This year’s Serie A race has been close. Atalanta managed to create some separation between themselves and Juventus as they pursue Inter Milan for the top spot. Gian Piero Gasperini secured three points away from home and did so impressively. The teams that have a legitimate chance at finishing first are shrinking. This 4-0 win by the away side showed that the current top three sides are the most deserving.
Napoli, Inter Milan, and Atalanta remain within three points of each other. Today’s results illustrated how far behind Juve is from this trio of contenders. La Dea prepares for the final season’s push for the trophy.
Massive Road Win Earned
The home side had a couple of early chances. However, the lion’s share of quality opportunities went to the away team. Atalanta kept the opposing goal under siege for most of the matchup. It needs to be noted that numerous shots resulted from sloppy possession giveaways in the midfield.
Gasperini’s side deserved the first-half lead. The second Marten de Roon goal was the beginning of the end. In terms of a competitive match, this score would get out of hand after this sequence.
Overall, the continued onslaught made it impossible for Juventus to control the game. Éderson and de Roon patrolled the midfield battle. The captain fittingly found the back of the net. Ademola Lookman has been criticized for recent performances. He saw many good looks from the wing through the Serie A duo.
The person wearing the armband, however, did not rest or stay satisfied after finding the Nigerian attacker in an advanced position. It took a lot, but his persistence gave a great microcosm of the match, particularly in the second half.
Sometimes, when it rains, it pours. Davide Zappacosta scored an admirable team-buildup goal. Lookman then capitalized on a slip. This made the final 15 minutes a formality, outside of a fantastic Marco Carnesecchi diving save to his left.
Keeper Thwarted Numerous Atalanta Chances
Juve had the majority of possession but failed to make anything of it. Despite also having significantly more of the ball, they faced 19 shots. Michele Di Gregorio had a solid day for the hosts, however. Furthermore, the Italian stepped up on some occasions. His efforts kept Juve within striking distance for much of the playing time.
Even on the penalty kick, the goalie guessed the right way and nearly got to it. The second goal came off the Lookman attempt. Considering the shot was close and hard, he did well to keep it out. Unfortunately for him, the defenders and midfielders could not rally around the goal scorer.
This can happen throughout league play. Officially, Di Gregorio only had five saves. Regardless, he had an intense day overall. The 27-year-old needed more support from his teammates.
A Champions League spot is still available. Moreover, Juventus will need to draw inspiration from their keeper if they are going to finish Serie A on a high note. Inter Milan is well out of sight in Juve’s table. Atalanta still has a fighting chance and will hope not to face a keeper like Di Gregorio in the remaining fixtures.
