Serie A: Bologna vs Atalanta! After running 120 kilometers, can the true Nerazzurri still keep up their stamina?

Let's start with the first match todaySerie A: Bologna vs Atalanta!

If Atalanta had played poorly in the previous game, I would feel somewhat better.

However, they played really well last time, which makes me less confident today.

Atalanta’s last match against Roma was probably their most important game this season.

After all, Gasperini coached them for nine years but then left to join Roma!

For Atalanta’s players and fans, while they appreciate him, there are also mixed feelings.

For example, Scalvini, who scored in the last game, was only 12 years old ten years ago and admired Gasperini in Atalanta’s youth academy. Later, Gasperini personally promoted him to the first team and developed him into a key player—he’s almost like a father figure to him.

Similarly, Atalanta’s current coach, Palladino, was also nurtured by Gasperini back when he was at Genoa and is one of his disciples.

These individuals, meeting Gasperini again at home for the first time, surely want to prove themselves.

Who wants to lose? That would just confirm that Gasperini’s departure was the right move.

In any case, we saw Atalanta’s entire team fighting hard,running a total of 120 kilometers throughout the match.

What does 120 kilometers mean?

Their previous average distance covered was only 109 kilometers, so they ran 11 kilometers more this time!

That’s like having an extra player running on the field, and it’s one of their highest distances covered this season.

Given such a tight schedule and this overload of running, will they still have enough stamina today? I seriously doubt it.

Moreover, Atalanta’s lineup is incomplete,with at least four key players definitely unavailable to playand some of the available main players not in their best physical condition.

For example, Scalvini, who scored, had to be substituted due to cramping since it was his first start in 111 days, so he doesn’t have the stamina to play the full match.

These factors also affect their bench strength and weaken their ability to compete continuously.

Although Bologna’s recent results haven’t been great, their determination remains strong.

Despite heavy snowfall locally, they persisted with training in the snow, showing a very serious attitude.

In terms of lineup, their star midfielder Freuler has returned.

He was the key player with the most appearances last season. This season, in the 8 matches he started, Bologna’s win rate is 62.5%, averaging 2 points per game. In the 9 matches he didn’t start, Bologna only won 2 games, with a 22.22% win rate and an average of just 1.11 points per game. The net goal difference per 90 minutes also differs by 0.57.

His presence or absence greatly impacts Bologna’s defensive level, and his comeback could make a big difference in their performance.

So, with concerns about Atalanta’s stamina and Bologna’s core player returning, what do you think? Can Bologna satisfy their fans? I’m hoping they can at least secure a draw or even fight for a win!

Alright, for today’s other matches, I will still share my written insights with you all tonight. If anything is unclear, feel free to ask me. Let’s “watch and understand the game” together, see you then!

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