Not as hostile and fierce as the Milan Derby or the “real” Lombardy Derby, – contested by Atalanta and Brescia – AC Milan versus Atalanta has geographical significance, with both teams hailing from the region of Lombardy. Their respective grounds (Stadio Giuseppe Meazza and the Gewiss Stadium) are only separated by 59,3 km (45 minutes).
This might not be the biggest derby in Italian football but if you are a true fan of the game and a fan of either Milan or Atalanta, you’d want your team to claim the bragging rights in this one and that’s the nature of football. Every derby is a big deal.
Both teams have had a rollercoaster start to the year, with AC Milan suffering cup defeats to Torino and Inter Milan before conceding 10 goals in a space of three league games. These results have seen Stefano Pioli switch his tactics and revert to a back three.
These changes have made the Rossoneri challenging to beat and have propelled Pioli’s side on an upward trajectory, winning three on the spin, including a home 1-0 win over Tottenham Hotspurs in the Champions League.
Atalanta, on the other hand, have won five of their last ten matches in all competitions. That’s a 50 percent win rate. However, recent losses to Sassuolo and Lecce have raised more questions on whether the side from Bergamo can maintain consistency and stake a claim for the top four.
They do have a nine-point buffer on Juventus, who were docked 15 points following their recent transfer scandal – but Gian Piero Gasperini’s side need to put a good run together seeing that the Bianconeri have put their off-field woes behind them and are stringing together a run of good results, domestically and continentally.
TEAM NEWS
Mike Maignan could make his return to the squad following a spell on the sidelines, but striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic may have to make do with an appearance from the bench.
Gian Piero Gasperini could bring in Luis Muriel for Jérémie Boga up front. But he will need to replace the suspended Merih Demiral at the back, with José Luis Palomino deputising.
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Elsewhere in the league, Empoli host league-leaders Napoli on Saturday evening, while Inter travel to Bologna in Sunday’s early kick-off. Matchday 24 concludes on Tuesday with seventh-placed Juventus taking on Torino in the Turin Derby, where a win for The Old Lady will close the gap on Atalanta to just six, provided Milan win on Sunday.
Before that, AS Roma travel to bottom side Cremonese looking to complete a hat-trick of wins in all competitions.