Milan is trying to make it two in a row after their 0-4 win at RB Salzburg this past Thursday. Will that be the turning point in Milan’s season, where they start a long and consistent upward trajectory? Maybe…
MATCHDAY:
LAST FIVE
MILAN: DLWDW
ATALANTA: LLLWW
FORMATIONS
MILAN (3-4-2-1): Maignan (C); Gila, De Winter, Pavlović; Chukwueze, Musah, Modrić, Moreira; Rabiot, Pulisic; Ramos
ATALANTA (4-3-3): Carnesecchi; Bellanova, Kristensen, Kolašinac, Bernasconi; Pašalić, Éderson (C), Samardžić; De Ketelaere, Krstović, Rowe
TIME/LOCATION
TIME:12pm EST/6pm GMT
PLACE: San Siro, Milan
WHERE TO WATCH:
Paramount+ and FuboTV here in the US of Aye (Spanish broadcast on Universo Peacock in the US); FuboTV and TLN for Canada; TNT in the UK (maybe?); ESPN for Mexico; DAZN for Germany, Austria, Switzerland; a website called GXR for our friends in India; and illegal streams that support dictators and oligarchs everywhere.
*Let us know if this needs updating or if you have additional broadcasters to add*
WHAT TO WATCH FOR:
All the talk the last few days as been around Alphadjo Cissé after his hat trick on Thursday in Europa League. The feat was impressive to be sure, and he’s already racked up a nice early season goal tally in general but especially for a 19 year old. But let’s save this conversation for when he starts next even if we end up seeing him come on in this game.
I didn’t really have a lot of time between Thursday and today to get a post match out after the Europa game, but needless to say I think the 4-goal win caught most of us by surprise. The starting lineup lacked a lot of known offensive firepower but the scheme was fantastic. High pressure, sure but that’s not new. The width in which they played WAS. The first two goals came from crosses directly or indirectly and it was something I’ve been talking about in matchday and post match posts.
Teams have been collapsing in tight and taking away the middle of the pitch against Milan. One reason is that Chukwueze and Moreira (or Estupiñan) have preferred to cut in or not get offensively involved (again, Estupiñan). The Europa game didn’t have that. Both wide players, Hutchinson and Bartesaghi both played wide for large chunks of the game and both players assisted (Bartesaghi should’ve had 2 if not for Rabiot mishitting the ball). But they’re not in and the players not providing the width are back in…players who have played well but perhaps not fundamentally.
If Atalanta stays tight centrally on defense, those players HAVE to create width for the team, otherwise we’re going to see lots of toothless possession. Pulisic in will help with creativity but even he can’t create in a sea of bodies. The game can get overly complicated, but usually just basic sound and fundamental football will do the trick.
PREDICTION TIME:
Milan’s performance this season has been uneven and letdowns after a big win are common for any team in any league. Atalanta got off to a rough start under Sarri but they’ve rattled off two impressive 3-1 wins at home recently.
So, this game for me sits on a point, teetering one way or the other. It might end up staying right where it is after all is said and done, or it could fall towards Milan or Atalanta. With Milan at home, I’m giving them the slight edge in today’s game. But they got to get the tactics right…and then execute.
Forza Milan
gillis