The Monday Scratch

Dea stops Napoli's flight (3-0). Inter within a point but what a struggle against Venezia...

In the face of a ferocious 3-0 win (two goals from Lookman and one from Retegui) there is not much to discuss. But it wasn't Napoli who did wrong, it was Atalanta who were overwhelming

4 November 2024

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That's the beauty of football: it makes and unmakes. Like Penelope with her web. We had all made ourselves a beautiful film with Napoli in the lead launched full throttle towards glory, with another revenge of the South on the rich men of the North. Instead, we have to revise our hasty predictions.

On Conte's team, which in vain invited caution, Gasperini's Atalanta arrived with the force of a truck. With a deadly crash it shattered, to the amazement of its fans, the Parthenopeans' sour illusions.

In the face of a ferocious 3-0 win (two goals from Lookman and one from Retegui) there is little to discuss. Better to clear the rubble, count the damage and then see if anything could have been done to prevent it.

But it was not Napoli that did wrong, it was Atalanta that was overwhelming. A force of nature that imposed the first stop on the leaders after five consecutive victories. Conte had so far only failed in the first match against Verona, another three-nil defeat, which, however, had many extenuating circumstances, including the market to be completed and the short time the coach had to break in the group.

Ten rounds later, however, Atalanta was better in everything: in play, in aggression and in speed. And with its frontman - Lookman - winning the duel with Lukaku, who once again appeared as slow as an elephant in stride. But beyond the individualities - splendid also De Ketelaere - what prevailed was the force of impact of the Bergamasque, always first in the contrasts and in infiltrating Conte's fragile lines.

Where's the ball? Nothing to us? The Azzurri must have wondered at some point, as they hardly touched it in the first half.

Dea went ahead after not even ten minutes with a left-footed volley from Lookman, aided by an earlier mistake by Olivera. The Nigerian, after a mild reaction from Napoli, also struck the 2-0 blow by beating Meret from outside. Conte's changes were to no avail, so much so that Retegui's hat-trick arrived in the second half. To say that Napoli came out relegated is perhaps too much. But at least a yellow alert should be issued, provided it does not turn orange or red after next Sunday's direct clash with Inter.

The strange Inter amnesias

Even Inter, despite coming within a point of Napoli, did not have an exciting Sunday. At the San Siro against Venezia they narrowly escaped (1-0) thanks to a goal from Lautaro, who returned to scoring at the San Siro after more than eight months. But what a struggle to close the account! Without Sommer's saves, decisive on two occasions, and Dimarco's many crosses (from one of which the Argentine striker's winning dunk), Inzaghi would arrive even more nervous at the next challenge with Conte. Three points are precious, but they do not completely cancel out some of Inter's amnesias, often cornered by a Venezia that was anything but relentless.

And if Sverko's last-minute goal had been validated (hand touch) we would now be here talking about a magnificent wasted opportunity. And of an Inter side that, while producing a lot, is also easily perforated. To the credit, apart from the result, for Inzaghi there are however two returns: that of Lautaro in goal and that of Calhanoglu, who returned to the pitch for half an hour after injury.

Atalanta is a candidate for the title?

And the Goddess? Isn't it time to get it out of the misunderstanding of the beautiful provincial team that occasionally gives the big ones a toothache? If it keeps up this pace, and this quality of play, with Retegui the top scorer and an irrepressible Lookman, it can no longer hide. Together with Fiorentina (who also won in Turin with a goal from Kean), Dea is three points behind the leaders. In this fluid tournament, so far devoid of certainties, anything can still happen. The same goes for the Viola, on their seventh consecutive success between the league and Europe.

There is a sort of mini-revolution of hierarchies taking place, and we will see with what outcome, which could give a powerful shake to the dominance of the usual favourites. Even Lazio, today struggling against Cagliari, can be included in this Nouvelle Vague that, besides entertaining, wants to join the group of favourites.

Speaking of big names, contradictory news arrives from Juventus and Milan, both of which came out victorious from their challenges against Udinese (2-0) and Monza (1-0). On Thiago Motta's side, some progress was seen, not least the renewed solidity of the defence after the slip-up (4-4) with Inter at the San Siro. A good step forward that solves some urgent classification problems and confirms the indispensable talent Yildiz. Also excellent was the performance of Savona (author of the 2-0), a young full-back on the launching pad. The summit is still far away, but at least the bianconeri are not still stuck at the base camp like the rossoneri, to whom the three points with Monza give oxygen, but very little confidence thinking about tomorrow's challenge with Real Madrid in Champions.

Milan, an increasingly absent club

Only the enigmatic Fonseca can say he is happy with what he saw on Saturday. In fact, Milan has to thank Maignan and some imprecision too many of the Monza players, who were dominant throughout the first half. And apart from the goal annulled to Monza (Nesta's protests were legitimate and acceptable), the Rossoneri once again gave the sensation of not having their own identity.

Offensive team? Of movement? Possession? Boh, whoever understands us is good. It's an orchestra where everyone plays for themselves. After eleven days, that's not a great compliment.

Then there is a great absentee: society. Where is it? Why doesn't it strike a blow or give a line? Seeing the young Maldini and the Belgian De Ketelaere, protagonists in Monza and Atalanta, raises bad thoughts about the recent market choices of a glorious club entrusted to a couple (Cardinale and Ibrahimovic) constantly absent and never on the ball.

As for the tug-of-war with Leao, it seems more like a distraction from the club's real problems than a technical-tactical need. Great coaches know how to enhance great players. The opposite is only a detriment: for the club and for its fans.