Overview
Although still the only unbeaten team in Serie A this season, Atalanta is becoming a "done expert" of Italian football. They have only won 1 point in 6/8 matches played in the domestic league.
In all competitions, new coach Ivan Juric's team has only lost one match - against European champion Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League. However, the continuous loss of victories is slowing them down in the Serie A race.
Last weekend, La Dea was held to a 1-1 draw by Cremonese when Marco Brescianini's stunning last-minute shot erased Jamie Vardy's advantage over Atalanta at Stadio Zini.
It was Atalanta's fifth consecutive draw in Serie A, and the seventh of their last 11 matches in all competitions. This series of results has caused them to gradually be left behind in the race for a place in the European Cup.
Strikers Nikola Krstovic and Gianluca Scamacca continued to lose the ball last weekend. Although Ademola Lookman's return helps increase theoretical firepower, Juric and his students will have to improve their attack efficiency if they want to penetrate one of the most solid defenses in Serie A.
In the previous season, Atalanta defeated AC Milan both at home and away, thereby finishing the season with a higher position than their opponents. Another victory could be a turning point, helping to restart their campaign this season.
After losing four of their last five meetings, AC Milan's historic advantage in this clash seems to have passed on.
However, the Rossoneri are showing strong signs of revival and are currently 5 points ahead of Atalanta before the away trip to Bergamo.
Last weekend, Milan was unexpectedly held to a draw by Pisa at the San Siro - where the away team has yet to win a single match this season. It was thanks to the equalizer in the 93rd minute of the player who came on as a replacement for the less famous Zachary Athekame that Massimiliano Allegri's team avoided an embarrassing defeat.
The Swiss winger had a spectacular long-range shot from nearly 30m, setting the score at 2-2. However, Napoli's subsequent victory over Inter Milan caused the Rossoneri to lose the top spot in Serie A.
However, Milan has maintained an 8-match unbeaten streak in all competitions, and Allegri affirmed that the team's real goal this season is to win a ticket to the Champions League, instead of focusing on the Scudetto race.
Milan's ambition will continue to be tested when they face Atalanta and Roma in turn. By the end of next month, the Rossoneri will have a fiery derby with rival Inter Milan - a confrontation that could shape their entire season.
Personnel situation
Although Juric's side have not won any recently, Atalanta have at least received good news as their long-term injury list has shortened significantly. Only Mitchel Bakker and Giorgio Scalvini have yet to return to play.
In the draw with Cremonese, captain Marten de Roon had to drop deep to play in the center-back position. It is still unclear whether he will return to the familiar central midfield position, thereby opening up the opportunity to play from the start for young talent Honest Ahanor in defense.
Up front, Ademola Lookman will continue to compete for a starting spot with Kamaldeen Sulemana, Lazar Samardzic and former Milan player Charles De Ketelaere.
On AC Milan's side, the attack will welcome the return of Rafael Leao, who has scored 3 goals in the last 2 matches and is in good form. However, Santiago Gimenez is likely to lose his starting position after a lackluster performance against Pisa.
With Christian Pulisic still unable to play, Allegri may make some changes to the squad to cope with the injury crisis.
Expected lineup:
Atalanta: Carnesecchi, Djimsiti, Hien, Ahanor, Bellanova, Ederson, De Roon, Zalewski, De Ketelaere, Lookman, Scamacca.
AC Milan: Maignan, Tomori, Gabbia, Pavlovic, Saelemaekers, Fofana, Modric, Ricci, Bartesaghi, Nkunku, Leao.
The match between Atalanta and AC Milan takes place at 2:45 am on October 29 (Vietnam time).
