AC Milan will play against their Lombardy neighbours Atalanta in the knockout stages of the Coppa Italia tonight for the first time since the year 2000.
The club’s official website has published an opposition analysis on Gian Piero Gasperini’s side, starting with their aggressive style of player and the constant desire to win back possession as quickly as possible.
The Bergamo side are first for balls recovered in all areas of the pitch (1234) and fourth in the league for offensive ball recoveries (149) which means within a maximum of 40 metres from the opponent’s goal.
Furthermore, possession gained in the attacking zone has led to a shot at goal 29 times, with only Napoli (36) having done better so far.
La Dea are in first place for both recovered balls and intercepted balls (both 189), but they have conceded the most goals as a percentage from dead ball situations in this season’s current Serie A: 43% (9 out of 21). No team has conceded more goals from crosses than them (8, like Salernitana and Verona).
Charles De Ketelaere – who joined Milan last year and left on loan for Bergamo – seems to have found his form again. He has had involvement in seven goals (four goals, three assists) in his last six appearances in all competitions, following ten consecutive games without.
Not only that, but the former Club Brugge start is the only Serie A player to have netted at least two goals scored in three different competitions in 2023-24 so far (two in the league, two in the Europa League and two in the Coppa Italia).
Teun Koopmeiners has been brilliant too, and he likes playing away from the Gewiss Stadium it seems: he is the player to have scored the most number of goals (4) out of those who have only scored away from home in the league.
The Dutchman is Atalanta’s creative metronome, having made the most number of chances for his team-mates with 41, followed by Ademola Lookman with 25.
His 95th-minute backheel winner last month still stings, and Luis Muriel will certainly also require special attention as he has scored twice for Atalanta against the Rossoneri in Serie A, but both came in home games.
Koop’s been a rockstar. I would love to see him in Milan colors. Likely too expensive ATP.
Fantastic player, our missing midfield puzzle.
He’s great but im not sure he is a proper DM, seems like more of an AM. We could use him on AM if we go back to 4231 but then we also need to get a Kessie type to link Tijani or Ismael on DMs