Fixture: AC Milan vs Atalanta
Competition: Italian Serie A 2016-17
Date: Saturday, 17th December, 17:00 GMT
Stadium: Stadio Giuseppe Meazza (Milano).


Sports Livestream ⚽ JOIN NOW for FREE
Instant access to the BT Sport, Sky Sports and Eurosport


The hosts still harbour slim title hopes despite last weekend’s defeat to fellow Juventus-challengers Roma. Defeat in the capital was only the third time in Serie A this season that the Rossoneri have failed to bother the scoresheet, having failed to notch in seven games at the equivalent stage last season.

Coach Vincenzo Montella is likely to turn to Colombian Carlos Bacca in attack despite the recent form of crowd favourite Gianluca Lapadula. The former Pescara man has four goals in his last five appearances and won the penalty which M’Baye Niang squandered against Roma. Bacca, meanwhile, has failed to register since his penalty against Sassuolo in October six games ago and returns from a two-game absence with a point to prove. Niang himself is going through a difficult spell, his spot-kick miss continuing a two-month-long run of seven games without a goal. With Milan once again fielding the youngest side in Serie A against the Romans, an average age of just 23 years and 343 days, the onus will be on midfielder Juraj Kucka to bring all his 29-years-experience to help Manuel Locatelli and Mario Pasalic to continue to act beyond their years and control the midfield.

The visitors, meanwhile, have been brought down to earth with a bump after they failed to recover from their first defeat in nine and went down heavily at home to Udinese last time out. Gian Piero Gasperini’s men will be keen to ensure this was just a blip and that all the hard work of their amazing run doesn’t come to nothing. The Bergamaschi are undefeated in their last two visits to San Siro to face the red and black half of Milan, having picked up a 0-0 draw last term, German Denis’ early effort taking the spoils two years ago.

The continued absence of goalkeeper Etrit Berisha is a significant blow to Gasperini’s ambitions, although despite lacking the Albanian’s authority and command of his area, Marco Sportiello has so far proved an able deputy. Indeed, the key thus far to Atalanta’s remarkable rise has been consistency of selection. Just 13 players have appeared in 10 or more games this season, a record only beaten by lowly newcomers Pescara and Crotone. The Orobici have lost two games on the trot three times so far this season. They will be hoping they don’t lose a third for the first time this weekend. Milan sit third in the home form table, Atalanta occupy the same spot in the away form table. With both teams looking to recover from disappointing results, there’s sure to be no quarter given.

Keep an eye on: Juraj Kucka (Milan) — The experienced head in Milan’s midfield returns from a second suspension having only tasted defeat twice in his 13 appearances this season

Form Guide: Milan (L W W D W) Atalanta (L L W W W)

Last season: Milan 0-0 Atalanta

Stat fact: Atalanta have registered nine victories so far this term, a stat they didn’t achieve until the end of March and after 31 games in a 2-1 win over Milan.


Top tip: Less than 2.5 goals. Just once in the previous five meetings at San Siro has there been more.

Milan (probable): Donnarumma; Abate, Paletta, Romagnoli, De Sciglio; Kucka, Locatelli, Pasalic; Susuo, Bacca, Niang

Suspended: none

Atalanta (probable): Sportiello; Toloi, Caldara, Masiello; Conti, Kessie, Gagliardini, Spinazzola; Kurtic; Petagna, Gomez