The high-profile clash between Atalanta and AC Milan is set to brightly open the upcoming round of the Italian championship. The Bergamo side have hit a rich vein of form and are eyeing the top spot, while AC Milan have fallen behind the top four — both teams are keen to secure points on Friday.
After their victory at the Stadio Olimpico against AS Roma (2:0) on Monday, Atalanta extended their winning streak to eight matches across all competitions. They created far more dangerous chances in Rome (1.27–0.44 in xG), and substitutes made a significant impact in attack — Nicolò Zaniolo scored a late goal. In Serie A, Atalanta have netted 36 goals in 14 matches, leading the league by a considerable margin.
With Paulo Fonseca at the helm, AC Milan have shown glimpses of impressive football. For instance, following a goalless draw with Juventus, they have recorded three consecutive wins with 12 goals. It seems AC Milan have finally moved away from relying solely on Rafael Leão and Theo Hernández on the flanks, as they now create threats from all areas of the pitch.
Since the start of last season, Atalanta and AC Milan have played each other three times, with two of those matches finishing with over 2.5 goals. Both Paulo Fonseca and Gian Gasperini are unlikely to sit back and defend, as they will want to showcase their attacking prowess.
