The Report Cards: Juventus vs. Atalanta

Juventus pulled a quick one on us on Saturday. Normally the group that pays for poor ending when on the entrance foot, this time the Bianconeri had been those who carried out the smash-and-grab. After weathering an Atalanta storm within the first half, an unpleasant purpose by Jérémie Boga early within the second gave Juve a 1-0 lead—one which they wouldn’t relinquish. Regardless of being on the receiving finish of twenty-two pictures, Atalanta solely put three of them heading in the right direction, and just one, a header by Berat Djimsiti, that proved harmful for Michele Di Gregorio in purpose.

The 1-0 victory, the primary by a visiting group in Bergamo within the 2026 calendar yr, had reverberations effectively previous the partitions of the New Steadiness Stadium. Sunday’s outcomes shifted the stability of the race for the Champions League locations. Inter’s wild 4-3 win over Como noticed Juve leapfrog the upstart membership and again into fourth place, whereas poor outcomes for Napoli (a 1-1 draw with Parma) and AC Milan (a 3-0 loss to Udinese) opened up the race for the highest 4, with Juve pulling to inside six and three factors, respectively, the 2 golf equipment.

It was a weekend that turned the run-in on its head, with Juve digging deep for a crucial victory. How did the gamers on the sphere fare? Let’s take a more in-depth look.

MICHELE DI GREGORIO – 7.5. Taking again his beginning gloves with Mattia Perin out, Di Gregorio was distinctive on Saturday. He didn’t have an entire ton to do from a shot-stopping perspective, however boy oh boy was his one massive save massive. It was additionally unimaginable, seeing Di Gregorio readjust himself twice whereas the ball was within the air earlier than his closing lunge. He additionally managed his field effectively. The redemption arc continues.

PIERRE KALULU – 6.5. Misplaced an early duel with Giorgio Scalvini that almost put Juve behind early, however fortunately it hit the submit. The remainder of the sport noticed him at his traditional greatest, and he was unfortunate to not open the scoring on the finish of the primary half when he was put by completely however noticed Marco Carnesechi bravely come out to satisfy him.

BREMER – 7. After a wobbly sport on Monday, the Brazilian confirmed his previous self in Bergamo, registering eight clearances and a blocked shot. Nikola Krstovic couldn’t beat him within the air.

LLOYD KELLY – 7.5. Equalled Bremer’s clearance whole and received 5 aerial duels together with 4 tackles. A giant day for the Englishman.

EMIL HOLM – 7. His first begin as a Juventus participant was merely wonderful. He made 5 tackles defensively, and was a protagonist each on Boga’s purpose and within the near-miss from Khéphren Thuram that ought to’ve iced the sport. On the previous he was notably spectacular, throwing the extremely bodily Sead Kolasinac off earlier than placing in his cross. This dude must play extra.

MANUEL LOCATELLI – 6.5. Blocked 4 pictures, including three tackles and 4 clearances to his spectacular defensive tally. Additionally had a key cross, although he wasn’t capable of pierce the Atalanta press within the first half, or else this might’ve been greater.

KHÉPHREN THURAM – 5.5. Not shocking that he wasn’t one hundred pc, though he put in a good sufficient shift defensively. He accomplished 94.1 % of his passes, however ought to’ve put the sport away when Holm set him up superbly within the 68th minute.

ANDREA CAMBIASO – 5. Had a reasonably full stat sheet defensively, however the eye take a look at instructed a distinct story. He had his palms full with a 33-year-old Davide Zappacosta, and much more with Charles De Ketelaere.

FRANCISCO CONCEIÇÃO – 5. One other man who was clearly not one hundred pc, the Portuguese tried to create hazard however didn’t have all of his traditional burst and shiftiness.

KENAN YILDIZ – 5. Additionally banged up, and actually seemed it. Had just one key cross and gave the ball away a few occasions in harmful areas.

JÉRÉMIE BOGA – 7. On the spot to attain, and he ran all over the place, main the sport in distance coated. He’s been a switch coup.

JONATHAN DAVID – 6. Did precisely what he needed to after Juve went forward. His passing and holdup play on the high of Juve’s low block helped relieve stress and provides Juventus time to regroup within the again. A profitable day doing an enormous quantity of soiled work.

FEDERICO GATTI – 6.5. Wonderful work within the again for the final 20 minutes of the match. Frequently received within the air and didn’t make any errors as he added additional metal to the again line.

TEUN KOOPMEINERS – 5.5. He was there to defend, and he did that fairly effectively, though he did subsequent to nothing when it got here to making an attempt to get Juve upfield. He solely touched the ball six occasions and tried two passes.

FABIO MIRETTI – NR. Registered a late dribble, however was there to see the match out.

FILIP KOSTIC – NR. Out so as to add extra defensive talent than Cambiaso late.

Luciano Spalletti has largely completed an amazing job since he’s taken over getting the group again on observe after a tough begin. It was spectacular to see how he turned a protection that seemed discombobulated within the first half and turned them right into a compact unit that, save for one or two moments, by no means actually seemed like they had been going to let Atalanta equalize. By the top of the match it was clear that Rafaele Palladino’s males had run out of concepts and had been resorting to flinging crosses within the course of Gianluca Scamacca’s head and hoping one among them discovered it the precise approach.

If there was ever a time for Spalletti to point out that he was certainly the person to go away Juve longer-term, it was now, proper after he signed his contract extension. With the highest 4 race beginning to open up as Milan and Napoli begin falling again to the pack, he may need extra paths to get into subsequent yr’s Champions League, however for now the most effective path is the best—win video games. And in contrast to loads of coaches the previous few years, he’s exhibiting that he can do this in a number of alternative ways.

Juve welcome Bologna into Turin on Sunday, then end an enormous three-week stretch with a visit to the San Siro to face an AC Milan group that’s all of the sudden trying prefer it’s in free fall.