UEFA Europa League: How Gasperini changed Atalanta’s structure to stifle Leipzig in Saxony – tactical analysis

There was something incredibly juxtaposing from RB Leipzig’s 1-1 draw with Atalanta on Thursday evening.

A side doused in a rich tapestry of history travelling to the ribcage of Germany to take on a newfound beast, backed by copious amounts of cash, allowing them to barrage their way to the pinnacles of Europe.

RB Leipzig facing Atalanta in the UEFA Europa League was European football’s fortuitous depiction of Jay Gatsby’s ‘new money’ locking horns with Tom Buchanan’s ‘old money’ from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s esteemed novel. Funnily, just like in ‘The Great Gatsby’, nobody won, although the ending was much less tragic.

The game was certainly thrilling though as both teams shared 31 shots on goal across the ninety minutes plus added time.

Gian Piero Gasperini’s side took the lead early in the first half through Luis Muriel. The sumptuous strike from the Colombian was cancelled out in the second half when Davide Zappacosta converted into his own net to cost his side the lead in Leipzig.

Not only was the game incredibly interesting from a neutral perspective given the contrasting styles of football being put on display, but it was also tactically engrossing.

This article will be a tactical analysis of Thursday’s early quarter-final clash in the Europa League. The analysis will focus on the tactics used by both sides, paying particular emphasis on Atalanta’s newfound structure.

Lineups and formations

The German arrivistes had come into this crucial clash off the back of 4-1 thrashing of Borussia Dortmund on Saturday in the Bundesliga. Given their dominance against the second-best side in the country, head coach Dominico Tedesco felt there wasn’t much need to change for the midweek bout.

Apart from Benjamin Henrichs replacing Nordi Mukiele at right wingback in Leipzig’s 3-5-2 and Mohamed Simakan coming in for Lukas Klostermann at right centre-back, the side was unchanged.