Posted by Despite the growing economic disparity in top-class European football, there are many clubs on the continent who are defying the established order this season. Here are profiles of three of those teams:
Atalanta
Although they achieved consecutive top-4 finishes in the previous two seasons, this campaign is already the best in Atalanta’s history. La Dea are in the driver’s seat for another top-4 spot in Serie A, with a six point advantage over 5th-placed Roma. Furthermore, they are making the most of their first Champions League appearance. After losing their first three group stage matches, the Bergamo-based club seemed set for an early exit from Europe. However, However, they took seven points from their remaining group stage matches, including a creditable draw against Manchester City, to make the last 16. After a convincing 4-1 victory in the first leg of their knockout tie against Valencia, Atalanta seem set to keep turning heads across the continent.
Atalanta’s success is based on a spellbinding attack, with their 63 league goals after 24 games a Serie A record. Their domestic campaign has been highlighted by multiple eye-catching results, including a 7-1 win over Udinese in October, back-to-back 5-0 wins over Milan and Parma at the turn of the year, and a 7-0 thrashing of Torino. Part of what makes Atalanta so successful going forward is their lack of reliance on a single player. Atalanta’s 12 Champions League goals have been scored by 10 different players, while they get more goals from substitutes than any other team in Europe’s top 5 leagues.
Even in a team where the collective is the star, the form of forward Josip Iličić deserves special mention. The 32-year-old Slovenian is enjoying the best season of a notable career that saw him star for Palermo and Fiorentina before joining Atalanta in 2017. With a third of the season left, Iličić’s 14 league goals are already a Serie A personal best. If penalties were not included, Iličić would be only two goals behind Ciro Immobile in the Capocannoniere race. Yet, Iličić is also one of Italy’s most effective creative players, with his 21 key passes ranking second in the league.
Despite possessing quality players like Iličić and Argentinean schemer Alejandro “Papu” Gómez, Atalanta are massively outperforming expectations. Their payroll is a third the size of domestic giants Milan and Napoli, and a quarter the size of Roma’s. Besides their financial restrictions, Atalanta have been forced to play their European games this season at San Siro while their Stadio Atleti Azzuri d’Italia undergoes renovations to bring it up to UEFA standards.
The main reason why Atalanta has defied the odds for so long is head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. The 62-year old first made waves more than a decade ago during an impressive spell with Genoa, playing an innovative 3-4-3 formation that launched the careers of players such as Thiago Motta and Diego Milito. With his star on the rise, Gasperini was hired by Inter in the summer of 2011. However, his move to the Nerazzuri turned out horribly, and Gasperini was fired after just five games in charge.
Although his stock fell considerably after his departure from Inter, Gasperini has rebuilt his reputation with Atalanta. He has slightly modified his 3-4-3, allowing Gómez the freedom to play either behind Iličić and Colombian striker Duván Zapata or to the left of them in a front three. Surprisingly, Gasperini’s feats at Atalanta have not drawn interest from other clubs in Italy or on the continent. However, he deserves the chance at another big club before the end of an under-appreciated career.
Getafe
Until recently, this upwardly-mobile club from Madrid’s suburbs were viewed with disdain by many in Spain. Despite finishing 8th and 5th in their two seasons since returning to La Liga, Getafe were roundly criticized for their physical, direct style. This season, they rank lowest in La Liga in passes completed, passes attempted, and pass completion percentage. Furthermore, they are first in fouls committed, with their 458 infractions a whopping 70 more than second-placed Alavés.
Getafe and coach José Bordalás are definitely not the second coming of Guardiola’s Barcelona. Nevertheless, Getafe’s uncompromising methods should not detract from their noteworthy accomplishments under Bordalás. The former melon-picker has los Azulones sitting 3rd in La Liga, ahead of European heavyweights Atlético Madrid, Sevilla and Valencia. A first-ever qualification for the Champions League is a distinct possibility, even though Getafe has the 12th-largest budget in the league. Meanwhile, Getafe has a tasty Europa League last 32 matchup against Ajax, in what promises to be a fascinating battle of styles.
Despite lacking the talent of their direct competitors, Getafe have evened the playing field through a focus on hard work. According to Bordalás, “effort is non-negotiable”, and he pushes his squad to their limits at all times. For example, Getafe’s players must be moving at all times during training, in order to mimic the exertion they put in during a match. This attention to detail is apparent when Getafe play. Bordalás does not stray from a 4-4-2 formation, and ensures that Getafe’s defensive movements are perfectly coordinated all over the pitch. They often sit deep in two banks of four, which makes them very difficult to play through, while they look to prevent overload situations on the wings. Although Getafe certainly would not be the most fluid side to ever participate in the Champions League, if they book a place at Europe’s top table next season it will be on merit.
Sheffield United
This has been one of the most unpredictable Premier League seasons in recent memory. Although Liverpool is running away with the title, the battle for the final Champions League spot promises to be nail-biting. Nearly half the league is fighting for 4th-place, with only seven points separating current incumbents Chelsea from 11th-placed Burnley. Furthermore, a recent UEFA sanction against Manchester City for breaches of Financial Fair Play means that finishing 5th this year also guarantees Champions League football in 2020-21.
Amongst the peloton of seven teams chasing Chelsea, Sheffield United are by far the biggest surprise. From 2011 to 2017, the Blades were mired in England’s third division. Yet, their fortunes have turned around since head coach Chris Wilder took over in 2016, with the former Blades player helping the club back to the Premier League for the first time since 2006-07.
Despite the feel-good nature of their return to the Premier League, most pundits expected the Blades to go straight back down to the Championship. Yet, Sheffield United are in 6th, and sit just two points behind Chelsea. Instead of being mired in a relegation scrap, the Blades have a chance to achieve their best top-flight finish since they placed 6th in the old first division in 1974-75.
Sheffield United’s ascent to the brink of European qualification comes despite their limited budget. The Blades have by far the lowest payroll in the division, but make up for that financial disparity with cohesion and team spirit. Wilder has forged an organized unit that is excellent defensively and capable of interchanging positions at will. They have the second-best defensive record in the league, with Manchester United loanee Dean Henderson establishing himself as one of the Premier League’s best goalkeepers. While Henderson is likely to depart the Steel City this summer for one of England’s “Big 6” clubs, Wilder and the rest of his players may be enjoying European football next season.
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