AC Milan face Atalanta at San Siro tonight hoping to get some revenge after their two defeats against them so far this season in Serie A and the Coppa Italia.
Milan is coming off two defeats – against Monza in the league and Stade Rennais in the Europa League – while Atalanta is on a run, having won six games in a row.
The outcome of the game will be largely determined by several major battles on the pitch, beginning with Rafael Leao’s against Giorgio Scalvini. The winger hasn’t scored in the league in five months, but he’d want a goal against Atalanta.
Scalvini, meanwhile, is one of the world’s best young defenders and is set to play on the right side of a three-man defence this evening, putting him to the test against Leao.
Teun Koopmeiners is tortured.
The Algerian is expected to play alongside Yacine Adli in the double pivot, and it is assumed he will be charged with halting Koopmeiners because he is more responsible in the defensive phase.
Speaking of which, Charles De Ketelaere has been in fantastic form since joining Atalanta on loan with a buy option in the summer, and he will face Malick Thiaw.
Thiaw had a rough night in Monza, giving up a penalty and might have done better on a couple of goals, so he must respond well against an opponent with ten goals this season.
Moving back to Milan’s attack, Olivier Giroud is set to return to the starting lineup after spending the last two games on the bench, replacing Luka Jovic and facing Isak Hien.
Hien was a January signing for Atalanta who impressed at Verona, so the 25-year-old Swede will be eager to face one of the game’s most accomplished forwards, while Giroud is aiming for 20 goals this season after already scoring 15.
Finally, we have the clash between Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Ederson. The Englishman has been in excellent scoring form in 2024, with six goals, and should be fresh after starting Thursday’s game on the bench.
Ederson, meantime, has been fantastic for Atalanta and has rapidly established himself as an important element of Gian Piero Gasperini’s system, attracting admiring eyes from big clubs around Europe.
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