Ruben Amorim could become just the third AC Milan manager in Serie A history to remain unbeaten in his first seven games in charge when Atalanta come to San Siro defending a stellar recent H2H record.
Match News and Current Form
Milan thrashed Salzburg 4-0 in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday to hand Amorim his biggest win in charge. That result extended their unbeaten run in all competitions (W2, D1), while the draw against Sassuolo in their last league outing keeps the Rossoneri just outside the top four ahead of this round. The congested schedule is likely to test Milan, but they won’t be short of motivation at San Siro, as Serie A victories over Venezia and Lecce here give them a chance to post three successive home league victories for the first time this calendar year.
Atalanta are also coming off a win, a 3-1 victory over Pafos in the UEFA Conference League on Thursday. That was a second consecutive victory for Maurizio Sarri’s men, who had the weight of three consecutive defeats hanging over them before this run started. La Dea can go level on points with their hosts with a victory, but their recent away form gives cause for concern. Atalanta have lost their last two league trips, so could suffer three consecutive Serie A away defeats under the same manager for the first time since November 2017 here.
Head-to-Head History
Milan are winless in the last six Serie A H2Hs (D2, L4), their second-longest such run against Atalanta in this competition. A seven-game run which ended in 2018 could be equalled here as Atalanta chase three consecutive Serie A away wins against Milan for just the second time, last doing so between 1941 and 1943.
Hot Stats and Streaks
Milan scored eight of their 11 Serie A goals this season between the 61st and 70th minute.
Seven of Milan’s last nine home league games produced an odd number of goals.
Atalanta have scored a pre-round league-high three unanswered goals within the first ten minutes.
Ten of Atalanta’s last 12 away league wins have been accompanied by a clean sheet.
Key Players to Watch and Missing Players
Adrien Rabiot has scored his three league goals this season beyond the hour mark, but the referee will have an eye on him here as the Frenchman has picked up a career-high five Serie A yellow cards against Atalanta. Gianluca Scamacca has scored in his last two games for club and country, and has been Atalanta’s last scorer in seven of the last eight Serie A games he netted in.
Matteo Gabbia and Alexis Saelemaekers missed Milan’s last game. Atalanta’s Eljif Elmas is suspended after his red card against Venezia, a game which saw Raoul Bellanova and Giorgio Scalvini come off injured, while Giacomo Raspadori picked up an issue in midweek.
For all the latest team news, please check the Flashscore match centre.
Betting Analysis
Seven of the last nine H2Hs saw both teams score and that’s likely to continue given how these teams have been performing lately.
Author: Sridhar Bhamidi
