The 2021-22 campaign delivered an agonizing end to an era for Atalanta, with La Dea finishing a chaotic 8th in Serie A and missing out on European qualification for the first time in a decade. This domestic slump came despite the sensational personal form of Mario Pašalić, whose 13 league goals spearheaded the attack. The season was also defined by a European run, as the club exited the Champions League in the group stage but then reached the UEFA Europa League quarter-finals, ultimately making it a turbulent and unforgettable chapter under manager Gian Piero Gasperini.