AC Milan have won back-to-back games in the league, but a trip to Atalanta is never easy and today’s match promises to be a litmus test against a side with European ambitions.
The official website have published a statistical preview. Overall, 2023 has been a year of highs and lows for Atalanta in which they have suffered 14 defeats in total: the last calendar year in which Atalanta suffered as many defeats as this was 2015, before Gian Piero Gasperini arrived.
La Dea’s midfield has produced nine goals for Atalanta, a figure second only to Inter’s 10 in the league, while their cross success rate is 30.5%, the second highest in the league (Juventus top the charts with 32.3%).
Atalanta have netted six headers this season: only Roma (seven) have more. Milan, together with Inter, are one of only two teams to have not yet conceded a header. Gasperini’s men remain an aggressive pressing team: their three goals scored following a high turnover are bettered only by Inter and Napoli.
Gianluca Scamacca, Atalanta’s top scorer this season with five goals, will be missing from the match due to injury. In the four games played this season without the forward, the Nerazzurri have only scored three goals compared to the 18 in the 10 matches with the Italian on the pitch.
Ademola Lookman will aim to fill the void and he has contributed to four of Atalanta’s last six goals scored at the Gewiss Stadium in Serie A (three goals, one assist).
Mario Pašalić (19 goals for Atalanta) has scored three goals in four matches at the Gewiss Stadium, while Teun Koopmeiners (17 goals) and Éderson (four goals and one assist this season) form a productive midfield.
