Atalanta confirmed themselves amongst the top Italian teams once again as they closed the season in the 3rd place for the 3rd consecutive time. However, a 0-2 home defeat to Milan in week 38 actually cost them what would have been an historic 2nd place finish.
Atalanta started their season in the best of fashions, winning the initial 3 games, but then lost their first game, heavily, to Napoli. From that moment until the end of the Champions League Group Stage in early December, they played poorly in the domestic league, only defeating Crotone, as all their energies were concentrated in the European campaign.
It was around that time that their stars, Gomez and Ilicic, came at odds with coach Gasperini for tactical reasons mostly. Gomez was let go in January while Ilicic never was a protagonist again.
Nevertheless, between weeks 11 and 37, Atalanta proved capable of an unstoppable march, characterized by 19 wins, 7 draws and 2 defeats only (to Lazio and Inter) during which they turned into the scoring machine they used to be last season, as they held the best attack of the league with 90 goals in the end.
In the meantime, their Champions League campaign had come to an end at the hands of Real Madrid, while they managed to reach the Coppa Italia final defeating Lazio and Napoli.
Unfortunately for them, Atalanta ran out of steam in the last 2 games, possibly the most important of their season, and closed the campaign losing to Juventus in the Cup and to Milan in the race for the second place.
Muriel undoubtedly was the key player of the season with his 22 goals and 9 assists often coming off the bench. Gosens, Zapata, De Roon and Freuler also did well alongside Toloi and Romero. However, Malinovskyi was the man who most impressed in the final weeks with 8 goals and 12 assists, most of which between weeks 28 and 38.
With Gasperini stable at the helm, Atalanta will have to wait another year before obtaining their piece of silverware.
