Returning Start Talks Up Atalanta Scudetto Chances

Atalanta defender Giorgio Scalvini made his heavily anticipated return from injury in Saturday’s dominant 3-1 Serie A triumph at Parma. The 20-year-old replaced captain Rafael Toloi in the 82nd minute as Gian Piero Gasperini celebrated their seventh consecutive league win to ascend the throne.

Scalvini was on the sidelines for 173 days. Indeed, the sought-after Atalanta youngster sustained a nasty knee injury on last season’s final-day clash against Fiorentina. Scalvini finally returned to the squad after missing Euro 2024 and the opening 12 league rounds.

Atalanta put the top-flight newcomers to the sword, fueling fans’ optimism over the club’s chances of lifting their first-ever Scudetto this season. Scalvini believes Gasperini’s men have what it takes to dethrone defending champions Inter.

“We take it one game at a time,” the Atalanta prodigy said, as reported by Sky Sports. “The coach always tells us to do that, because if our minds go elsewhere, we cannot focus 100 percent on the task at hand. He is very good at making us concentrate and the results are coming.

“This team always had a great deal of intensity, but perhaps more quality now than we used to, the way we play our way out of defense. We have also improved our defensive solidity, the coach has done great work.”

Scalvini could be considered a reinforcement for Atalanta, considering the length of his spell in the treatment room.

“I am very happy to be back, these were very long and tough months with a lot of work. I couldn’t wait to be back on the pitch with my teammates,” the Atalanta center-back admitted. “I’ve been training with the squad for three or four weeks, stepping up the amount of work I do and it was wonderful to be back.