Serie A: Could This be Milan’s Weekend?

AC Milan vs Atalanta

League leaders AC Milan welcome Atalanta to the San Siro Stadium on Sunday in the penultimate round of a fantastic Serie A season.

I Rossoneri go into the game with a two-point lead over 2021 champions Inter Milan and the race looks set to reach the final week. And while the battle of Milan rages on, there is still business to be done in the race for European places and at the bottom end of the table. 

It could be a day of pure delight for Rossoneri fans as by nightfall, they might be celebrating a first Scudetto triumph since 2011. Stefano Pioli’s men may need four points from their final two games, but it is possible a win over Europe chasing Atalanta will be enough if Inter Milan fail to win away to Cagliari, who are battling against relegation.    

Milan come into the game on the back of a 3-1 win away to Hellas Verona while Atalanta had a similar 3-1 triumph away to Spezia and La Dea needs points to earn a Europa League place, so expect 90+ minutes of high octane drama in Milan.

Talking Points

Brave Milan on the brink

Pioli is so close to bringing the glory days back to AC Milan after a decade of Juventus dominance and the annoyance of watching Inter Milan win the 2021 Scudetto.

The very latest Serie 2022 betting odds are on the Rossoneri’s side with our SBOTOP stats team backing them at 1.45 to lift the Scudetto, while Inter Milan are ready to pounce at odds of 2.70.

Milan’s trip to Verona could have severely damaged their title hopes as Hellas are a dangerous opponent, but I Rossoneri stood up to the challenge superbly. Pioli needed a big performance from his players after Inter’s comeback win over Empoli on Friday night knocked them off top spot and he certainly got it.

After Mario Fariani had given Verona a first-half lead, Sandro Tonali levelled deep into first-half stoppage time and Milan came out in the second half all guns blazing. Tonali completed his brace and Alessandro Florenzi made the game safe with his late strike.    

Rafael Leao, with 10 goals and seven assists, has had a real breakout season and the Rossoneri side has a beautifully balanced look to it with Franck Kessie a powerful presence in the midfield.  

The only big absence is centre-back Simon Kjaer, but the pairing of England star Fikayo Tomori and the speedy 21-year-old French defender Pierre Kalulu have formed a solid partnership.

This team is ready for glory.

Atalanta chasing Europa League

Atalanta head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has near legendary status in Bergamo having led his team to European fame since his arrival in 2016.

With a reputation for free-scoring football, La Dea have become everybody’s second favourite team, but there is a danger they will be missing from the European stage next year – currently sitting in eighth place in Serie A but level on points with Roma and Fiorentina in sixth and seventh.   

It’s been a more challenging campaign than La Dea fans have been used to. This time last season, Atalanta were in third place with 75 points, and while they are now eighth with 59, they have hit some form since they’re unbeaten in four games.

And Atalanta have been better on the road than at home. 3-1 away wins over Venezia and Spezia were interrupted by home draws – 1-1 with Salernitana and 4-4 with Torino.

Croatian midfielder Mario Pasalic has had a great campaign, top scoring with 13 goals and six assists, while the experienced Colombian pair of Luis Muriel and Duvan Zapata continue to impress as a front two.

Muriel scored a goal and teed up Pasalic’s last strike against Spezia and that makes it nine goals and eight assists for him. The 31-year-old has hit a rich vein of form, making eight goal contributions in the last four games while his strike partner Duvan Zapata has scored 10 this season.    

Atalanta’s big miss is tricky wide-man Josip Ilicic, but there is plenty of quality in this squad.

History

With 22 wins to 10 in all competitions since 1993, I Nerazzurri have had plenty of success against La Dea.

Milan won the return in Bergamo 3-2 since Rafael Leao was on target as the visitors raced into a three-goal lead but goals from Pasalic and Zapata gave the Rossoneri a late scare. La Dea won the last meeting at the San Siro 3-0 when Zapata was on target again.

I advise you to take a look at this weekend’s Serie A 2022 highlights because this clash promises to be another cracker.

Betting Tip

At a price of 1.73 to win, Milan should do the business and put the pressure on Inter, while the draw at 3.64 and Atalanta at 4.17 cannot be ruled out. I think we will see goals since La Dea have not kept a clean sheet in seven Serie A fixtures and a correct scoreline of 2-1 to Milan at odds of 6.76 is the lowest price.

 

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