#2 Atalanta
Serie A has been a predictable league over the past five years or so; Juventus win the Scudetto and then it’s a free-for-all for the European places below that, which is usually won by any two of Roma, Napoli, Milan or Lazio. This term things have gone pretty much according to plan as far as that’s concerned, but one club has defied expectation towards the top of the tree – Atalanta.
La Dea are by no means a recognised name for those outside Italy and prior to this campaign they had failed to break into the top ten in Serie A in the last six seasons since their promotion to the top flight, finishing thirteenth last campaign. There were no big signs hidden in last summer’s transfer dealings that such fortune would be turning around anytime soon either, with the addition of Swansea’s Alberto Paloschi the only notable signing.
That said, the club have been impressive this term, bouncing back from four defeats in their opening five games of the season to go nine matches unbeaten through October and November, having defeated the likes of Roma, Inter Milan and Napoli along the way.
Atalanta now sit in fifth position in Serie A, sandwiched tightly between Inter Milan and Lazio and above big clubs like AC Milan, Fiorentina and Torino. It’s been a steady few months for the club which has seen them rise well above the glass ceilings laid out for them at the beginning of the season.
