Atalanta is back in the fight for the top of Serie A with a stunning performance that leaves no doubts: the dream of the Champions League is more alive than ever. Raffaele Palladino’s team crushed Lecce 3-0 away from home, in a match that was, in the words of the coach himself, “the first of eight finals” towards their ambitious goal. And the message is clear: the climb continues, and La Dea will not stop until they reach the summit.
At the Via del Mare Stadium, Giorgio Scalvini opened the scoring in the first half, setting off a display of class that was complemented by goals from Nikola Krstovic and Giacomo Raspadori. On the other side, goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi was a mere spectator, hardly called upon to intervene at all. A clear sign of the absolute dominance that Atalanta exerted throughout the 90 minutes.
Raffaele Palladino, the man who took charge of the team in November, expressed satisfaction but remained vigilant: “This was a game with many hidden dangers, especially since it is the first after the international break, which always makes it difficult to regroup the team.” The coach also explained the preparation difficulties due to the abrupt change in temperatures that made the match more predictable, but he highlighted the team’s ability to adapt and effectively attack the spaces. “I am pleased with the performance, another clean sheet boosts the defense’s confidence. This was just the first of eight finals, now we have to keep climbing that mountain.”
When Palladino took over the team, qualifying for the Champions League seemed a distant dream. Now, the reality is different: Atalanta is five points away from fourth place, thanks in part to Como’s goalless draw against Udinese. “We expected an aggressive Lecce because it was a decisive game for them, and I liked the maturity of my team in handling that initial pressure,” commented the coach. “We allowed them to exploit the flanks with Banda and Pierotti, but we blocked the channels with quality, technique, and dynamism.”
In addition to the fight in Serie A, Atalanta still keeps hope alive in the Coppa Italia, following a 2-2 draw in the first leg of the semi-finals against Lazio. “We have two direct confrontations coming up, in addition to the cup semi-final, so I asked the team to raise their level. Everyone is very involved in this battle,” emphasized Palladino. “Our DNA is to attack and defend together. The players know how much I value everyone’s contribution in both phases of the game. We need selflessness in the final third to find the best-placed player to score. Today I saw that, and we could have won by an even greater margin.”
In addition to Como’s result, Roma’s heavy defeat by 5-2 against the Inter provided an extra boost for La Dea, who are now just one point behind the sixth place held by Gian Piero Gasperini’s former team, the former Atalanta coach and current Roma manager. “Of course, these results were positive for us, but I tried to keep the players focused on our path. I asked them to give everything until the end of this matchday, and then we will see where we end up,” concluded the coach.
With eight finals ahead, a determined team, and a coach who remains unfazed, Atalanta is ready to continue its climb and prove that it is still a force to be reckoned with on the grand stages of Italian football. The race for the top four and European glory is heating up, and La Dea shows that they have come to stay.
This article first appeared on Apito Final.
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