AC MILAN v ATALANTA: MATCH PREVIEW

A big match at San Siro: the 24th Serie A matchday of the season features AC Milan v Atalanta, a top-class fixture between two teams fighting for a spot in the next Champions League. A lot is at stake: after three consecutive victories in the league and Champions League, the Rossoneri's objective is to continue their run of good performances and results. Let's approach the 20:45 CET kick-off with our usual preview:

LATEST FROM MILANELLO
Full week of training for the Rossoneri, who now face another round of tricky matches: Atalanta, Fiorentina and Tottenham. Coach Pioli will be without Calabria, Bennacer and Florenzi for Sunday evening's match at San Siro, all three of whom are expected to return for the trip to Florence. He can smile at Mike Maignan's long-awaited return to the team, who has been missing since AC Milan vs Napoli on 18 September. The San Siro line-up should be similar to the one seen in recent matches, with a three-man defence and Díaz-Leão supporting Giroud. After getting a start in Monza, which was capped by the winning goal, the battle between Messias and Saelemaekers for the right flank is reopened. No one is suspended but there are several cautioned in the Rossoneri: Calabria, Kjær, Krunić, Leão, Giroud and Rebić. The team will take to the pitch wearing the new Fourth Kit, unveiled this week and made in collaboration with PUMA and Parisian fashion house KOCHÉ.

This is what Coach Pioli said in his press conference on the eve of the match: "As always, it will be an open game as both teams are fighting for Champions League qualification. I expect a hard-fought match, it's a head-to-head clash. Atalanta have all the characteristics of a great team: organisation, technique and physicality. We are doing well mentally and physically, the difficult period is over. Maignan is doing well and will play, kept off the pitch like a caged lion, but now he is motivated and above all ready".

LATEST FROM ATALANTA
It has been an up and down period of form for the Bergamo side, who are coming off three defeats in their last four matches in both the league and Coppa Italia. In their last three Serie A away matches, excluding the defeat against Sassuolo, Dea stopped Juventus 3-3 and beat Lazio 2-0 at the Olimpico. Positive momentum for some players like Lookman and Højlund, who have scored 14 and 7 goals respectively this season, as well as outfielders Mæhle and Zappacosta, both of whom have scored recently. Former Rossoneri Mario Pašalić, who is out with a sprained ankle that previously ruled him out of the Lazio and Lecce matches. In addition to the Croatian, also out with injury are Hans Hateboer, who suffered a ruptured ACL in his right knee, and Duvan Zapata due to a muscle injury. Merih Demiral is out through suspension and there are no cautioned players.

Gian Piero Gasperini also spoke in conference on the eve of the match: "Facing the reigning Italian champions is great motivation, not only for the table. We're playing against a strong team and we'll try to perform as we have done before. We have qualities that can bother AC Milan."

WHERE TO WATCH AC MILAN v ATALANTA
In Italy, the game will be broadcast live on DAZN from 20.45 CET. To watch the game abroad, head to the "Abroad" section of the page "Where to watch AC Milan on TV".

Before the game, head to Milan TV for our Matchday programme. Coverage starts at 19:30 CET and will run right up to kick off at San Siro. After the game, we will have analysis, interviews and Stefano Pioli's press conference.

Head to our Twitch channel for the Live Reaction to AC Milan v Atalanta, starting at 20:40 CET, with Francesco Specchia, Lollo and more. Also, don't miss our live feeds on all of our social media channels, on acmilan.com and via our Official App.

LATEST FROM SERIE A
The referee for the San Siro match will be the expert Maurizio Mariani from the Aprilia section, an experienced referee with 131 Serie A appearances to his credit. He has officiated 14 previous Rossoneri league matches and a tally of 8 wins, 2 draws and 4 defeats. He has already refereed this fixture twice: the 0-2 rossoneri win on 23 May 2021 at the Gewiss Stadium and the 0-3 in favour of the Bergamaschi in the same season, on 23 January 2021. His last match with the Rossoneri - and only one so far in 2022/23 - was the 18 September home defeat to Napoli.

The 24th matchday of Serie A will unfold over four days of matches: the round kicked off yesterday with Empoli 0-2 Napoli and Lecce 0-1 Sassuolo. Sunday was kicked off by Bologna 1-0 Inter and will continue with Salernitana vs Monza at 15:00 CET, Udinese vs Spezia at 18:00 CET and AC Milan vs Atalanta at 20:45 CET. Two matches are scheduled for Monday: Hellas Verona vs Fiorentina at 18:00 CET and Lazio vs Sampdoria at 20:45 CET. Tuesday closes with two more fixtures: Cremonese vs Roma at 18:30 CET and Juventus vs Torino at 20:45 CET.

The current standings in the Serie A: Napoli* 65; Inter* 47; AC Milan and Roma 44; Lazio 42; Atalanta 41; Bologna* 35; Juventus 32; Torino 31; Udinese 30; Monza 29; Empoli* 28; Lecce* and Sassuolo* 27; Fiorentina 25 Salernitana 21; Spezia 19; Hellas Verona 17; Sampdoria 11; Cremonese 9. (* = game in hand)

The AC Milan Fourth Kit for the 2022/23 season is available: buy it now!