Why YB needs divine help against Atlanta

Atalanta Bergamo made a splash in the spring with their Europa League title. This club from northern Italy is YB's upcoming opponent in the Champions League and has impressed people with its stability and attacking power.

Michael Lyman/keystone-sda

When fans hear “Nerazzurri”, in most cases they probably think of Inter Milan. But there are others, “little Nerazzurri”. They come from Bergamo, an Alpine city about 50 kilometers northeast of Milan, and represent Atalanta Bergamasca Club on the football field.

It is named after Atalanta, a hunter and athlete who was raised by bears in Greek mythology. She asks an admirer who wants to marry her to beat her in a game. If he failed to do this, she would kill her lover without hesitation. According to history, this fate befell many people.

Granit Xhaka also experienced how unpleasant it was to play against Atalanta with Bayer Leverkusen.Image: trapezoid

Atalanta Bergamo's performance in their last Europa League game was less brutal, but equally confident. The team defeated Sporting Lisbon, Liverpool and Marseille in the knockout rounds, and met previously undefeated Bayer Leverkusen in the final. There, Italy made short work of their heroes and recorded their only defeat of the season, 3-0 in Dublin. Granit Xhaka was also speechless. The Swiss said after the game: “Hats off to Atalanta. “That's it. “

Failed at Inter Milan, succeeded at Atalanta

For Atalanta, this is the second championship in the club's history after winning the championship in 1963. However, it would be a mistake to attribute this to the short-term whims of nature. In the standings, the team has ranked in the top 5 5 times in the past 7 seasons and has never been lower than 8th. Süddeutsche Zeitung aptly described the club as “Italy's biggest small club” in May.

This run of success has a lot to do with coach Gian Piero Gasperini, who has been on the Bergamas sidelines since 2016. Of all people, he was the one who led the Nerazzurri to a disastrous defeat in 2011. Gasperini was only allowed to coach Inter Milan for five games before he was released again in September, 46 days after his first official match.

Following this brief interlude, Gasperini was even relieved of his duties twice in five weeks at Palermo. With his successor failing to make a move, the club brought Gasperini back, only to expel him from the team for a second time shortly afterwards. Gasperini worked at Genoa before joining Bergamo, joining the little Nerazzurri and still finding happiness.

Offensive football as a trademark

Gasperini is often called a “system trainer”. In other words, one who sticks to an overall strategy rather than focusing on individual players' strengths and weaknesses. Critics say this makes it easier for teams to be plotted and makes it more difficult for coaches to intervene on their own initiative.

In fact, Gasperini has always used his team in an attacking 3-4-3 formation. However, continued success, sometimes bringing valuable European Cup revenue to the club, proved him right. There’s no magic bullet yet to be found against Atalanta.

The architect of Bergamo's success: coach Gian Piero Gasperini.Image: trapezoid

The 66-year-old Gasperini's offensive football is efficient and exciting. This season, Atlanta has also become the best offensive team in the league so far with 34 goals. On the contrary, the team has a reputation for defensive instability, which is also reflected in their 16 goals conceded. It's a different story in the Champions League, where Atalanta are one of only two clubs without conceding a goal after four games. The other one is…Inter Milan.

Bergamo’s new self-image

With their success, the little Nerazzurri gradually emerged from the shadow of Italy's model club. Atalanta's long-standing lack of titles was eliminated with Europa League success. Bergamo's new self-image is also affecting the players. So it was no surprise when Matteo Retegui, one of Serie A's most popular forwards and a rising star of the Italian national team, moved to Bergamo in August. This is the result of continuing to develop into a top club that even ruthless Atalanta would love to play for.

Incidentally, despite her vow of eternal virginity, she had to succumb to fate and marry a man. A cunning applicant who sought help from Aphrodite, the goddess of love, dropped three golden apples during a race with Atalanta. Because she picked that up, he was able to win the game.

Young Boys still need cunning and maybe some divine help when they take on Atalanta Bergamo on Tuesday. (National Institutes of Health/National Security Agency)

Max Verstappen clinched his fourth consecutive world title at the penultimate race of the season in Las Vegas. However, the race was dominated by Mercedes: George Russell and Lewis Hamilton celebrated a double win.

George Russell dominated the previous day's qualifying session. The British took control of the game. He had the benefit of teammate Lewis Hamilton having to start the race from the furthest back position (10th). Mercedes celebrated its first double since the Brazilian Grand Prix more than two years ago.