AC Milan v Atalanta – Preview, Predictions and Best Bets

Milan host Atalanta in Serie A at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on Saturday night. Stefano Pioli’s side sit top of the log as we near the halfway mark of the season whilst the visitors are in sixth place having finished third in 2019-20 with 98 goals scored.

Milan Form

The Rossoneri deservedly sit top of the log after a start to the Serie A season that saw 11 wins and four draws in their first 15 matches. The side have been incredibly consistent, scoring two goals in 17 of their 18 Serie A matches so far. The exception was their round 16 home defeat to defending champions Juventus.

They responded to that defeat with consecutive 2-0 wins at home to Torino and away to Cagliari. The ageless Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored a brace in that match with the first coming from the penalty spot.

Milan Team News

Milan are without Alexis Saelemaekers in midfield due to suspension for this match. Milan are facing a crisis at centre back with captain Alessio Romagnoli suspended after an accumulation of yellow cards and Simon Kjaer expected to be absent with a back problem. Milan are therefore hoping to get Fikayo Tomori’s loan from Chelsea over the line to use him in this match.

Ismael Bennacer is likely to be out injured in midfield and both Theo Hernandez and Hakan Calhanoglu have COVID-19 and are out for this match. Milan signed Mario Mandzukic on a free transfer this week and the veteran striker could be on the bench having been inactive for several months.

Milan Motivation

Milan will go all out to win this match. Pioli knows his side have Inter Milan breathing down their necks and several other sides lurking in the shadows to mount a title charge in coming months. A draw would not be a disaster but Milan are not going to settle for one.

Atalanta Form

Atalanta had a tough spell in Serie A between mid-October and late November as they lost three and drew two in a six match spell. That dip was due to focusing on qualifying for the knockout rounds of the Champions League and saw the side in 8th place after nine matches with 16 goals conceded.

They have responded with a nine match unbeaten run including five wins and four draws and just seven goals leaked. That run has included a 4-1 thrashing of Roma, a 5-1 win against Sassuolo, a 3-1 win against Parma and a 4-1 at Benevento. In their last two matches, they’ve drawn 0-0 with Genoa at home and 1-1 away at Udinese. They rested some key players in the latter match.

Atalanta Team News

Papu Gomez continues to be suspended internally after his complete falling out with coach Gian Piero Gasperini. A groin injury has kept goalscoring midfielder Mario Palasic out for a couple of months and he won’t be back to face his former club.

Gasperini left Daniel Zapata, Josip Ilicic and Robin Gosens on the bench against Udinese in preparation for this match and called on all three before the hour mark in that match to try to turn a draw into a win. All three will return to start this game.

Atalanta Motivation

talanta are the league’s second top scorers this season after netting 98 goals last term. They will throw men forward and look to attack an AC Milan team missing both of their first choice central defenders and their usual left-back.

Even away from home, Atalanta will play to win the match and to keep attacking regardless of the scoreline.

Key Stats

Milan have lost 1 of their last 30 Serie A matches (W22, D7)

Milan have drawn 3 of their last 7 home Serie A matches

Milan have seen over 2.5 goals in 6 of their last 8 home Serie A matches

Atalanta are 9 Serie A matches unbeaten (W5, D4)

Atalanta have seen over 2.5 goals in 5 of their last 7 matches

Atalanta ;have drawn 4 of their last 5 away Serie A matches

Atalanta have seen both teams to score in 12 of their last 13 away Serie A matches

Prediction

A score draw looks the best tip or possibly a home win.