MATCH REPORT | Atalanta-Cagliari 0-0
A good draw, characterized by tactical discipline and athletic dynamism for Cagliari, who hold Atalanta to a 0-0 draw in Bergamo.
Gaetano is out due to a knee issue, so Nicola opts for Deiola instead of Viola, setting up Cagliari in a 4-3-3 formation with Felici and Zortea wide in attack, and Piccoli as the central forward. In defense, Zappa, Mina, Luperto, and Augello. In midfield, Makoumbou and Adopo complete the setup. All of them are positioned in front of Caprile.
GREAT BALANCE
The first fifteen minutes pass without any thrills: both teams are compact, the pace not very high, with Cagliari responding courageously in their build-up, moving well with Piccoli as a pivot and Felici making incisive runs. Several counter-attacking opportunities for Cagliari, with Felici and Zortea failing to make the right pass to get on goal between the 22nd and 25th minutes. Not much happens, and there’s great balance with no emotions until the 35th minute, when a mistake in Caprile’s clearance allows Samardzic to shoot with his left foot, but it’s safely saved. Atalanta tries to raise the tempo, and in the 39th minute, Toloi shoots wide from outside the box following a corner kick.
At the break, it’s 0-0. After the interval, De Ketelaere comes on for Samardzic in Atalanta. The second half starts similarly to the first, with a nice move in the 54th minute, when Deiola crosses, but Carnesecchi is quick to catch it. Cagliari builds with courage and quality, while Atalanta remains very solid. This leads to the 55th minute: the young Vlahovic and Palestra come on for Retegui and Cuadrado. Deiola takes a shot from the edge of the box in the 58th minute, but it goes wide. A scare in the 60th minute, when on a corner kick, Caprile leaps but is fouled, and Atalanta scores, but the goal is ruled out for a foul on the goalkeeper. The first change for Cagliari comes in the 66th minute, with Felici replaced by Coman, and Gasperini responds with Ederson for Brescianini. In the 71st minute, a dramatic moment: a prolonged attack with repeated crosses, the ball exits the box, and Deiola fires a shot on target, but Sulemana deflects it out for a corner. On the following corner, Zortea has a shot blocked in the same manner. Atalanta’s final change comes in the 74th minute, with de Roon replacing Sulemana, who was hurt after a previous deflection on Deiola’s shot. Cagliari pushes forward, and in the 79th minute, Marin replaces the exhausted Deiola. Atalanta comes close to scoring in the 85th minute, with De Ketelaere shooting, but his attempt is deflected for a corner. Another scare in the 90th minute, when Vlahovic shoots diagonally, and Caprile saves for another corner. On the following play, Caprile blocks a header from Atalanta. There will be 4 minutes of added time. Pasalic nearly scores again with a long-range shot, but it goes just wide. Pavoletti comes on for Piccoli in the 91st minute. The team struggles with fatigue after a hard-fought collective effort and because Atalanta is pressing with all its might. It ends 0-0, a precious and well-deserved point for Cagliari.
