BERGAMO. A bitter Easter for Udinese, who encountered the second consecutive defeat (the third in the last 11 outings) at the home of an Atalanta who, for fun and occasions produced, did much more than its 3-2 success says. If, in fact, before the break for the national teams there was at least the excuse of a good second half played against Lazio, this time the bianconeri have always suffered an opponent who has shown greater quality. The good news for Gotti remain the two goals (scored at the end of the first half by Pereyra and Stryger Larsen in the second half) that kept his side in the game until the end despite the setback recorded both in terms of play and character.
Gasperini on the eve had confessed to fear the “tranquility” (dictated by the classification) of Udinese and surprisingly decided to change structure: no defense at 3, it goes to 4 with Toloi diverted to the right, Romero-Palomino central couple and Gosens to the left , tactical choice that gives life to a 4-2-3-1 that in the offensive phase sees Malinovskyi, Pessina in the center and the former Muriel on the left in the trident in support of Zapata.
News, however, also comes from Mr. Gotti who in his 3-5-2 entrusts the attack to the unprecedented couple formed by Okaka (preferred to Llorente) and the 18-year-old Dutch Braaf, making his debut as a starter in Serie A, returning to midfield the quality of De Paul and Pereyra as midfielder on Walace’s flanks, with Molina confirmed on the right while Zeegelaar is seen again on the left. Usual trio in front of Musso: central Bonifazi with Becao (right) and Nuytinck.
It rains in Bergamo, but it doesn’t make too much difference for Atalanta who immediately take the ball in the game, while in front of them there is the usual Udinese who struggles to break away from the starting blocks. The Goddess baptizes the left one as the preferential lane, thanks above all to an inspired Muriel who accelerates at 7 ‘, goes away in slalom and puts in the center from the bottom, but the cross hits the Friulian wall. It is not a blaze (and it will not be later), with the Colombian repeating himself a minute later, getting rid of: the former Bianconero concentrates, but the right is deflected to the bottom by Becao.
The Nerazzurri striker seems to make it a personal matter and on 14 ‘he also tries on a free kick from 25 meters, but the right is too central to worry Musso, who blocks without problems.
The Atalantine pressure of De Roon and Freuler, despite the theoretical numerical inferiority produced by the different tactical choices, systematically removes oxygen from the midfield and the Friulian maneuver and in the 19 ‘the hosts realize territorial superiority: Pessina on the left closes a nice Nerazzurri triangulation serving in tow Muriel who just inside the area shoots a low shot from the left that passes between Musso’s legs after Bonifazi’s deviation. Again Muriel, still the former, also scoring in the 1-1 first leg.
The rain grants a respite, not Atalanta who continue to play the game against Udinese who are always too timid and not very lucid. For the first Bianconeri blast you have to wait until 27 ‘when Okaka receives the ball at the limit, uses his body well to defend himself from Romero and in a split kicks right, calling however to the simple formality Gollini.
Only a blaze, however, because at 38 ‘it is still Atalanta, with Malinovskyi freeing himself well to the limit: powerful left, but Musso manages to put a piece in it.
Udinese is not there: De Paul seems for once a normal player, Pereyra never finds the space to accelerate or to enter, the contribution of the wings ends in some timid lunge by Molina while in front of Braaf the scene is silent.
The logical consequence is the doubling of Atalanta, which reaches the 43rd minute. The Juventus defensive phase is embarrassing, the midfield does not return to a restart started by Pessina: ball to Malinosvskyi who finds the filter in the area for Muriel, Bonifazi fails and the Colombian also allows himself the luxury of seating Musso before signing the brace of the former and his 18th center in the league.
It seems the end for a Udinese forced to act as a spectator, but at 45 ‘the reaction of pride suddenly arrives: Molina breaks through on the right sending Gosens empty, the ball at the limit due to the insertion of Pereyra who puts it in the right direction of pole passing Gollini.
The curtain falls on a first fraction which, beyond Pereyra’s goal, was one-way.
The executioner Muriel does not return from the locker room (muscular problem for him), but in his place Udinese finds another bogeyman like the Slovenian Ilicic, while Djimsiti takes over Gosens. Interpreters change, but not the substance of a match that Atalanta continues to have firmly in hand and at 4 ‘Malinovskyi draws Pessina in the center who in a split, from close range, finds the opposition of Musso who takes refuge in the corner.
At 6 ‘there is also time for a more than suspicious contact on the edge between Nuytinck and Zapata. Gotti has seen enough and decides for a double change: in Llorente for Okaka and Stryger Larsen for Zeegelaar, but there is no injection in the engine of a Udinese who continues to stay on the ropes, before going for the third time to the carpet in the 16 ‘: Malinovskyi focuses, receives the ball on the trocar and lights up for Zapata who centrally affects a too static Friulian defense and punishes Musso by right-footing by signing the third goal of the former of the day.
Gotti also plays the Samir and Forestieri cards (for Nuytinck and the intangible Braaf) and a few minutes later the reaction arrives: it is 26 ‘when Forestieri turns right and triggers Molina who enters the area, sends De Roon empty and crosses to the center where Stryger Larsen’s cut is punctual, with a right hand signing the 3-2 that incredibly puts Udinese back into the game.
This time Atalanta seems to feel the pinch, the usual bravado of Gasperini’s men is less, but Udinese’s pride does little, with De Paul who in the 37th minute sparacchia very high a free-kick just outside the Nerazzurri’s penalty area.
At 44 ‘, on the contrary, Atalanta touches the poker: long postponement by Gollini, Bonifazi combines it big, but Ilicic’s left comes out of nothing.
ATALANTA 3
UDINESE 2
ATALANTA 4-2-3-1): Gollini; Toloi, Romero, Palomino, Gosens (1 ‘st Djimsiti); De Roon, Freuler; Malinovskyi (33 ‘st Maehle), Pessina (33’ st Pasalic), Muriel (1 ‘st Ilicic); D. Zapata (41 ‘st Miranchuk). (31 Rossi, 57 Sportiello, 4 Sutalo, 13 Caldara, 40 Ruggeri, 20 Kovalenko, 7 Lammers). All .: Gasperini.
UDINESE (3-5-2): Musso; Becao, Bonifazi, Nuytinck (25’st Samir); Molina, De Paul (cap.), Walace (37 ‘st Arslan), Pereyra, Zeegelaar (14’ st Stryger Larsen); Well-behaved (25 ‘st Forestieri), Okaka (14’ st Llorente). (31 Gasparini, 96 Scuffet, 87 De Maio, 5 Ouwejan, 6 Makengo, 29 Micin, 30 Nestorovski). All .: Gotti.
Referee: Manganiello di Pinerolo.
Markers: At 19 ‘and 43’ Muriel, 45 ‘Pereyra; in the second half, at 16 ‘D. Zapata, 26’ Stryger Larsen.
Note: Corners: 4-1 for Atalanta. Stoppage time: 0 ‘and 3’. Booked: Pereyra and Samir for foul play.
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