AC Milan have the chance to win three Serie A games in a row, for only the third time this season, against Atalanta at the Gewiss Stadium on Saturday evening.
Whilst a clean sheet would have been welcomed against Frosinone, Milan did what was expected and needed with a 3-1 win over a newly-promoted yet impressive Frosinone side. Now, the next chapter in their Scudetto redemption book has to be written the same way against an Atalanta team who are undergoing problems from top to bottom.
During his press conference at Milanello on Friday, Pioli gave the latest regarding the recoveries of various players and also spoke about the notion of being either a hero or a villain.
Game date: Saturday, December 9
Kick-off time: 18:00 (CET)
Venue: Gewiss Stadium
Referee: Federico La Penna (VAR: Marini)
Team news
Milan’s victory against Frosinone last weekend displayed that Pioli and his side can be adaptable before and during games. The Rossoneri initially struggled to find the final touch. However, individualistic quality eventually started to show why the Rossoneri are not out of the ruling for the Scudetto race.
Predictably, there will be no changes in defence for the Diavolo. Whilst Frosinone scored late on, this was not a cause of concern, with the goal being due to a lack of communication rather than the fault of an individual.
Ismael Bennacer’s return from the substitute bench means that there is a chance the Algerian could start against La Dea. However, with a pivotal game against Newcastle on Wednesday evening, there is a chance Yacine Adli is given the nod to ensure Bennacer is fully match-ready.
As expected, Pioli will likely be keen to keep his core of midfield the same. As such, whoever is given the nod will partner with Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Tijjani Reijnders, with Yunus Musah slightly favoured at the moment.
After impressing in training following the game against Borussia Dortmund and scoring his first goal for the Rossoneri against the Canarini, Luka Jovic is due to lose his spot in the starting XI to the returning Olivier Giroud – following the completion of his suspension.
Rafael Leao has recovered from his muscle issue but has not travelled with the team and will stay in Milano to build up his fitness, while the latest from Sky suggests that Luka Romero was tried on the right side in training.
Probable Milan XI (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Calabria, Tomori, Hernandez, Florenzi; Reijnders, Musah; Chukwueze, Loftus-Cheek, Pulisic; Giroud.
The opponents
Atalanta’s season so far has shown both sides of the spectrum. For nine matchdays of the 14, they were in the top six of Serie A. However, recently they have tumbled to 8th, failing to win in their last four games.
La Dea experienced an overhaul in the summer following their sixth-placed finish in the 2022-23 Serie A season. Merih Demiral, Jeremie Boga, Matteo Pessina, Joakim Maehle, and Ruslan Malinovskyi all left the club. However, the marquee departure was Rasmus Hojlund, who financed all of the club’s incoming signings after his €75m move to Manchester United.
The Bergamo outfit welcomed Mitchel Bakker and Sead Kolasinac to aid their defensive set-up. However, attacking firepower was needed to replace the departing Dane. So in came El Bilal Toure and Milan summer target Gianluca Scamacca, who is set to miss the clash, for €53m.
The one of most interest for Milanisti, though, will be Charles De Ketelaere. The Belgian’s first season in Italy was largely uninspiring, as such, he was loaned to the Nerazzurri. His first month was largely impressive, as he contributed two goals and as many assists, but he has failed to do much of note since.
Things of late have been a struggle for Gian Piero Gasperini’s side, given the defensive difficulties that his side are facing. He will be without his three first-choice defenders – Rafael Toloi, Berat Djimsiti, and Jose Palomino – which could be worsened if Sead Kolasinac’s situation does not improve before Saturday.
The latest indications from Sky suggest a back three of De Roon, Scalvini and Kolasinac ahead of Musso, with Hateboer and Ruggeri the wing-backs, Ederson and Koopmeiners the double pivot and Pasalic behind Lookman-Muriel.
Probable Atalanta XI (3-4-1-2): Musso; De Roon, Scalvini, Kolasinac; Hateboer, Ederson, Koopmeiners, Ruggeri; Pasalic; Lookman, Muriel.
Head to head
Saturday’s fixture will be the 143rd clash between the two sides, ranking as the Diavolo’s 10th most-played fixture across all competitions. The sides first faced in Serie A in 1937, where Milan beat La Dea 3-0.
Milan has been the victor in 48% of the fixtures between the two sides, winning 69 times, only succumbing to the Bergamo outfit 27 times. This season, Pioli and his side will look to replicate the 2021-22 season, where they did the double instead of the 2022-23 season, where they still earned a commendable four points.
