Udinese all heart: Atalanta stopped 0-0 at Bluenergy Stadium

Udine, 11 January 2025 – A great Udinese stops Atalanta 0-0 at the Bluenergy Stadium and prevents them from catching up with Napoli at the top. A draw that is undoubtedly much tighter for the Bianconeri, who have interpreted the game better since the first half, creating the clearest goal opportunities and coming close to scoring first with Bijol and then with Sanchez who in the same action hit the woodwork twice. In the second half, the Bianconeri's rhythm understandably dropped, but Atalanta - despite Gasperini's changes and the switch to 4-2-3-1 - continued to play in a way that was too timid and not very incisive, only creating its own chance in injury time. first, great chance with Samardzic and ending up having to settle for just one point.  

First half

It is the great intensity that dominates in a start of the match in which Udinese shows no reverential fear and focuses on building from the bottom despite the high pressure of Atalanta. However, the Bianconeri seem to be much more reactive on every ball and in the phase of winning it back. As the minutes pass, Runjaic's men consequently take over more and more of the field in the face of a very timid and submissive Atalanta offensively, but above all forced, halfway through the half, to deal with the injury occurred to Djimsiti, who due to a head trauma has to leave the field and make room for Hien. Gasperini tries especially in the offensive phase to invert the positions of his men to try not to give reference points to the black and whites who, however, keep the tiller straight and in the 33rd minute they created the first real goal opportunity of the match: following a corner, in fact, Bijol headed the ball with a sure shot but found a capable Carnesecchi in his path, with a great reflex save, to intercept the ball in two stages on the goal line. A flash that instills even more confidence in Runjaic's team, who continues to attack with intensity and bring many men close to the Nerazzurri penalty area. Prelude to the other three occasions for the Bianconeri which, very close together, bear the signatures of Sanchez, an excellent additional attacking director in the first half, and Lovric. The Chilean, in fact, at the stroke of 45', He heads the ball ahead of Hien, hitting the base of the post and then the crossbar on the rebound, with the ball then ending up at the feet of Lovric, who, in turn, hits Carnesecchi who once again saves the result.

Second half

After the break, Gasperini's second move came, bringing on Kossounou in place of the already cautioned Scalvini and effectively switching to 4-2-3-1, but Atalanta started with the handbrake on again and took a big risk with an incorrect back pass from Hien that led to a caution for Kolasinac – forced to stop Sanchez with a nasty move – and a free kick that Thauvin didn't capitalize on. Runjaic's first substitution was also forced, as he lost Ehizibue in the 50th minute who, due to a flexor problem, was replaced by Rui Modesto, while Gasperini, not satisfied, made another change with half an hour to go, bringing on Zaniolo Zamardzic for a Lookman who had appeared decidedly below par today and for Pasalic. Greater quality for the Nerazzurri's offensive phase, who tried to take more of the initiative and press, but only managing to create his first real chance on goal in injury time with Samardzic who found Sava in his path who was good - after having remained virtually inactive for more than 90 minutes - at safeguarding a draw that was undoubtedly tighter for the Bianconeri, good - when energy levels drop - at covering themselves with great order and care.

The scoreboard:

Udinese (3-5-2): Sava; Kristensen, Bijol, Solet; Ehizibue (from 51' Rui Modesto), Lovric (from 67' Atta), Karlstrom, Payero (from 67' Ekkelenkamp), Kamara; Thauvin, Sanchez (from 79' Iker Bravo). All. Runjaic. Atalanta (3-4-2-1): Carnesecchi; Scalvini, Djimsiti (from 22' Hien), Kolasinac; Bellanova, De Roon, Ederson, Zappacosta; Pasalic (from 62' Samardzic), Lookman (from 62' Zaniolo); De Ketelaere (from 82' Brescianini). Coach Gasperini. Scorers: Note - Yellow cards: Scalvini, Kolasinac, Lovric.