Star striker Duvan Zapata went off with an injury in Atalanta’s 0-0 draw against Genoa.
Atalanta’s midfield prowess forced Genoa to drop deep and defend. The Rossoblu allowed Atalanta time on the ball, their trio of centre-backs playing compact above the six-yard box. The hosts successfully blocked several shots and crosses in the defensive masterclass. After losing Zapata in the first half, Atalanta’s finishing was poor, rarely challenging goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu.
With Mattia Destro returning to the lineup, Genoa ran out a 3-5-2, trying to win its first match under Andriy Shevchenko. Stefano Sturaro and Manolo Portanova lined up as the central midfielders, while Andrea Cambiaso and Domenico Criscito took their typical positions on the wing.
Atalanta’s starting eleven was near full-strength. Duvan Zapata and Ruslan Malinovskyi headlined the attack, and Teun Koopmeiners joined Remo Freuler to provide support in the midfield. After an injury to Joakim Maehle, Hans Hateboer earned another start as the left wing-back.
??⚽️ Gli undici Grifoni per #GenoaAtalanta pic.twitter.com/5DQTu5gh4R
— Genoa CFC (@GenoaCFC) December 21, 2021
Duvan Zapata nearly opened the match with a quick goal. The striker made a diagonal run between the centre-backs, and Aleksei Miranchuk played him into the box. Zapata turned and fired a one-touch shot, but Sirigu made an easy save.
Genoa had a decent opportunity after a free kick was deflected at the top of the box. The ball bounced into a prime position for a shot, but Caleb Ekuban and Milan Badelj collided when they went to strike it, ruining the chance.
Throughout the match, Atalanta’s crushing possession forced Genoa into frantic defending. Late in the first half, Malinovskyi received the ball at seemingly point-blank range, but Sturaro prevented a goal with a desperate slide tackle.
Atalanta’s fortunes took a turn for the worse just before halftime. Zapata appeared to pick up an injury when attempting an awkward volley, and Gian Piero Gasperini replaced the striker with Luis Muriel. Eventually, the half came to a close with the score deadlocked at 0-0.
? In campo così al Ferraris!
? Here's your line-up to face Genoa!Presented by @Plus500#GenoaAtalanta #SerieATIM #GoAtalantaGo ⚫️? pic.twitter.com/dx1837goBD
— Atalanta B.C. (@Atalanta_BC) December 21, 2021
Strong defensive play from the Rossoblu continued after the break. When Muriel created space for himself inside the six-yard box, Cambiaso made a quality tackle to extinguish the chance. The young wing-back was active across the pitch, making defensive plays and helping his side build in the midfield.
Despite their lack of possession, the hosts almost took the lead in the 59th minute. A long ball from the backline played Destro behind the opposing defense, but the striker was unable to control the pass and wasted a one-on-one against the Atalanta goalkeeper.
A golden opportunity for La Dea came with ten minutes remaining. Davide Zappacosta swung in a cross from the wing, finding Merih Demiral’s head. From close-range, the defender out-jumped Paolo Ghiglione, but he sent his header over the crossbar.
The match came to an uneventful close, and Shevchenko’s side took the much-needed point into the winter break.