Last season, at the Gewiss Stadium, the sides drew on Matchday 2, Ismael Bennacer nullified Ruslan Malinovskyi’s opener. Whereas at San Siro, the Rossoneri strolled to a comfortable 2-0 victory, an own-goal by Juan Musso put the hosts in the driving seat, and Junior Messias’ late goal solidified the result.
Match facts…
➤ Milan are unbeaten in their last five games against Atalanta in Serie A (W4 D1), while they haven’t gone six games in a row without losing against them since between 2008-2012 (6).
➤ Atalanta have drawn 44 of their 124 games against Milan in Serie A, their joint-most against any opponent (also 44 against Juventus), although only one of the last six such meetings has ended in a draw (1-1 in August 2022), with four wins for the Rossoneri and one for the Nerazzurri in this time.
➤ Atalanta have won one of their seven home games against Milan in Serie A under Gian Piero Gasperini (D3 L3), winning 5-0 in December 2019. That game is their only clean sheet against them in their last 15 home meetings in the top-flight.
➤ Milan have won as many as nine of their first 14 games in a Serie A campaign in four seasons in a row for the second time in their history, after doing so between 2002/03-2005/06 under Carlo Ancelotti.
➤ Atalanta have lost 14 Serie A games in 2023 (W17 D6), while they have not lost more in a single calendar year since 2015 (15). After defeats against Napoli and Torino, the Nerazzurri could lose three games in a row in the top-flight for the first time since November 2022.
➤ Milan are unbeaten in their last seven away games in Serie A (W5 D2). After drawing 2-2 against Napoli and Lecce, the Rossoneri could draw three away league games in a row for the first time since
December 2018 under Gennaro Gattuso.
➤ Atalanta, alongside Genoa, are one of the two teams yet to score with a penalty or a direct free kick in Serie A this season.
➤ Atalanta’s Mario Pasalic has been directly involved in three goals in four games at Gewiss Stadium against Milan in Serie A (one assist and two goals). He played 24 games with the Rossoneri in Serie A in 2016-17, scoring five goals.
➤ Olivier Giroud has scored five goals in his first six away games in Serie A this season. Only one Milan player has scored more away goals in a season in the division after turning 36 years (Zlatan Ibrahimovic – 7 in 2019/20, 8 in 2020/21 and 7 in 2021/22).
➤ Milan’s Christian Pulisic has scored five goals and provided two assists in his first 12 games in Serie A, equalling his highest such tally at this stage of a season in the big-5 European Leagues (five goals and two assists after 12 games with Chelsea in the Premier League in 2019/20).
Ones to watch
Following on from Luka Jovic’s goal and general attitude following the game against Dortmund in the Champions League, Olivier Giroud has to show that he deserves to be the designated Rossoneri number 9.
Another topic is Samuel Chukwueze. The Nigerian has to show improvement in the upcoming weeks in Serie A. A goal in the Champions League against the side’s German opponents was nice, yes, but it has to start being replicated in the league, given he arrived with the understandable expectation brought by being Milan’s most expensive coup.
Milan have to be wary of the Teun Koopmeiners. The Dutchman has become a different beast under Gasperini, playing with a more free role. As such, there has to be a careful eye on him at all times, given his ability to create something from nothing.
There will of course be eyes on De Ketelaere should he get on the field, while Pasalic is a former Milan player too. Scalvini is one of Italy’s brightest defensive prospects, and Ruggeri was actually linked in the summer.
Prediction
Ahead of the huge game on Wednesday evening at St. James’ Park, Milan need to stay grounded, taking things one match at a time. Atalanta have proven in recent weeks to be vulnerable. Whilst they have quality in attack, they lack stability at the back, which needs to be taken advantage of.
A win at the Gewiss Stadium would extend Milan’s unbeaten streak in Serie A to four games and three wins from three – the form of Scudetto contenders. Nothing less is acceptable. If Pioli is to continue to try to quieten the noise.
Atalanta 0-2 Milan
I will go with 1-2 to Milan. It’s a fan prediction, really think it will be 1-1.
😀 no offense or anything but that phrasing of yours “Its a fan prediction” had me cracking up not that i question you being a fan or anything James but it just sounded fun in my ears 🙂 but think we will win.
One thing for sure, de ketelaere will surely score LOL
He can score a hattrick for what i care as long we still win the match, to be honest i would actually like to see that 😀
That would be fun/good to see. At least it would show his effort is paying out.
Milan for the win all dayyyy though.