AC Milan should focus on keeping pace in the top-four race as they face direct rivals Atalanta at San Siro on Sunday.
The Serie A season proved more interesting in the last few weeks as Juventus began to falter and Inter Milan began racing ahead at the top. AC Milan, who were considered done and dusted in the title race, had a small window of opportunity to get back into it and challenge against the odds as they prepare to take on Atalanta this weekend.
Despite some recent good performances, that defeat last weekend against Monza may have ended all their hopes for the time being. Barring a massive slip-up from Inter Milan between now and the end of the season, AC Milan may not have a chance to challenge the Scudetto.
However, their position in third, or even making it to the runners-up spot, remains in their hands as Stefano Pioli will want a concerted effort to finish in the top four. They do have a few challengers, with Atalanta, AS Roma and Bologna all vying for two spots on the table, as they face the Bergamo side at San Siro on Sunday.
Gian Piero Gasperini will have been pleased with his side’s form heading into the most crucial part of their campaign. Atalanta are in a run of six consecutive wins in all competitions, including five in a row in Serie A. That run for Atalanta began with a win over Milan at San Siro in the Coppa Italia quarter-finals.
Gasperini will want a repeat of that performance at San Siro, and this time, it could massively benefit Atalanta in their bid to finish in the top four. The Bergamo team are firmly established in that hunt, although a win over Milan would help them close the gap over their rivals.
Team News & Tactics
AC Milan
Stefano Pioli took a significant risk over the weekend by making six changes to his lineup, which affected their balance and ultimately cost the team three points. The manager might make amends to this side and will bring some of his known faces to start in a robust setup.
On the injury front, Milan were boosted by the returns of Pierre Kalulu, Fikayo Tomori, and Davide Calabria to full training. Whether they are fit enough to start the game remains the question, but they could still feature in the matchday squad.
This means that Alessandro Florenzi will continue at right-back, while Malick Thiaw and Matteo Gabbia are the best options for starting in central defence. Ismael Bennacer and Tijjani Reijnders are best-placed to take up the central midfield roles, while Yacine Adli also remains an option should Pioli plan on shuffling his pack.
In the attack, Rafael Leao and Christian Pulisic were Pioli’s best options in a wide range of areas. At the same time, Ruben Loftus-Cheek will continue to operate in the advanced midfield role behind central striker Olivier Giroud.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Florenzi, Thiaw, Gabbia, Hernandez; Bennacer, Reijnders; Pulisic, Loftus-Cheek, Leao; Giroud
Atalanta
One of the key players for Gian Piero Gasperini would be on-loan AC Milan attacker Charles De Ketelaere, who has been in scintillating form since the start of the year. He will want to prove some of his doubters at San Siro spectacularly wrong with a compelling performance against his parent club.
The Belgian will start as part of a two-prone attack up front alongside Aleksey Miranchuk, with Teun Koopmeiners operating in an advanced role behind the duo. The Dutchman also scored a double in Atalanta’s win over Milan in the Coppa Italia quarter-finals and will want to repeat that sort of performance.
Jose Luis Palomino and Ademola Lookman are the only potential absentees, with the Nigerian attacker returning from the AFCON with an ankle problem that may keep him sidelined for some time. Beyond that, Gasperini does not have any notable problems or suspensions to deal with, as he might name a full-strength lineup to face Milan.
Probable Lineup (3-4-1-2): Carnesecchi; Scalvini, Djimsiti, Kolasinac; Holm, Roon, Ederson, Ruggeri; Koopmeiners, Ketelaere, Miranchuk
Key Stats
- AC Milan have lost consecutive games in all competitions.
- AC Milan have not lost both Serie A games to Atalanta in a single season in 16 years.
- Atalanta have been winning at both half-time and full-time in their last 5 matches in Serie A.
- Atalanta have won their last five matches in Serie A.
- Atalanta have scored at least three goals in their last three matches in Serie A.
Player to Watch
Rafael Leao
The Portuguese attacker has featured in media reports amid links with Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain. AC Milan would want to keep hold of him and rely on his expertise to manoeuvre through a tough Serie A campaign and seal third place at the very least.
Leao will have acknowledged those links in the background, but on the pitch, he needs to put in some consistent performances to showcase he is worth all the hype. Not only did those displays help him get a big career move, but they also put Milan in a strong negotiating power, as there is an expectation from him to perform in games like this one against Atalanta.
Prediction
AC MIlan 1-1 Atalanta
Atalanta might come into this clash as the slight favourite to nick three points, although they are facing a reinforced AC Milan, strengthened by some returning defenders. Yet, the attacking power of Gasperini’s side may have the power to hurt that Rossoneri backline.
Both teams seem capable of hurting each other, which may tell us a story that this game has the hallmarks of an entertaining draw. Such a result might not benefit either side in their quest to achieve their respective objectives. But the point is something both managers might take at this stage.