Atalanta were one of world football’s revelations in the 2023/24 season. ‘La Dea’ were led by the mastermind of Gian Piero Gasperini to a European title, fourth place in Serie A and a Coppa Italia final. Where do they go from here?
For any team to win a first major European title in their clubs history, you might forgive them a sloppy season the following year, but you don’t get the impression that Gasperini’s men will suffer any hangover from their success. In fact, they could kick on from here and become a consistent threat for titles in Italy and abroad.
Atalanta played in every possible fixture they could last season by reaching two cup finals, and yet they seemed to speed up towards the end of the campaign, not slow down. They have returned to the Champions League thanks to their achievements and alongside Internazionale they are one of two of last season’s top five sides to not change their coach this summer, perhaps they are capable of finishing higher than fourth in the league this year.
Wednesday’s Super Cup defeat to Real Madrid was a fair one, but Atalanta showed some really good signs, especially in the first half of the game. Ademola Lookman, who scored a famous hat-trick in last year’s Europa League final, looked dangerous but isolated in attacking positions. Real Madrid were reduced to zero shots on target in the first half and for the best part found progressing through Atalanta’s shape extremely challenging. The Champions League winners quality eventually shone through in the second half but it was a gallant effort from Atalanta who showed they can compete with the very best.
Charles De Ketelaere showed moments of quality going forward too, as he did at times for Atalanta last year. Like Lookman, ‘CDK’ will be key for the blue and black side this season, who against Real Madrid failed to show any real attacking flow.They travel to Lecce and Torino for their openting two Serie A fixtures, where it must be said, the opposition will not be quite as elite as it was in the Super Cup.
Atalanta are set to lose key man Teun Koopmeiners in the remainder of this summer transfer window, and the likes of Hans Hateboer and Aleksey Miranchuk have already left the club. However the club have made De Ketelaere’s status as an Atalanta player permanent this summer, added Italy forward Mateo Retegui to the squad from Genoa and brought in Ben Godfrey from Everton and Ibrahim Sulemana from Cagliari.
If Koopmeiners is to go he will be a big loss for this team, but they aren’t short on options up top with Gianluca Scamacca also out through injury at the moment. Last year you might have said the squad wasn’t deep enough or good enough to achieve what Atalanta did, but they beat the likes of Liverpool and the previously unbeaten Bayer Leverkusen on the way to European glory.
Inter Milan are clearly the strongest side in Italy, and it looks like Milan, Juventus and Napoli will all be stronger this season than last. However those three sides all have new managers and players in place and might take some time to gel. Atalanta can hope for another comfortable European Cup qualification via the league this year and perhaps even have a good knockout stage run in the 24/25 Champions League. After last season’s Europa League crown the yearning for a trophy has been quelled, but at very least Gasperini will want to consolidate his sides place as one of Italy and Europe’s top outfits.
Joseph O’Sullivan | GIFN
