Serie A is undoubtedly one of Europe’s most fiercely contested leagues this season, with the standings tighter than ever as teams battle for pole position. Napoli leads the pack, holding a narrow edge at the top, while Atalanta sits just one point behind in second place.
Meanwhile, traditional heavyweights like Juventus, Inter, and Milan remain within striking distance while ensuring no margin for error in the race for the coveted Scudetto. This competitive dynamic has set the stage for intense rivalries, and every win, draw, or loss among the top teams heavily impacts the standings.
Former Italy coach Cesare Prandelli recently weighed in on the title race. He shared his thoughts on Atalanta’s transformation under Gian Piero Gasperini and their newfound ability to grind out results.
Despite the pressure from Serie A’s elite clubs, Prandelli sees La Dea as a genuine contender for the title this season, making their journey one to watch.
Many betting sites and online casinos that provide football betting options are now giving Atalanta a greater win probability than other top teams in Serie A like Juventus, Inter, Milan, and Napoli.
Atalanta is a Top Candidate for the Scudetto
Prandelli expressed confidence in Atalanta’s ability to contend for the Serie A title this season. While at it, he also showed no objection to Nicolò Zaniolo’s controversial celebration against Roma, describing it as a sign of “personality.”
Currently, just one point behind league leaders Napoli, Atalanta are enjoying their moments in the sun. The Bergamo-based club has won eight consecutive Serie A matches and has remained unbeaten in the Champions League, which is going on to show their status as one of the most in-form teams in Italy and Europe.
Last season, they defied expectations by winning the Europa League and proved their reputation as serious contenders for titles and trophies.
Prandelli, who previously coached Atalanta and the Italian national team, believes the Nerazzurri have evolved significantly this season. Speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport, he said, “This season, they know how to endure challenges. During the Gasperini era, Atalanta has always played attractive football, but they often failed to secure three points when their performance wasn’t at its peak. This year, they’ve shown the ability to win “dirty” matches. Recent victories against Roma, Monza, and Udinese weren’t spectacular, but they were effective.”
Prandelli continued by emphasizing the importance of Atalanta’s Europa League triumph, saying, “I think it all starts with the cup victory in May. Winning the Europa League and dominating in the Final against a top team, unbeaten for the whole season, has given great awareness to the group.” He suggested that this victory has instilled a newfound confidence among the players. “The players know they are strong now and have everything to win, including the Scudetto,” he stated.
Reflecting on Atalanta’s recent win over Roma, Prandelli highlighted the impact of substitutes such as Nicolò Zaniolo, calling it a reflection of the team’s depth. “It was a nice signal because they won despite CDK, Lookman, and Retegui not being at their best,” he explained.
Gian Piero Gasperini: The Ideal Coach
Prandelli praised coach Gian Piero Gasperini’s ability to maximize the potential of his squad. “Gasp has a deep team, and if we consider his ability to take the best out of every player, we can understand how strong this Atalanta team is,” he said.
Gian Piero Gasperini has achieved remarkable success with Atalanta. Under Gasperini, Atalanta qualified for the UEFA Champions League for three consecutive seasons (2019-2021), a record in the club’s history.
Atalanta reached the quarterfinals in their debut Champions League campaign during the 2019-2020 season before narrowly losing to Paris Saint-Germain. The team also achieved three consecutive third-place finishes in Serie A (2018-2019 to 2020-2021) and has shown consistency at the top of Italian football.
La Dea won their first-ever Europa League title in the 2023-2024 season with a dominant victory over Bayer Leverkusen in the final. The win proved to be an incredible feat that ended a 60-year trophy drought for Gasperini’s side and something that is making the players hungry for more trophies this season.
Closing Off with Zaniolo’s Celebration
The former Italy coach also expressed admiration for Zaniolo’s performance and celebrated the player’s resilience. “I liked Zaniolo in Rome. I was not disturbed by his celebration. On the contrary, it proved his personality. Don’t forget what he’s gone through (injuries and unhappy moments). Now, he is in the right place to bounce back,” Prandelli remarked, adding that Gasperini is the ideal coach for Zaniolo’s resurgence. “He’s a coach who doesn’t oblige the footballers to play with one system but tries to enhance their talents.”
Prandelli singled out another standout player, Ederson, as a critical force behind Atalanta’s success. “Ederson has physicality, intelligence, and quality. You see him regain possession in defence, and 40 seconds later, he’s 40 meters ahead for a shot on target. A real force of nature,” he concluded.
With 5 wins in their last 5 matches, Atalanta is on the right track to win the Serie A crown. That said, it remains to be seen whether Prandelli’s comments will hold in the coming weeks as Atalanta’s season continues to come into focus.
