AC Milan have the prospect to win three Serie A video games in a row, for less than the third time this season, in opposition to Atalanta on the Gewiss Stadium on Saturday night.
While a clear sheet would have been welcomed in opposition to Frosinone, Milan did what was anticipated and wanted with a 3-1 win over a newly-promoted but spectacular Frosinone facet. Now, the following chapter of their Scudetto redemption e-book must be written the identical approach in opposition to an Atalanta workforce who’re present process issues from high to backside.
Throughout his press convention at Milanello on Friday, Pioli gave the most recent concerning the recoveries of varied gamers and in addition spoke in regards to the notion of being both a hero or a villain.
Sport date: Saturday, December 9
Kick-off time: 18:00 (CET)
Venue: Gewiss Stadium
Referee: Federico La Penna (VAR: Marini)
Crew information
Milan’s victory in opposition to Frosinone final weekend displayed that Pioli and his facet could be adaptable earlier than and through video games. The Rossoneri initially struggled to search out the ultimate contact. Nonetheless, individualistic high quality ultimately began to indicate why the Rossoneri are usually not out of the ruling for the Scudetto race.
Predictably, there will probably be no adjustments in defence for the Diavolo. While Frosinone scored late on, this was not a explanation for concern, with the objective being on account of a scarcity of communication reasonably than the fault of a person.
Ismael Bennacer’s return from the substitute bench means that there’s a likelihood the Algerian might begin in opposition to La Dea. Nonetheless, with a pivotal recreation in opposition to Newcastle on Wednesday night, there’s a likelihood Yacine Adli is given the nod to make sure Bennacer is absolutely match-ready.
As anticipated, Pioli will doubtless be eager to maintain his core of midfield the identical. As such, whoever is given the nod will accomplice with Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Tijjani Reijnders, with Yunus Musah barely favoured in the intervening time.
After impressing in coaching following the sport in opposition to Borussia Dortmund and scoring his first objective for the Rossoneri in opposition to the Canarini, Luka Jovic is on account of lose his spot within the beginning XI to the returning Olivier Giroud – following the completion of his suspension.
Rafael Leao has recovered from his muscle situation however has not travelled with the workforce and can keep in Milano to construct up his health, whereas the most recent from Sky means that Luka Romero was tried on the proper facet in coaching.
Possible Milan XI (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Calabria, Tomori, Hernandez, Florenzi; Reijnders, Musah; Chukwueze, Loftus-Cheek, Pulisic; Giroud.
The opponents
Atalanta’s season to this point has proven either side of the spectrum. For 9 matchdays of the 14, they had been within the high six of Serie A. Nonetheless, just lately they’ve tumbled to eighth, failing to win of their final 4 video games.
La Dea skilled an overhaul in the summertime following their sixth-placed end within the 2022-23 Serie A season. Merih Demiral, Jeremie Boga, Matteo Pessina, Joakim Maehle, and Ruslan Malinovskyi all left the membership. Nonetheless, the marquee departure was Rasmus Hojlund, who financed the entire membership’s incoming signings after his €75m transfer to Manchester United.
The Bergamo outfit welcomed Mitchel Bakker and Sead Kolasinac to help their defensive set-up. Nonetheless, attacking firepower was wanted to interchange the departing Dane. So in got here El Bilal Toure and Milan summer season goal Gianluca Scamacca, who is ready to overlook the conflict, for €53m.
The certainly one of most curiosity for Milanisti, although, will probably 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 spectacular, as he contributed two objectives and as many assists, however he has did not do a lot of observe since.
Issues of late have been a battle for Gian Piero Gasperini’s facet, given the defensive difficulties that his facet are going through. He will probably be with out his three first-choice defenders – Rafael Toloi, Berat Djimsiti, and Jose Palomino – which could possibly be worsened if Sead Kolasinac’s state of affairs doesn’t enhance earlier than Saturday.
The most recent indications from Sky recommend a again three of De Roon, Scalvini and Kolasinac forward of Musso, with Hateboer and Ruggeri the wing-backs, Ederson and Koopmeiners the double pivot and Pasalic behind Lookman-Muriel.
Possible Atalanta XI (3-4-1-2): Musso; De Roon, Scalvini, Kolasinac; Hateboer, Ederson, Koopmeiners, Ruggeri; Pasalic; Lookman, Muriel.
Face to face
Saturday’s fixture would be the 143rd conflict between the 2 sides, rating because the Diavolo’s tenth most-played fixture throughout all competitions. The perimeters first confronted in Serie A in 1937, the place Milan beat La Dea 3-0.
