Serie A Preview: Atalanta vs Milan – Team News, Line-ups & Prediction

Friday’s mouth-watering Serie A trip to Bergamo to face off against Atalanta could be a turning point for a notoriously inconsistent Milan side. Unable to gather momentum since Paulo Fonseca’s arrival in the summer, last season’s runners-up head to the Gewiss Stadium, hoping to derail high-flying La Dea’s Scudetto hopes.

While Milan have been the epitome of inconsistency under Fonseca, Gian Piero Gasperini may have finally laid the groundwork for Atalanta’s first-ever title in Serie A. Seemingly buoyed by last season’s remarkable UEFA Europa League triumph, Gasperini’s charges are firing on all cylinders, raining down terror in all competitions.

Atalanta consolidated their title credentials with a well-deserved 2-0 triumph at Roma on Monday. In doing so, La Dea ramped up the pressure on pacesetters Napoli, re-establishing a one-point deficit pre-round. That also means that a win against Milan would see them ascend the Serie A throne, even if just for 48 hours.

However, the Rossoneri will take the field in high spirits after stringing together three consecutive multi-goal margin victories across all competitions. Last weekend’s 3-0 home win against Empoli helped Fonseca’s team stay within striking distance of the European spots, trailing sixth-placed Juventus by four points.

With a game in hand on most of the teams above them in the standings, Milan can still interfere in the UEFA Champions League race. But Fonseca’s dream of inspiring the San Siro outfit to a landmark 20th Scudetto looks like a pipe dream, with table-topping Napoli boasting a significant ten-point lead.

Match Preview

Atalanta

Atalanta could be the most in-form team in Europe’s top-five leagues alongside runaway Premier League leaders Liverpool. Gasperini’s men come into proceedings unbeaten in 13 matches across all competitions (W11, D2), including eight consecutive wins in the build-up to this heavyweight showdown.

Formidable goalscoring form has been the main ingredient behind Atalanta’s genuine Scudetto challenge this season. They have tallied a league-high 36 goals, netting at least two in 11 of their 14 Serie A outings thus far, including all six at the Gewiss Stadim. Given Milan’s defensive woes, Charles De Ketelaere and Ademola Lookman could have a field day.

After a torrid spell at Milan, De Ketealere has gone from strength to strength at Atalanta, becoming one of Serie A’s deadliest forwards. Gasperini will need his Belgian talisman at his best to help La Dea defy an underwhelming run of just one win from their last four home league meetings with the Rossoneri (D1, L2).

Milan

Stefano Pioli found a winning formula against Atalanta, but it took him a while. However, time is a luxury Fonseca cannot afford. He needs results, and he needs them now. Ominously for the Portuguese tactician, he failed to beat La Dea in all four matches as Roma boss (D1, L3).

Perhaps with Milan, he could turn his fortunes around. Fonseca’s side obliterated second-tier Sassuolo 6-1 in a one-sided Coppa Italia tie on Tuesday, setting themselves up nicely for this trip. It was the third consecutive game in all competitions to see Milan score 3+ goals.

Finding the net hasn’t been an issue for the Rossoneri, especially away from home. They’ve yet to draw a blank on the road, scoring on all six Serie A travels. It’s too bad their backline couldn’t keep up with the pace, conceding at least twice in four of those six games, hence a troubled away league record this season (W2, D2, L2).  

Fonseca’s lads have developed a habit of packing a punch on this ground. They’ve bagged multiple goals on three of their last four top-flight visits to Bergamo, suggesting another impactful performance could be on the cards.

Team News

In addition to long-term absentee Gianluca Scamacca, Atalanta cannot call upon the services of veteran Juan Cuadrado, who slumped to a muscle problem against Roma. Wingback Davide Zapaccosta is on the verge of returning from injury, but Raoul Bellanova should be Gasperini’s first option on the right wing.

On the other hand, Milan will hit the road without Alessandro Florenzi, Ismael Bennacer, and Luka Jovic. Ruben Loftus-Cheek sustained a minor fitness issue against Sassuolo and should move to the bench. The same goes for Tammy Abraham, who will likely surrender his place in attack to Alvaro Morata.

Atalanta vs Milan Potential Starting Line-ups

Atalanta (3-4-2-1): Carnesecchi; Djimsiti, Hien, Kolasinac; Bellanova, Ederson, De Roon, Ruggeri; De Ketelaere, Lookman; Retegui.

Milan (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Emerson, Gabbia, Thiaw, Hernandez; Fofana, Reijnders; Chukwueze, Pulisic, Leao; Morata.

Atalanta vs Milan Prediction

Anything other than three points would probably render Milan’s Scudetto hopes dead in the water. Therefore, all the pressure is on Fonseca’s side. Unfortunately, they couldn’t have picked a worse moment to trade tackles with Atalanta.

Gasperini’s overachievers are in red-hot form and seem in far better shape than Milan. As such, we back La Dea to deliver a knockout blow on their visitors’ lofty domestic ambitions.

Prediction: Atalanta to Win

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