Atalanta beats Salerno and takes three important points for Europe
Salernitana was already relegated in this clash against Gasperini’s Atalanta in front of few spectators due to the negative attendance record this season. Never in Serie A had there been such a small number of attendances on the steps of Arechi but the disappointment of this foolish year, together with the unlikely time of Monday at 6pm, produced this result.
Gasp proposes only a partial turnover, still relying on the talent of the various players Scamacca, Lookman and Ederson. 3 matches in 7 days are a considerable commitment and forces must be managed wisely. The Bergamo players are keeping their minds on the cup commitments while Salernitana, now certain of mathematical relegation, appear, paradoxically, with a freer head and are dangerous on some counterattacks. It is no coincidence that, on a reverse turn, Vigneto manages to tip the ball to the solitary Tchaouna who, after skilfully freeing himself from the last defender, hits Carnesecchi at the far post. Granata unexpectedly took the lead and the game looked decidedly more interesting. Atalanta seems strangely blocked and Colantuono’s men manage to easily block the incursions of Scamacca and his teammates. We continue like this, until the end of the first half, with the inertia of the match remaining on the same tracks. Salernitana goes to rest with the lead.
Gasperini understands that something needs to change up front and inserts three elements in the second half, in particular Deketelare who places himself off-centre, to the left, outside the opponent’s penalty area. Compelling intuition. The guests conquer more and more of the field and with a nice move they manage it Scamacca grabs the equalizer in the 57th minute. It’s time to push and, in fact, six minutes later, the guests find the 1-2 goal in the 63rd minute with Koopmeneirs with a nice shot from outside, facilitated by Bradaric’s lightness in the clearance. Although careful, Fiorillo fails to intervene on the conclusion from twenty meters and Atalanta takes the lead. In the following minutes the guests managed the advantage and only Tchaouna worried the Orobic rearguard, coming close to making it 2-2.
Four minutes of injury time but nothing more happens. Atalanta wins in Salerno with many difficulties and moves into the Champions League zone. Gasperini praises his tenacity for a victory that was not at all predictable and was obtained with great team spirit. As for Salernitana, the future will be known in fifteen days: we must try to return to Serie A immediately.
