen’s double pivot was minimized.
The CBs also couldn’t find Wirtz between the lines because Djimsiti constantly marking him.
The CBs also couldn’t find Wirtz between the lines because Djimsiti constantly marking him.
In the build-up, Stanisic can invert or stay wide — with Leverkusen’s build-up shape alternating between back 4 and back 3 to create the wide/central overloads.
But because of the man-to-man press (Ruggeri), they couldn’t take much advantage of this.
But because of the man-to-man press (Ruggeri), they couldn’t take much advantage of this.
Similar thing with Grimaldo — Koopmeiners switching to mark him in this sequence.
Koopmeiners dropping ➡️ Djimsiti pushing high to press Wirtz — also keeping the defensive shape compact.
Koopmeiners dropping ➡️ Djimsiti pushing high to press Wirtz — also keeping the defensive shape compact.
With Leverkusen’s attempt to interchange positions — Atalanta also switch defenders.
(Grimaldo interchanges with Wirtz ➡️ Zappacosta and Djimsiti switches)
Palacios drifted wide and dragged Koopmeiners with him, which made it more dangerous if Wirtz could turn away from the pressure.
(Grimaldo interchanges with Wirtz ➡️ Zappacosta and Djimsiti switches)
Palacios drifted wide and dragged Koopmeiners with him, which made it more dangerous if Wirtz could turn away from the pressure.
This time, Wirtz dropped even deeper so that Djimsiti switched with Koopmeiners
Zappacosta on Palacios ➡️ Djimsiti on Grimaldo.
Zappacosta on Palacios ➡️ Djimsiti on Grimaldo.
Hien as the CCB also could step up to press Wirtz.
Djimsiti (RCB) & Kolasinac (LCB) marked Grimaldo & Stanisic who inverted to join the attacking line.
All of these ‘switches’ require high levels of focus and intense communication.
Djimsiti (RCB) & Kolasinac (LCB) marked Grimaldo & Stanisic who inverted to join the attacking line.
All of these ‘switches’ require high levels of focus and intense communication.
Atalanta were able to disrupt Leverkusen’s attempt to build up from the back and force them to play more direct.
They have players like Adli & Frimpong who can be very dangerous in transitions but Atalanta often could recover quickly.
(Still not maximized enough for me — Xabi Alonso also admitted this in his post-match interview)
They have players like Adli & Frimpong who can be very dangerous in transitions but Atalanta often could recover quickly.
(Still not maximized enough for me — Xabi Alonso also admitted this in his post-match interview)
Even if Atalanta already transitioned into their defensive block (5-4-1/5-2-3) — they could turn into a man-to-man press again and pin Leverkusen back.
Losing territory.
Losing territory.
Atalanta also struggled in the build-up vs Leverkusen but they were able to gain territory with their press.
They scored first through CK, with Leverkusen not defending well as a unit — Wirtz lost Zappacosta’s runs while Palacios lost Lookman who moved from behind for the cutback.
They scored first through CK, with Leverkusen not defending well as a unit — Wirtz lost Zappacosta’s runs while Palacios lost Lookman who moved from behind for the cutback.
One of the ways that Leverkusen found to progress was by finding Adli directly instead of Wirtz.
Dragging Atalanta’s CCB (Hien) with his runs/movements but again Atalanta still could recover — Ederson provided the protection.
Defending well as a unit.
Defending well as a unit.
However, Adli struggled to be a reliable outlet with his hold-up play — especially against contact (vs 6 ft 3 Isak Hien).
In Atalanta’s 2nd goal — we can see how Kovar (GK) tried to target Adli for the progression against the man-to-man press but he wasn’t able to hold the ball and misplaced the pass to Wirtz
Lookman was able to punish the mistake and get the 1st half brace.
Lookman was able to punish the mistake and get the 1st half brace.
After the break, both team directly used their substitute (Boniface came on for Stanisic, Scalvini for Kolasinac).
Hien, Scalvini, & Djimsiti took turns to mark Wirtz — just showed how dangerous he is.
Scalvini is versatile and can provide defensive cover in the midfield.
Hien, Scalvini, & Djimsiti took turns to mark Wirtz — just showed how dangerous he is.
Scalvini is versatile and can provide defensive cover in the midfield.
Xabi Alonso tried to put more players up front with Hlozek coming on for Grimaldo to be the front two with Bonficae — while Hincapie became the LB/LCB hybrid.
Leverkusen looked to play more direct and could eventually pin Atalanta’s defensive line back but they stayed compact with their 5-4-1 shape.
Denying the overloads.
Leverkusen looked to play more direct and could eventually pin Atalanta’s defensive line back but they stayed compact with their 5-4-1 shape.
Denying the overloads.
In the process of Atalanta’s 3rd goal — Leverkusen’s build-up with Xhaka acting like third 3rd CB.
He played direct to bypass Koopmeiners’ pressing who still maintained the intensity.
He played direct to bypass Koopmeiners’ pressing who still maintained the intensity.
Leverkusen progressed but didn’t exert enough control in the final third with Atalanta showing their aggressiveness in every loose ball/duel.
Pasalic (who came on for CDK) dropped to help the backline — winning the key duel vs Hincapie and starting the counterattack for Lookman’s hattrick.
Hincapie = Advancing to create numerical superiority vs Atalanta’s back 5 (6v5)
Pasalic = Dropping deep to deny the numerical superiority (6v6)
Pasalic (who came on for CDK) dropped to help the backline — winning the key duel vs Hincapie and starting the counterattack for Lookman’s hattrick.
Hincapie = Advancing to create numerical superiority vs Atalanta’s back 5 (6v5)
Pasalic = Dropping deep to deny the numerical superiority (6v6)
Xabi Alonso on Gian Piero Gasperini’s Atalanta.
"It’s demanding to play against them. We were not able to overcome the first wave of pressure. When we had a little advantage, they were strong in turning that around. We were prepared for it. It’s a football thing.
It doesn’t change my thoughts or appreciation of my players. Tt happens its football. Today was not our day. It will be a test to see how we deal with it."
Atalanta forced 12 high turnovers from them.
"It’s demanding to play against them. We were not able to overcome the first wave of pressure. When we had a little advantage, they were strong in turning that around. We were prepared for it. It’s a football thing.
It doesn’t change my thoughts or appreciation of my players. Tt happens its football. Today was not our day. It will be a test to see how we deal with it."
Atalanta forced 12 high turnovers from them.
With this masterclass — Gasperini gave Atalanta their first trophy since 1963 which is also his first-ever in his managerial career.
"That was perhaps our peak in recent years. We've won it against top teams. We beat Sporting who are the Portuguese champions. We played Liverpool when they were top of the Premier League.
We played Marseille who are a very good side, and tonight we beat the German champions. To have beaten such great sides adds gloss to our achievement.”
"That was perhaps our peak in recent years. We've won it against top teams. We beat Sporting who are the Portuguese champions. We played Liverpool when they were top of the Premier League.
We played Marseille who are a very good side, and tonight we beat the German champions. To have beaten such great sides adds gloss to our achievement.”
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