What has changed for Atalanta since 2-0 Real Madrid Super Cup loss | OneFootball

As Atalanta prepare to host Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday evening, here is a look at everything that has changed for La Dea since they last met Los Blanocs in the UEFA Super Cup back in August.

What has changed for Atalanta since the Super Cup?

Atalanta were beaten 2-0 by Real Madrid, the strong favourites heading into the Super Cup in August. Less than four months down the line, some have dubbed La Dea the more likely of the two teams to claim a victory when they meet Los Blancos again, even if Gian Piero Gasperini doesn’t necessarily agree.

As the Super Cup took place on August 14, there was still more than a fortnight of the transfer window left to go, and Atalanta did the majority of their best business that month.

Mateo Retegui, currently the leading goalscorer in Serie A, was signed just six days before the Super Cup and did not play as a starter.

Atalanta’s Mateo Retegui celebrates scoring the 2-0 goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Atalanta BC and Hellas Verona, in Bergamo, Italy, 26 October 2024. EPA-EFE/MICHELE MARAVIGLIA

Lazar Samardzic was not signed until two days after the Super Cup, the same with Marco Brescianini, and Raoul Bellanova and Odilon Kossounou weren’t brought in for another few days after that.

Aside from the new signings, Gasperini has since had four months to work with his players, get them accustomed to his system and used to the regularity of playing multiple games a week.

Some of the players that Atalanta already have on their books have improved in terms of consistency as well. Charles De Ketelaere is one of the success stories of the season with 14 goal involvements from 20 appearances between Serie A and the Champions League.

Mateo Retegui and Charles De Ketelaere Atalanta (Photo by Francesco Scaccianoce/Getty Images)

Ademola Lookman has an even more impressive tally of eight goals and four assists from 12 league appearances this season, equalling a goal involvement every game.

Marten De Roon, often an unsung hero, has also been one of the most consistent players in the entire division this season, and has played in every single minute of every one of Atalanta’s games so far this term.

La Dea have gone from strength to strength in the early portion of the 2024-25 campaign and are now the standalone leaders of the Serie A table, and are also fifth in the Champions League standings with just one goal conceded over their first five matches.

You can follow all the action from Tuesday night’s meeting between Atalanta and Real Madrid on the Football Italia LIVEBLOG.