UEFA Champions League: Atalanta vs Young Boys Player Ratings as Atalanta get a much-deserved victory at home

Gian Gasperini’s men got a well-deserving 1-0 win against a resilient Young Boys side who beat Manchester United just a few days back. Individual brilliance from Duvan Zapata allowed Matteo Pessina to score the goal from close range, which ended up being the decisive goal.

In the first half, Atalanta controlled the game well and could have been leading as VAR disallowed Sandro Lauper’s own goal, and Pessina failed to connect to a easy chance just before the half time whistle. Young boys have not threatened the goal often, but looked comfortable in open play and could grow into the game.

Atalanta again started the second half in front foot, but were struggling to break the Young Boys defense down. However, some individual brilliance from Zapata helped Pessina tap into the net and get a deserving goal. In the end, Atalanta looked good to get more goals but the Young Boys shot-stopper had other plans. The game ended with a respectable score line thanks to von Ballmoos.

Atalanta Player Ratings:

Juan Musso: 7/10

Musso had hardly anything to do in the game as Young Boys had only 1 shot on target and was dominating recovering the ball aerially.

Rafael Toloi: 9/10

A solid performance from the Atalanta captain as he was one of the main characters in the show of dominating the Young Boys attackers.

Merih Demiral: 8/10

A simply amazing performance from the Turkish center back as he kept the ball well in pressure situations and was solid aerially.

Berat Djimisti: 7/10

Dominated the Young Boys players and also engineered the game well but conceded few openings later in the game.

Davide Zappacosta: 7/10

Zappacosta created menace every time he was with the ball in the second half and had a good shot saved just before the goal.

Marten De Roon: 6/10

De Roon had an average game but did his job of linking the play well. His passing was really good with 84% success rate.

Remo Freuler: 8/10

Atalanta’s one of the best players throughout the match as his work in the midfield let to the attacking inputs from the Atalanta side. Controlled the game well and retained possession well.

Robin Gosens: NA

It was bad news for Gosens and Atalanta early on as the German left back suffered what looks like a serious injury and had to subbed off in the 11^th minute.

Ruslan Malinovskyi: 6/10

Although Malinovskyi was involved in the game, he had few poor touches and did not look that good on the ball.

Matteo Pessina: 7/10

Pessina got the goal and has to be credited for being in the right place in the right moment but he could have gotten one in the first half itself when he missed an easy chance.

Duvan Zapata: 9/10

Definitely a Man of the Match contender as Zapata dropped off for balls and created a lot of chances, and did everything to set up the goal in plate for Pessina.

Substitutes

Joakim Maehle: 7/10

Maehle was very disciplined and was a constant threat from the right flank. He created few chances well and his link up play was decent too.

Luis Muriel: NA

Mario Pasalic: NA

Teun Koopmeiners: NA

Giuseppe Pezzella: NA

Young Boys Player Ratings

David von Ballmoos: 9/10

If Young Boys would have gotten anything from the match, von Ballmoos would have been the Man of the Match as he saved is team from blushes with few outstanding saves.

Silvan Hefti: 6/10

Hefti was good and was important in the organization of the defense. He did well to control the constant threat of Malinovskyi and Zappacosta.

Mohamed Aly Camara: 6/10

Aly Camara looked really good in the first half but left few gaps and got dribbled past a lot in the second half.

Sandro Lauper: 6/10

Lauper put the ball in his own net which was overruled by VAR, but since then Lauper looked good and was alert at the back.

Ulisses Garcia: 6/10

Gave quite a lot of support to the midfield but errors in the defense could cost his team a lot. He could not contain Maehle often.

Michel Aebischer: 6/10

Aebischer was not that good in the game as he lost most of the duels he contested in and lost possession easily.

Christopher Martins: 7/10

With pass success rate of 90%, Martins was the only one trying to do something for the team attackingly. He dribbled well to create space for himself to pass.

Vincent Sierro: 5/10

Sierro did not have a decent game as his heavy touches in crucial positions somewhat pulled their attacking efforts down.

Meschack Elia: 5/10

Elia got the only half decent chance that came in the way of Young Boys and apart from that, Elia could not do much in the game.

Nicolas Ngamaleu: 6/10

Probably the only player that looked good attackingly as Ngamaleu won the most duels in the game and also completed the most dribbles.

Theoson Siebatcheu: 5/10

Poor game for Siebatcheu as he lost most duels during his time in the game and could not register a single shot.

Substitutes

Wilfried Kanga: 5/10

Kanga could not do a lot and was straightaway another victim of the massive performance from the Atalanta defenders.

Fabian Rieder: 6/10

Like Kanga, even Rieder went into the game and could not find any positive to work on as the Atalanta set up was solid.

Felix Mambimbi: 7/10

The only substitute that looked good and made openings for himself but it was too late as Atalanta stamped the authority in the game.

Quentin Maceiras: NA     

Marvin Spielmann: NA.

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