Gian Piero Gasperini’s Serie A top scorers have been likened by Fabio Capello to the thrilling Dutch side in the way they commit to one-on-one battles all over the pitch
A lesser team would have broken. On 15 April, Atalanta played out one of the most imbalanced draws in Serie A history: a goalless stalemate at home to Empoli in which they produced 47 shots to their opponents’ three. Eighteen went on target. The last Serie A club to rack up so many attempts on goal in a single game were Roma, against Catania in 2006, in a game they won 7-0.
At full time, Atalanta’s players crumpled to the floor. The draw had cost them a share of fourth place, dropping them to sixth with six games to play. Next up was an away game against Napoli, with visits to Lazio and Juventus still to come.
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Napoli 2-1 Cagliari, Genoa 1-1 Roma, Lazio 1-3 Atalanta, Parma 3-3 Sampdoria, Sassuolo 2-2 Frosinone, Empoli 1-0 Fiorentina, Udinese 0-0 Inter, Chievo 0-4 Spal