Method to the magic: How Bayern took Atalanta apart

It was supposed to be a “notte magiche,” a magical night – at least that's what Atalanta supporters had written on a huge banner that they unfurled in the stands before kick-off. However, it was only FC Bayern who experienced a magical night in this Champions League last-16 meeting in Bergamo. The German record champions proved too strong for the Italian side, racing into a 3-0 lead after just 25 minutes. With a final score of 6-1, the two sides will meet again next Wednesday at the Allianz Arena.

‘We could’ve even scored another goal or two’

“That was the performance we hoped for,” rejoiced head coach Vincent Kompany. “I’d even say we could’ve scored another goal or two. I think we were very dangerous in attack all game. It was a good mixture: playing the ball simply into feet at times, but also running in behind at times. That hurt them today.”

By half-time, the visitors had registered 14 shots on goal to two, run five kilometres further and also had significantly more possession than the hosts, who knocked out Borussia Dortmund 4-3 on aggregate in the play-offs. The goals and the plethora of chances for Bayern very quickly snuffed out any confidence from Atalanta, like three pins popping a balloon. FCB dictated the pace of the game almost tantalisingly, slowing down at will or suddenly picking up speed again when a gap opened up. “Remarkable,” praised board member for sport Max Eberl. “From the first minute on, you could see what we wanted to do, the idea, the plan, the willingness. We just crushed them, and then we were also very efficient in scoring goals. It was an impressive performance by the team.”

Weaknesses shamlessly laid bare

And there were plenty of gaps, especially in the centre of the Atalanta back line. With clever runs, Bayern constantly exposed the weaknesses of the Italian side’s man-to-man marking as Munich attackers frequently sprinted into these spaces and were perfectly supplied by the teammates around them. The only shortcoming that could be levelled at Kompany’s men was the chance conversion. “We didn’t give them any space to breathe,” added Eberl. “The way the coach has devised that – when the centre-backs push forward, our full-backs make deep runs and let the forwards run in – I think we really did a lot right today.”

Atalanta, on the other hand, had more or less no answer. While Bayern ran rings around them, La Dea had to acknowledge the difference in class and could not have complained about an even heavier defeat. At the heart of much of the attacking action was Michael Olise. The Frenchman had a hand in all three goals in the first half, setting up one and scoring one before netting another in the second half. With 37 goal contributions in all competitions this season (15 goals, 22 assists), Olise has moved to the top of all wingers in Europe’s top five leagues. It almost goes without saying that he’s amassed the most assists in this Champions League campaign.

Two players suspended for second leg

Even in the second half, Bayern didn’t entertain the thought of taking their foot off the pedal and sparing their opponents, who travel to Munich for the return leg next Wednesday night. By the end of the match, it was 24 shots to five for the visitors. Olise and Joshua Kimmich will both miss the second leg, though, after picking up their third booking. It means Dayot Upamecano is the only player with a yellow card still hanging over him.

They all continued playing here, though. After winning the ball in defence, substitute Alphonso Davies carried the ball, which, via the impressive Luis Díaz, arrived with Nicolas Jackson, who made it 4-0 to end any lingering hopes Atalanta still had of getting back into the game. “It doesn’t get much better,” said Aleksandar Pavlović. “We would’ve preferred to have kept the clean sheet, but it’s a great result and a great performance. We were just on it from the start. We knew what awaited us and took the game to them. Really, we did everything brilliantly in attack and defence tonight. I think that’s why the result was so convincing.” Olise, again the Player of the Match, and Jamal Musiala, set up by Jackson, added the final touches to a thoroughly impressive showing.

Three limp off

It wasn’t without some moments of concern for the Bavarians, however. A moment of carelessness in defence was enough for Atalanta to get a rare sight of goal and make it 6-1 in front of their supporters, who never stopped signing. In attempting to prevent the goal, Jonas Urbig injured himself and had to be taken off. Shortly before that, half-time substitutes Davies and Musiala had also limped off. 

“We’re annoyed, this isn’t what we wanted,” bemoaned Atalanta boss Raffaele Palladino. “We played against perhaps the best team in the world. Congratulations to them and their coach, they impressed me. We have to accept the result. We’re sorry to the fans.”

Still 90 minutes to play in Munich

Nevertheless, both teams have to play another 90 minutes of the second leg, as Kimmich reminded: “Obviously it’s only the first leg. We knew at half-time that 3-0 was already a decent scoreline, but we still wanted to increase it. We succeeded in that and then you get a sense on the pitch: you notice that the opponents don’t have much more resistance to offer.” The captain enjoyed one of Bayern’s biggest wins in their long history in European competition, and a true “notte magiche”.

All the reaction from Bergamo: