Atalanta remains scary good in Serie A this Halloween

Atalanta has exceeded expectations in Italy over the past few seasons. This season has turned out to be no different as they continue to stun opponents.

There have been several constants in Italian soccer over the past decade. Juventus wins the league title (they have the past eight straight seasons) and Napoli often, if sometimes in feeble fashion, tries to compete for the title. After all, they have finished second four times this decade.

The other new normal in Serie A has been Atalanta. The team based in the city of Bergamo, thanks in large part to its youth academy, has moved from mid-tier club to one that contends for a spot in European competition. The team’s meteoric rise has been both welcomed and championed by those who want to see more competitive teams in Serie A and better player development in Italy.

Atalanta may be an old club (they were founded in 1907, but their trophy case has more cobwebs than silverware. The team has one major trophy to their name (the Italian Cup won in 1963) and nothing else.

Atalanta finished third last season, their best finish in club history, and for the first time this season are participating in the Champions League. For the first time ever, this is a team that has entered the elite club of European soccer. It is both a time to rejoice and one of hard work for a team set on making their fans proud, but also looking to shock opponents.

During a weekend where both league leaders Juventus and title contenders Inter Milan posted stunning draws against Lecce and Parma, respectively, Atalanta posted an impressive 7-1 rout at home against Udinese. Atalanta’s road game this Wednesday against Napoli will be another test for them. Win and they could very well be the team that contends the title with Juve this season.

While Atalanta have struggled in the Champions League this season (not a surprise), they remain scary good in Serie A. That was one of the questions on the eve of this new season. Atalanta has not disappointed. They entered this weekend in third place and have shown that they can be consistent despite setting a high bar for themselves after last season’s performances.

Led by striker Duvan Zapata, Atalanta could again finish in the top four. They could even challenge for the title given how inconsistent Inter Milan and especially Napoli have been this season. There are still plenty of obstacles for the team coached by Gian Piero Gasperini. Zapata injured himself while playing for Colombia recently and will be unavailable for now. That’s a big loss given his scoring rate the last two years.

Zapata scored 23 league goals last season, second overall in the league. This season, the 28-year-old Colombian international has scored six goals in seven matches. Zapata isn’t the only overachiever on the roster. Players like goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini, defender Rafael Toloi and playmaker Papu Gomez have all made a difference this season.

Atalanta have scored 28 goals through nine games this season, more than any other team in Serie A. Should that impressive rate continue, there’s really no telling how much more this club can succeed in Italy.