Atalanta vs AC Milan Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Heading into this weekend, Atalanta are rampant. The Bergamasci are mounting a serious title challenge in Serie A as they now welcome a faltering and frustrated AC Milan side to Bergamo on Friday.
Kick-off date/time: Friday 6th December, 2024: UK – 7:45pm / US ET – 2:45pm / US PT – 11:45am
How to watch on TV: UK – TNT Sports / US – Select matches will be televised on CBS Sports so it is worth checking their schedule
How to watch online: UK – TNT Sports & OneFootball / US – Paramount+
Atalanta Preview: Constant evolution under Gasperini
Atalanta won the UEFA Europa League last season before immediately enduring a tumultuous summer with a couple of transfer saga’s that provoked a slow-ish start to this campaign but that slow-ish beginning has given way to them rediscovering their relentless and attacking style of football that has made them so brilliant to watch over the last eight years.
With Gian Piero Gasperini once again evolving the side this season, the hosts begin the match day sitting just a point and a place below Napoli at the top-of-the-table. Their 2-0 defeat of Roma at the Stadio Olimpico last week means they have now managed 11 victories and just one draw in their last 12 matches across all competitions.
AC Milan Preview: Trying to find consistency
Following on from the departure of Stefano Pioli over the summer, AC Milan appointed Paulo Fonseca who was doing a very good job in charge of Lille. Supporters were not overly thrilled with the appointment and he has been fighting against that this season as they sit outside of the top six with a stop-start opening few months to his tenure.
The Rossoneri most recently hammered Serie B side Sassuolo by six goals to one at San Siro in the Round of 16 of the Coppa Italia the other day and results have improved a lot since their difficult opening month or so. They have now suffered just one defeat, against league leaders Napoli, in their last ten matches since the October international break.
Atalanta Team News: Scamacca edging closer
Another reason for their tumultuous summer were ACL injuries to both Giorgio Scalvini and Gianluca Scamacca but the former is now close to a return with the latter racing back to full fitness, too.
It is still too early for Scamacca with Atalanta thriving with Mateo Retegui up-front. Former Chelsea full-back Davide Zappacosta remains sidelined due to a calf injury.
Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Carnesecchi; Koussounou, Hien, Kolasinac; Bellanova, De Roon, Ederson, Ruggeri; De Ketelaere, Lookman; Retegui
Unavailable: Zappacosta (Injured), Scamacca (Injured)
Questionable: Scalvini (Injured)
AC Milan Team News: No Jovic
An issue for Paulo Fonseca this season has been trying to find the right balance across the pitch with Milan having a very deep squad with lots of attackers in particular.
One of those attackers, Luka Jovic, is missing due to a groin injury with injury prone Ismael Bennacer also sidelined alongside Alessandro Florenzi, who is dealing with an ACL injury.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Emerson Royal, Gabbia, Thiaw, Hernandez; Fofana, Reijnders; Musah, Pulisic, Leao; Alvaro Morata
Unavailable: Florenzi (Injured), Bennacer (Injured), Jovic (Injured)
Questionable:
Atalanta vs AC Milan Prediction
Atalanta have, as mentioned, been one of the most entertaining teams to watch in European football over the vast majority of the last decade and they have rediscovered that high-scoring touch. They are the top scorers in Serie A, by some distance, with 36 goals in their 14 matches. AC Milan have an abundance of attackers and with Yunus Musah providing more balance and control on the right-hand side, they have found a way to get themselves scoring, notching three or more in five of their last six matches. This should be a bit of a thriller for the neutral.
Atalanta vs AC Milan Tip: Over 2.5 goals
