Atalanta's ascent in Serie A is a result of homegrown talent (The Associated Press)

In terms of salaries, Atalanta ranks 15th in Serie A. On the field, however, it's been a different story for the provincial club, which has relied on homegrown talent to become the best team in the Italian league over the last seven rounds. After gaining 19 out of a possible 21 points since Sept. 26, Atalanta has rocketed up the standings to fifth place to make qualifying for Europe a distinct possibility. ''We're on a fantastic streak but the most important thing has been the way we've been playing and that the squad and players have been improving continuously,'' Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini said.