Milan has been the victor in 48% of the fixtures between the 2 sides, profitable 69 occasions, solely succumbing to the Bergamo outfit 27 occasions. This season, Pioli and his facet will look to copy the 2021-22 season, the place they did the double as an alternative of the 2022-23 season, the place they nonetheless earned a commendable 4 factors.
Final season, on the Gewiss Stadium, the edges drew on Matchday 2, Ismael Bennacer nullified Ruslan Malinovskyi’s opener. Whereas at San Siro, the Rossoneri strolled to a snug 2-0 victory, an own-goal by Juan Musso put the hosts within the driving seat, and Junior Messias’ late objective solidified the outcome.
Match info…
➤ Milan are unbeaten of their final 5 video games in opposition to Atalanta in Serie A (W4 D1), whereas they haven’t gone six video games in a row with out dropping in opposition to them since between 2008-2012 (6).
➤ Atalanta have drawn 44 of their 124 video games in opposition to Milan in Serie A, their joint-most in opposition to any opponent (additionally 44 in opposition to Juventus), though solely one of many final six such conferences has resulted in a draw (1-1 in August 2022), with 4 wins for the Rossoneri and one for the Nerazzurri on this time.
➤ Atalanta have received certainly one of their seven house video games in opposition to Milan in Serie A below Gian Piero Gasperini (D3 L3), profitable 5-0 in December 2019. That recreation is their solely clear sheet in opposition to them of their final 15 house conferences within the top-flight.
➤ Milan have received as many as 9 of their first 14 video games in a Serie A marketing campaign in 4 seasons in a row for the second time of their historical past, after doing so between 2002/03-2005/06 below Carlo Ancelotti.
➤ Atalanta have misplaced 14 Serie A video games in 2023 (W17 D6), whereas they haven’t misplaced extra in a single calendar 12 months since 2015 (15). After defeats in opposition to Napoli and Torino, the Nerazzurri might lose three video games in a row within the top-flight for the primary time since November 2022.
➤ Milan are unbeaten of their final seven away video games in Serie A (W5 D2). After drawing 2-2 in opposition to Napoli and Lecce, the Rossoneri might draw three away league video games in a row for the primary time since
December 2018 below Gennaro Gattuso.
➤ Atalanta, alongside Genoa, are one of many two groups but to attain with a penalty or a direct free kick in Serie A this season.
➤ Atalanta’s Mario Pasalic has been immediately concerned in three objectives in 4 video games at Gewiss Stadium in opposition to Milan in Serie A (one help and two objectives). He performed 24 video games with the Rossoneri in Serie A in 2016-17, scoring 5 objectives.
➤ Olivier Giroud has scored 5 objectives in his first six away video games in Serie A this season. Just one Milan participant has scored extra away objectives in a season within the division after turning 36 years (Zlatan Ibrahimovic – 7 in 2019/20, 8 in 2020/21 and seven in 2021/22).
➤ Milan’s Christian Pulisic has scored 5 objectives and offered two assists in his first 12 video games in Serie A, equalling his highest such tally at this stage of a season within the big-5 European Leagues (5 objectives and two assists after 12 video games with Chelsea within the Premier League in 2019/20).
Ones to observe
Following on from Luka Jovic’s objective and normal perspective following the sport in opposition to Dortmund within the Champions League, Olivier Giroud has to indicate that he deserves to be the designated Rossoneri quantity 9.
One other matter is Samuel Chukwueze. The Nigerian has to indicate enchancment within the upcoming weeks in Serie A. A objective within the Champions League in opposition to the facet’s German opponents was good, sure, but it surely has to start out being replicated within the league, given he arrived with the comprehensible expectation introduced by being Milan’s costliest coup.
Milan need to be cautious of the Teun Koopmeiners. The Dutchman has turn into a unique beast below Gasperini, taking part in with a extra free function. As such, there must be a cautious eye on him always, given his capacity to create one thing from nothing.
There’ll in fact be eyes on De Ketelaere ought to he get on the sphere, whereas Pasalic is a former Milan participant too. Scalvini is certainly one of Italy’s brightest defensive prospects, and Ruggeri was really linked in the summertime.
Prediction
Forward of the large recreation on Wednesday night at St. James’ Park, Milan want to remain grounded, taking issues one match at a time. Atalanta have confirmed in current weeks to be weak. While they’ve high quality in assault, they lack stability on the again, which must be taken benefit of.
A win on the Gewiss Stadium would lengthen Milan’s unbeaten streak in Serie A to 4 video games and three wins from three – the type of Scudetto contenders. Nothing much less is appropriate. If Pioli is to proceed to attempt to quieten the noise.
Atalanta 0-2 Milan