Duvan Zapata

Assuming he is staying at Atalanta that would be a positive.

 

I hope he stays, they are really well coached and they utilize Duvan perfectly imo. It would be great to see him in the champions league but even if they don't make it in he's a huge fan favorite and is doing so well it would be nice to see him continue. That said I think there are a few big clubs who are going to try and throw big money at Atalanta to prize him away based on how great of a season he's had.

 

Atalanta lazio, genoa, juventus and sampdoria in the schedule.

Roma have juventus, sassuolo, parma and genoa.

Milan have bologna, fiorentina, spal and frosinonne.


I think that atalanta have the most difficult one.............and milan the easiest one but they are playing bad.


Inter have an easier one with napoli, udinese chievo and empoli.


Italy have 4 spots........i think that inter and atalanta are going thorugh.

 

And Atalanta have a Copa Italia final against Lazio squeezed in there too (It's crazy they don't do it at the end of the season like other leagues. Atalanta have had a brutal schedule lately but are really rising to the occasion so far and have been rotating a decent amount. You really couldn't blame them if they faltered with such a difficult road but if Juve can beat Roma and Atalanta beat Lazio in the next round they'd have a good cushion for a slip up and still make it in.

Duvan has been pushed to the maximum my only worried is he gets an injury, this many intense games in a short period is a big risk on the body but he's so important and they don't really have another player who can play that role so they haven't been able to rest him like other players in the squad.

 

Another goal for Duvan.

 

Midway through the second half Duvan has been playing more of a right wing role.

Interesting tactical variant to say the least. I kind of like it. Could be a way we see Muriel--Falcao--Duvan start in a match if Queiroz takes note.

 

That first touch he had before scoring was really impressive. That was a missle of a pass and he had it right at his feet ready to score.

He’s been something to watch this season.

 

He's putting them on his back in these late stages of the season, so many important goals, really impressed with his consistency in the pressure cooker moments.

 

I can understand more minutes , new team, coach and a change in tactics helping him be a better finisher but I still can't believe he's putting up these kind of numbers this season.

 

His underlying numbers last year for chance creation and xG were really good on a weaker team playing with the current Serie A leader in goals in Quagrialla and not a consistent starter the whole season. He's outperformed that but there were a lot of really good signs and Atalanta spotted them and prioritized him and its all worked out really well for everyone. His numbers were close to a guy like Dzeko and this year he's surpassed that which is fantastic.

I don't say this lightly in terms of all round play there really isn't a lot of better #9's in the world right now, chance creation, finishing, hold up play, defending, able to come wide and open space, occupying defenders he's doing everything and would be able to fit in the best teams in the world if he's used correctly.

For comparison there is currently not a CF that plays the same role that he does in the top leagues that has a better chance creation or xA then he does.

Benzema xG 0.59. xA 0.19
Griez 0.43/0.26
Lewy 1.05/0.27
Firminho 0.47/0.22
Lacazette 0.43/0.15

Duvan 0.65/0.34

Falcao 0.57/0.07

So I think Benzema/Firminho/Lacazette are good comparisons because they aren't necessarily pure 9's but are very much chance creators who don't simply hunt goals and Duvan is blowing them away in that area while also doing better in xG. Duvan is on a good offensive team no doubt but Italy isn't exactly a farmers league and his chance creation is elite, which means you can throw him in and he can integrate with teammates rather then just try to finish. Last year he was at 0.40/0.15 so he's made big strides in both areas.

 

good stuff but the underlying truth here is that he's a player on loan for a reason. No team would just give away a player that can have this impact even if giving him that role you mentioned. Those numbers put him in great company and specially when you consider those players have had much more opportunity and support from the MF. I would love to see Duvan land in a team for good. I hate that a guy this good will have to surely move on, again, as opposed to setting in as he's enjoying the best time of his career.

 

He's on a two season loan deal with an option to purchase, so I'd imagine he's very likely to continue at Atalanta and its in the hands of Duvan and Atalanta which is great. He's so good and that team is really doing well I think hands down he should stay and keep on track and most likely get to play in the Champions league next year.

 

the reason for so many loan to purchase options is also mostly just economical. People read too much into it sometimes

 

For those of us in the USA...
...the Copa Italia Final (Wednesday) will be available on ESPN Deportes channel and ESPN2 in English.

 

This Lazio-Atalanta game getting intense - a missed handball that would have benefitted Atalanta and lots of physicality so far. 4 yellow cards in the first half.

Lazio doing a good job of covering Duvan.

 

Lazio won 2-0. Not best match of duvan subbed out at minute 84

 

Golazo! Just kidding. Probably the ugliest goal for him this season but once again he has scored.

Edit. I forgot that this game is super important for Atalanta as they are fighting for a CL spot. The other team got a red card at the end of the first half.

 

Ya that is ugly as hell, but gotta give him credit for being in the right place at the right time!

 

This is what we have, we need to use it accordingly. Having a guy who can hold off, turn dribble and have that movement in the box is a huge asset, I think CQ is simply not trying to rock the boat with the captain and idol but we can't hold Duvan back anymore we will get a ton more chances with him on the field.

 

The Duvan sub would have likely happened sooner if the Muriel-Roger sub wasn’t so early.

I am curious as to what CQ sees in practice that holds him back from the Falcao-Duvan combo or the dual striker concept in general