Atalanta, Gasp's new defensive option: Bellanova as right-hand man

Double seasonal revenge for the 25-year-old Milanese winger: on Sunday the assist, in August in the first match of the championship, when he was still wearing the Torino shirt, the goal of the former, again with a header, in the Meazza of the Rossoneri, before being sold the following day to Atalanta.

“Playing at San Siro against Milan is everyone’s dream. I played there with the Nerazzurri shirt (Inter in 2022-23) and I know the importance of this stadium,” Bellanova explained on Sunday evening.

Perhaps the best on the pitch ever in the Goddess, not only for the assist but pfor the defensive performance provided in the new role of "right-hand man", man-marking the much-feared Leao.

“At first I was a little scared, why playing on Leao man-to-man at San Siro is never easy: as the minutes passed, things went better,” explained the Italian full-back.

Enjoying the victory and above all the standings of his Atalanta, who have returned to being the third solitary force in Serie A, after two very important victories in a row against Bologna and on the pitch of Milan, which have paved the way for the Nerazzurri to return to the Champions League.

“A lot has been said but now we had two very important victories that relaunch us and put us in good position for the Champions fight which is very difficult. Even during the three consecutive defeats we never gave up and we always trained 100%. And work always pays off, in the end. When you lose a few games in a row you become tense, after the victory against Bologna we made a leap more mental than technical, we were able to play with a freer mind”, Bellanova underlined.

Pointing out the path to follow for the end of the season. “In the second half of the season we lost more points against teams fighting for survival, so we have to be careful in the games that on paper seem easier. We have to find a balance between games like these against Milan, which prepare themselves, and those that on paper are easier like the next ones that await us”.

Friday night against Lecce, without Kolasinac, with Djimsiti currently sidelined due to a sprained ankle sustained against Milan and Posch who has not yet resumed training with the group, Gasperini could also confirm Bellanova as third defender, pulling it back again by the arm.