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

Seeking redemption for a frustrating weekend draw, Milan head to the Gewiss Stadium to take on Atalanta in midweek Serie A action. Both sides dropped points at the weekend and will look to return to winning ways on Tuesday.

Atalanta failed to get the better of newly promoted Cremonese on the road. Furthermore, La Dea had to cancel out Jamie Vardy’s opener to claim a 1-1 draw in Cremona, posting a fourth consecutive stalemate in all competitions. Given Ivan Juric’s football philosophy, it’s barely surprising that each game produced under 2.5 goals.

However, aesthetics are the least of the Croatian manager’s concerns, with Atalanta already falling six points behind pacesetters Napoli. Unable to turn draws into victories, the former Europa League winners have shared the spoils in a league-high six matches this season. However, they may well sign up for a point in this mouth-watering clash.

Similar to Atalanta, Milan failed to take all three points against Serie A’s newcomers at the weekend. Indeed, Massimiliano Allegri’s side squandered a halftime lead in a gut-wrenching 2-2 draw against rock-bottom Pisa. The Rossoneri actually had to claw back from a late deficit to avoid defeat, with Zachary Athekame scoring his first goal at San Siro.

As a result of that dreadful result, Milan surrendered their place at the top of the table to Napoli, falling a point adrift of Antonio Conte’s title-defending team. Therefore, an immediate return to the win column could be just what the doctor ordered.

Match Preview

Atalanta

Though Atalanta remain the only Serie A side yet to taste defeat this season, they’ve already established themselves as ‘stalemate specialists.’ That pattern has followed Juric throughout his managerial career and now threatens to undermine La Dea’s hopes of mounting a serious Scudetto challenge this term.

Atalanta’s last home league outing ended all square as they wasted a catalog of chances in a scoreless tie against Lazio. However, that result forms part of Atalanta’s eight-game unbeaten streak at the start of a new season for only the second time in the last 15 years. Yet, fans would appreciate a win for a change.

That could be easier said than done for Juric’s men, who have won just three of their last 15 league outings at the Gewiss Stadium (D8, L4). Interestingly, seven of Atalanta’s nine previous Tuesday-held Serie A home fixtures have featured both teams on the scoresheet, highlighting the potential for another high-scoring clash.

Milan

Milan were overwhelming favorites to beat Pisa last Friday, yet they were lucky to take a point. Despite making it eight unbeaten matches in a row (W6, D2), Max Allegri’s charges have now drawn twice in their last three league matches, including a scoreless stalemate at Juventus on their most recent road trip.

However, without the distraction of European football, Milan can fully focus on winning a landmark 20th Scudetto this season. Performing well on the road could be crucial to the visitors’ hopes of winning their first league title since 2021/22, and Allegri seems to have found a cure for Milan’s travel sickness.

The Rossoneri have gone unbeaten in all three away league games this season (W2, D1), keeping a clean sheet on each occasion. Yet, they’ve been prone to lapses of concentration in the second half, with five of their six Serie A goals conceded so far coming after the halftime interval.

Team News

Atalanta’s injury crisis has subsided after a troubled start to the season. As such, Giorgio Scalvini and Mitchel Bakker are the only notable absentees in the home team. Moreover, Gianluca Scamacca will lead the line today, with Ademola Lookman expected to play behind the Italian striker, alongside Charles De Ketelaere.

On the other hand, Milan will take this short trip without several first-team stars, including Christian Pulisic, Adrien Rabiot, Pervis Estupinan, and Ardon Jashari. With Ruben Loftus-Cheek still recovering from a minor injury, Samuele Ricci looks set for his third consecutive league start in the Rossoneri shirt. Meanwhile, Christopher Nkunku could take Santiago Gimenez’s place in the front third.

Atalanta vs Milan Potential Starting Lineups

Atalanta (3-4-2-1): Carnesecchi; Djimsiti, Hien, Ahanor; Bellanova, Ederson, De Roon, Zalewski; De Ketelaere, Lookman; Scamacca.

Milan (3-5-2): Maignan; Tomori, Gabbia, Pavlovic; Saelemaekers, Fofana, Modric, Ricci, Bartesaghi; Nkunku, Leao.

Atalanta vs Milan Prediction

Despite a heart-wrenching result against Pisa, Milan have what it takes to inflict Atalanta’s first Serie A defeat of the season. It will not be plain sailing for the Rossoneri by any stretch of the imagination. However, we can envisage the visitors’ first win in this fixture since October 2021.