AC MILAN v ATALANTA: MATCH PREVIEW

Stefano Pioli's AC Milan host Gasperini's Atalanta on Matchday 26 of the Serie A, marking the end of an intense February, aiming to resume their league campaign. With the home crowd as an added ally following two arduous away fixtures, AC Milan aim to bounce back and secure three points in the third seasonal encounter, significant for numerous reasons. Let's approach the kickoff of AC Milan v Atalanta - scheduled for 20:45 CET - with our Match Preview.

LATEST FROM MILANELLO
Monza and Stade Rennais halted a favorable period; the desire for redemption and a return to victory must guide AC Milan towards the big match at the San Siro. Motivation is abundant, especially considering the two previous matches this season resulting in victories for Atalanta. Mister Pioli, who has partially regained Calabria, Kalulu, and Tomori, is finding more selection options and may opt for some changes in the starting eleven. In particular, Thiaw could alternate with Kjær, while Loftus-Cheek and Giroud should return to occupy the attacking midfield and forward positions. Luka Jović is suspended for two matches, while Florenzi, Loftus-Cheek, and Musah are on a yellow card.

“Tomorrow’s match is very important in terms of the league standings,” said Coach Pioli in his pre-match press conference. “Various teams below us continue to pick up points, and we want to get back to winning ways. It’ll be difficult, as we’ll be up against a side who are doing well, but we are also doing well. There will be a lot of duels, so we’ll have to be strong. They have a lot of potential in attack.”

LATEST FROM ATALANTA
Seven victories and one draw in eight outings; this is Atalanta's form in 2024. Atalanta aim to maintain their positive streak of results and performances. Their top position in the group has also allowed them to avoid the Europa League playoff and arrive at the San Siro with a week of full training - and a bit more rest - under their belts. Gasperini's 3-4-1-2 formation offers numerous options, with Lookman returning after injury. Trust is renewed in the most in-form players, starting with the former De Ketelaere. Zappacosta, along with the Atalanta coach, who remains suspended, while Hien and Palomino are sidelined.

"AC Milan are a very strong team, despite their slip against Monza," said Gian Piero Gasperini. "It will definitely be an important match, also for the standings. Matches between the two teams have always been characterized by many goal-scoring opportunities, and we have always managed to score. I don't see it as a match ending in a goalless draw. It will be crucial how well we can withstand each other's attacks."

PRE-MATCH NUMBERS

• AC Milan have scored twelve goals in their last six matches against Atalanta in Serie A, as many as they’d netted in their previous 13 clashes against La Dea in the Italian top flight.
• The Rossoneri have won six of their last seven home matches in Serie A, drawing the other one (2-2 against Bologna) and averaging exactly two goals per game. In six of these fixtures, they’ve scored in the first half.
• Atalanta have scored six goals from corners this league season. In this regard, only AC Milan have done better so far: seven, including against La Dea in the reverse fixture. That day, Olivier Giroud bagged from an Alessandro Florenzi assist.
• Atalanta (10) and AC Milan (12) are the only two teams this season to have scored at least ten goals through substitutes. Both sides netted through such players last time out in the league: La Dea through Mitchel Bakker and the Rossoneri through Olivier Giroud and Christian Pulisic.

WHERE TO WATCH AC MILAN v ATALANTA
In Italy, the match will be broadcast by DAZN. To watch AC Milan v Atalanta in a different country, you can consult the "AC Milan on TV" webpage, clicking on the heading "Abroad". On the Rossoneri channels, Milan TV will provide live matchday coverage starting from 19:45 CET and continuing up until shortly before kick-off. After full-time, there will be interviews and Coach Pioli's press conference. From 20:40 CET, there will also be our Live Reaction show on our Twitch channel. Also not to be missed is the coverage on acmilan.com, the AC Milan Official App and our official social media profiles.

LATEST FROM SERIE A
Daniele Orsato will be the man in the middle for AC Milan v Atalanta. The experienced official, who is set to take charge of his 286th match in the Italian top flight, has encountered both teams on plenty of occasions and last refereed the Rossoneri when they drew 2-2 away to Napoli in October. His last Atalanta match was also in October 2023, a 3-2 defeat away to Lazio. Orsato will be assisted by Costanzo and Passeri, while Giua will perform the role of fourth official. Irrati, assisted by Piccinini, will oversee VAR.

Matchday 26 in Serie A kicked off with Bologna 2-0 Hellas Verona on Friday evening and continued yesterday with Sassuolo 2-3 Empoli, Salernitana 0-2 Monza and Genoa 2-0 Udinese. The first match in today’s schedule was Juventus v Frosinone (12:30 CET), followed by Cagliari v Napoli at 15:00 CET, and Lecce v Inter at 18:00 CET preceding AC Milan v Atalanta. The last two matches of the day are scheduled for tomorrow, Monday, the 26th: Roma v Torino at 18:30 CET and Fiorentina v Lazio at 20:45 CET.

Here's the current standings: Inter* 63; Juventus 54; AC Milan 52; Bologna° 48; Atalanta* 45; Roma 41; Fiorentina 38; Lazio 37; Napoli*, Torino and Monza° 36; Genoa° 33; Empoli° 25; Lecce 24; Udinese° and Frosinone 23; Hellas Verona° and Sassuolo 20; Cagliari 19; Salernitana° 13. (* = one match less; ° = one match more)

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