Atalanta on the field in Rotterdam against Feyenoord

At the Feyenoord stadium in Rotterdam, the De Kuip cup, the friendly match that sees Atalanta and Feyenoord face off over three periods (two regular and a guaranteed 30’ extra time regardless of goals).

The first half

Atalanta equalizes at the last minute after a tough first half. The nerazzurri suffer from unexpected heat and summer training loads in a first half that lasts 55 minutes to compensate for numerous medical staff interventions. Atalanta opens the scoring at the 2nd minute with Krstovic hitting the post from outside. Ederson is ready on the rebound but shoots over.

Feyenoord leads at 10’ with a penalty. On a cross from Marmol, Scalvini touches the ball with his arm. Ayase Ueda from the spot scores and puts the home team ahead. In a first half rather lacking in excitement, the white-reds are still the closest to scoring, nearly doubling the lead on several occasions.

At 16’ Diarra creates a shot from outside on his own, but fails to trouble Carnesecchi. Again number 27 of Feyenoord at 28’, this time serving Valente who shoots confidently, but hits the crossbar, then assists Moussa, who with an empty goal fails to angle and finishes to the right of the post.

At 3’ of added time the initiative is still with the home team. Valente serves Ueda in the area, who flicks it with his heel for Vanhoutte’s shot, which hits the left post. Two minutes later Atalanta takes the initiative again. From a corner, a cross by Samardžić triggers a scramble in the home area, with Krstovic finding the equalizer with a dirty touch after a flick from Scalvini.

The second half

The second half proves more generous in terms of chances right from the start. Atalanta changes gear and raises the tempo, while Sarri takes the opportunity to give everyone playing time. Between 60’ and 70’ the starting eleven changes and we see the Bergamaschi become more proactive, although fading at the end.

At 60’ the newcomer Sportiello is immediately called into action by a dangerous long ball that risks putting him one-on-one with Ueda. Providential in coming out, the nerazzurri goalkeeper avoids further danger. Bernasconi and Scamacca also quickly enter the game, with the former crossing for the downward header of the latter. The Feyenoord goalkeeper manages to save but cannot hold the ball and puts it out for a corner.

At 68’ Maldini tries a run down the left but slips before crossing. On the other side, at 78’ a short pass perfectly finds Borges’ feet, followed closely by Kossonou who puts it out for a corner. The white-reds keep pushing and at 81’ they take the lead. This time the scramble goes in their favor: a long cross from the right on a corner, the ball comes back in with a high trajectory and a less than perfect Sportiello fails to reach it. The header goal is scored by the star son Shaqueel Van Persie. The second half ends 2-1 for Feyenoord without added time.

Read more Atalanta, training and then departure for Rotterdam

Extra time

Atalanta fails to catch up with the home team even in extra time. Fatigue and heat take their toll, the pace drops again and neither team manages accelerations beyond single episodes.

At the start of extra time it is again Van Persie troubling Sportiello, who saves a dangerous left-footed shot from outside before giving way to Vismara, immediately facing a right from Zinhagel from a good position, just wide.

At 107’ the nerazzurri respond with a solo run by Maldini, who beats four defenders before finishing with the right foot just outside the goal frame. At 110’ Scamacca also tries, with a powerful central right-footed shot from outside the area, saved by the goalkeeper, followed four minutes later by Maldini, again from outside but with the left foot, just outside the left post.

The last danger for the nerazzurri goal comes at 116’ with a dangerous right-footed shot from Van den Elshout inside the area, stopped by a great save from Vismara. Despite interesting chances, Atalanta fails to take the match to penalties and stops at 2-1 for Feyenoord.

The lineups

Feyenoord (4-3-3): Ernst, Watanabe, St. Juste, Ueda, Valente, Moussa, Zechiel, Read, Diarra, Vanhoutte, Marmol. Substitutes: Berger, Bossin, Borges, Steijn, Tengstedt, Ferri, Deijl, Ahmedhodzic, Kraaijeveld, Targhalline, Lotomba, Sliti, Ivanusec, Van Den Elshout, Kasanwirjo, van Persie, Zinhagel, Wessels. Coach: Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

Atalanta (4-3-3): Carnesecchi; Zappacosta, Scalvini, Djimsiti, Ahanor; Samardžić, Gaetano, Éderson; K. Soulemana, Krstović, Raspadori. Substitutes: Sportiello, Vismara, Kossounou, I. Sulemana, Pašalić, Scamacca, Maldini, de Roon, Bellanova, Kolašinac, Obrić, Bernasconi, Cassa, Zalewski. Coach: Maurizio Sarri.

First and second half (45’+45’):
Referee: Robin Hensgens (NED).
Assistants: Michael Osseweijer (NED) and Joris Westhof (NED).
Fourth official: Nick Smit (NED).

Third period (30’):
Referee: Erwin Blank (NED).
Assistants: Don Frijn (NED) and Roan van Marrewijk (NED).
Fourth official: Nick Smit (NED).

Read more The four Bergamasche at the Tour