FLORENCE. Stronger than the pressures of the rivals, all winning between Saturday (Milan) and Sunday (Juve, Naples, Lazio and Rome). Atalanta makes the big voice against Fiorentina, winning the sixth game of the last seven in the league and confirming that they are fully tested in the Champions League sprint. At the ‘Franchi’ the complete repertoire of Gasperini’s terrible boys is staged, for better or for worse. That is a scoring machine in attack – with Zapata scoring a brace, seven-eight clear opportunities created, and decisive changes from the bench (Ilicic earns and converts the penalty) – and a defense to be recorded behind, punished by the relentless Vlahovic, the happiest note in the purple night, good at not giving up despite the 2-0 collected in the first half. In the end, however, the greater quality and depth of the Lombard squad made the difference. Atalanta resumes the fourth and presents itself on par in the direct clash of the next round with Juventus. A game that will say a lot about the balance in the race for placings in Europe.
Gasperini re-proposes the back four with Toloi and Gosens outside and Pasalic behind the Colombian couple Muriel-Zapata, Iachini confirms the 3-5-2 with Kouamé called to replace the suspended Ribery approaching the untouchable Vlahovic. Atalanta came out better from the starting blocks, who took the lead at the first opportunity with a splendid header from Zapata, who overtook Bonaventura and pierced Dragowski. The goalkeeper is essential in the following minutes when he blocks the attempts of Gosens and again of Zapata. The Viola are under siege and manage to make themselves dangerous only with a blow from Caceres on the remote-controlled punishment from Biraghi. Too little to avoid the doubling that arrives at the end of the fraction: Malinovskyi’s scoring for Zapata is delicious, the Colombian is not only wrong in front of the goalkeeper.
The mountain to climb with which Fiorentina appears on the pitch in the second half does not scare the hosts. Especially when you can count on a center forward who never stops scoring and is increasingly a team player. At 13 ‘Vlahovic shortens the distance by picking up Caceres’ tower on Biraghi’s cross, the Goddess pays dearly for the drop in tension in the second half and ten minutes later the Tuscans’ comeback is completed, with Kouamè sowing panic in the middle of the defense opponent and serves to the center Vlahovic who only has to put the ball on the net. Not even the time to make the 2-2 that the score still changes. The touch of the hand in the area of Martinez Quarta gives Atalanta the most tempting chance to move forward: Ilicic from eleven meters makes no mistake and the Orobics put things right. This time Fiorentina feel the pinch and only Dragowski’s saves – combined with the guests’ imprecision – keep the result in the balance. Pasalic misses a penalty in motion, Zapata is not only lucid in front of the goalkeeper. But Atalanta wins. And he confirms to his rivals that he is fully in the running in the Champions League sprint.