Fiorentina vs Atalanta is a very special game for me. This is the fixture I saw on my honeymoon in 2018 (my wife could not care less about soccer but was willing to humor me), ending in a 2-0 win (Veretout PK, Biraghi FK at the death) that launched Gasperini’s hatred for all things Viola due to his allegations of Federico Chiesa diving. I also saw some guy in the stands wearing a Cyril Thereau shirt. In short, it was a perfect experience.
I always like doing something fun to celebrate la Dea’s visit to the Artemio Franchi and talking with Dan Pezzotta—president, CEO, and social secretary of the Las Vegas Atalanta Club—qualifies as something fun. Dan loves Atalanta but he’s got the deep knowledge, wonderful attitude, and goofy sense of humor that would make him fit right in at VN. He’s really one of the best people still on the cesspit that is Twitter. Here’s our chat about the upcoming festivities.
Viola Nation: Seems like the Gasperini cycle might be winding down but the team’s still flying, which is a sort of strange situation, especially after getting bounced from the Champions League and then the loss to Inter Milan, which might’ve been a Scudetto decider. What’s the feeling around Atalanta right now?
Dan Pezzotta: Sadly, it does feel like Gasp could be leaving at the end of the season, and even if he doesn’t, he has said that he’ll leave after next year. This question is a tough one. Over the past 9 years, we’ve understandably picked up a ton of fans internationally who haven’t known anything but Atalanta’s success, so they tend to be (at least on Atalanta Twitter anyway) quite critical of Atalanta’s inability to show up in the “big” games this season. So there’s a lot of disappointment there.
Then there’s the long suffering fans, inside and outside of Bergamo who are still pinching themselves that we’ve been to the dizzying heights we’ve been at in the Gasp era. But let’s face it, after last year’s European trophy, and how we performed in the first half of the season, I think we’re all a bit disappointed that we can’t seem to get over that last big scudetto step, especially since the other top teams seem to be dropping points left and right and we keep getting chance after chance. But, I think that loss to Inter might be the decider. As far as the team goes, I honestly think that they’re pleased to be where they’re at. Technically, still in it to win it, despite all the injuries.
VN: I will never understand what dark rituals Gasperini’s performed to keep Atalanta among the elite teams in Europe, but he does it every year. What’s been the big difference this year as compared to years past, and is it anything beyond “Holy shit, Mateo Retegui is incredible?”
DP: El Tigre is incredible isn’t he? His goal scoring exploits in Serie A, especially given the context of the Scamacca (double) injury, have solidified a ton of points for us, particularly in the first half of the season.
But honestly, we are where we are because of our winning streak in the first half of the season. We have been abysmal in this calendar year, especially at home. In 2024, before the injury disaster (you know, just Scamacca and Scalvini), the team was really running on all cylinders. Defensively, Carnesecchi was unbeatable, and in defense the emergence of Odilon Koussonou added the depth and solidity that we needed to have a good rotation of centerbacks. De Roon and Ederson in midfield were so solid that it allowed us to play a front three of Lookman, CDK and Retegui every game. The lack of depth at wingback was addressed by Bellanova and the ageless dancer Juan Cuadrado. We were able to play the way that we wanted to play, and it was beautiful.
So we really did all the good work in 2024 that’s helped us carry over into 2025. The biggest difference that’s allowed us to hang around at the top despite injuries has been our depth. It hasn’t been pretty, but guys like Brescianini, Samardzic, Zaniolo (now your boy), and of course Super Mario Pasalic, have helped us grind out some points when it looked beyond hope.
VN: The injury list is pretty crazy for Atalanta right now. By my count, 8 senior team players are out for this one, including 4 I’d consider regular starters. Will that change how yall play or is it just business as usual? Will not having Gasperini on the touchlines make any difference or is Tulio Gritti capable of relaying the Gospel according to Gian Piero for 90 minutes?
DP: Oh the injuries. What could’ve been this year. Imagine this squad PLUS Scamacca and Scalvini!!! We almost had it too. It will definitely change the way we play. Not having Retegui will change our shape for sure. CDK’s drop of form has seen him get relegated to coming off the bench, and this after Gasp said a few months ago that he was one of the first on the team sheet every game. But he should start with Lookman up front.
The “biggest” loss is arguable Ederson, and not to injury, but to a silly double booking for dissent against Inter. This means that Pasalic will probably partner De Roon in the midfield, and either Samardzic or Brescianini will start in the attacking midfield position. Given the form of Fiorentina, and way you pack the midfield, I actually think Gasp might be a bit more conservative and start Brescianini alongside De Roon and Pasalic in order to not get overrun in the midfield. This means that we might not see the hold up and link up play as fluid in transition. Get the feeling like CDK and Lookman will have to create chances on their own.
Tullio Gritti is the GOAT of Mister Assistants. Nothing lost…plus Gasp will be WhatsApping him from the Curva anyway. The players may even enjoy not getting yapped at for a game.
VN: Even with all those absences, are there any matchups you’re particularly looking forward to? Anything you can see Atalanta exploiting? Conversely, do you see any weaknesses that Fiorentina could exploit?
DP: I think there’s a few great matchups. The big boys battle between Isak Hien and Moise Kean should be really fun. It’ll be a heavyweight bout between some tough dudes. The other will be Sead Kolasinac against Albert. Seo will follow him wherever he goes on the pitch. It will be a test in Gudmundsson’s patience. Atalanta’s competitive advantage in this match seems to be gone with all the injuries. For Fiorentina, I think they will dominate the midfield and they can exploit Kean’s holdup play and Albert’s movement. Over the course of 90 mins, I don’t think Atalanta’s man marking can hold.
Oh, Gosens v Bellanova will be an interesting one too. If Gosens gets a goal…straight to the fetal position for me.
VN: Let’s do the prediction thing. Finals score, who (if anyone) gets the goals, and what the match looks like.
DP: This had advantage Fiorentina written all over it unless CDK and Pasalic have the game of their lives. Although, with our terrible home form and killer away form, we good make a game of it. I see a pretty crappy and scrappy first half, and a match with a few goals. Palladino and Gritti’s formations will match and cancel each other out, but Fiorentina will dominate possession. Fiorentina takes the lead in the first half through a Gudmundsson strike from outside the box, Atalanta equalizes early in the first half through CDK. Tense match until the last 10 minutes when it opens up and goes crazy. Mandragora with another banger from 25 yards puts Fiorentina up, but Samardzic equalizes in extra time due to a deflected shot that dribbles by De Gea. Final 2-2.
Thanks, Dan! Here’s wishing you a fun game tomorrow and a good close to the season.
