Among Atalanta fans, there’s talk of erecting a statue for Gian Piero Gasperini, and it’s easy to see why. What’s happening in Bergamo under “Gasp,” as he’s affectionately known, is truly remarkable. Their recent dominant 4-0 victory over Juventus at the Allianz Stadium, with goals from Retegui (penalty), De Roon, Zappacosta, and Lookman, has fueled the Bergamaschi’s Scudetto dreams once more. Fresh off their Europa League triumph last season, Atalanta is aiming even higher, setting their sights on the ultimate prize: the Scudetto. The question now is: can Atalanta genuinely believe in achieving this ambitious goal?
Gasperini’s work is undoubtedly worthy of in-depth analysis and future study. Atalanta’s current peak in their football history is largely thanks to his profound understanding of the game. By blending young talent, reliable veterans, and shrewd signings, Gasperini has built a robust, attacking, and, most importantly, winning team. Looking at their offensive prowess, statistics (from Sofascore) highlight Atalanta’s status as a top attacking force in Italian football. Among the Scudetto contenders, Atalanta leads in goals per game (2.3, tied with Inter), chances created per match (3.5, compared to Inter’s 3.4 and Napoli’s 2.2), shots on target per game (5.7, ahead of Inter’s 5.5 and Napoli’s 4), and successful dribbles per game (6.8, versus Inter’s 6.6 and Inzaghi’s team’s 3.9).
Two players epitomize Atalanta’s attacking threat under Gasperini’s guidance: Mateo Retegui and Ademola Lookman. Retegui, the Italian-Argentine forward, has now scored 22 Serie A goals, placing him second in the Golden Boot race and closing in on Filippo Inzaghi’s Atalanta record of 24 goals in the 1996/97 season. He’s on the verge of etching his name in Atalanta’s history books in his debut season. As for Lookman, his celebratory embrace with Gasperini suggests a resolution to any past issues, potentially marking a definitive restart in their relationship. This renewed synergy could propel Atalanta to even greater heights. This version of Lookman is arguably the best we’ve seen, with his 13 league goals this season matching his personal best from the 2022-23 season across Europe’s top five leagues. He has ten more games to surpass this record and keep Atalanta’s Scudetto dream alive.
Regarding these remaining ten games, what does Atalanta’s schedule look like? Their immediate future is challenging, with matches against Inter, Fiorentina, Lazio, Bologna, and Milan in their next five fixtures. While these opponents have other commitments (Inter in two competitions, Fiorentina in the Conference League, Lazio in the Europa League, and Milan in the Coppa Italia), it’s still a demanding stretch. However, two factors are in Atalanta’s favor. First, after this tough run, Roma is their only remaining major opponent, with matches against Lecce, Monza, Genoa, and Parma in the final five games. Second, spring is approaching, a season where Atalanta historically thrives. Last year, from March 30th onwards, excluding a rescheduled game against Fiorentina, Atalanta achieved 7 wins, 1 draw, and only 1 loss in 9 matches. Repeating a similar run of form would firmly put the Scudetto within their sights. As Gasperini himself stated, “People must dream; you should never take dreams away from fans. We’ve always said it’s an impossible thing, but if you believe strongly, things can become possible.” It’s clear: Atalanta is a serious contender for the Scudetto.