AC MILAN v ATALANTA: THE BRIEFING

Atalanta after Roma, Bologna, and Napoli. It’s a period of big games at San Siro, important to play and even more important to win. A delicate moment, one to be handled with care. The Bergamo side made our lives harder earlier this season, and now comes a trying test that we need to overcome to take a leap forwards. In the Briefing, let’s explore the elements that could prove decisive on Serie A Matchday 26 scheduled for Sunday 25 February at 20:45 CET:

TIGHTENING THE DEFENCES
We said it before Napoli and now we’ll say it again as another big game comes a-knocking: much will depend on our defensive display. On a collective level, not just the performance at the back. Before Napoli, alarm bells were ringing with Udinese, Bologna, and Frosinone, and now after Monza and Rennes since we are back to conceding too many. It’s flawed to think you can beat such an opponent without a solid and compact attitude, the Bergamo side are dangerous if they get into space and every slip in focus risks to cost us dearly: against them in Serie A and then the Coppa Italia, we lost because of too many mistakes, both technical and through lack of attention. It’s important to show growth from these errors, bringing effective tactics when out of possession.

GIROUD V DE KETELAERE
AC Milan can count on Giroud, rested after the Europa League, but will have to do without Jović (suspended). An absence to deal with, not in the starting formation, but as the game progresses, since we will be missing the only alternative role up-front. The team’s task will be to get in it to him in the best way possible, and the player’s job will be to fight the tight Nerazzurri marking system and manage his energy levels. Olivier scored against the Dea in the first half of the season and has already bagged 4 goals and 3 assists in 2024, reliable for finishing and winning points. He will face off with De Ketelaere from a distance, who we know well and has completely different skills. The Belgian has recently turned a corner and is making a difference with good numbers: 6 goals and 4 assists since January. Strength against skill, poacher against connecting piece. From the individual performances, from how they will also be helped by teammates, they could tip the scales towards a certain outcome.

EMPTYING THE MIDDLE FOR THE WINGS
In general, it will be a battle. Atalanta has always been a spiky team, good at getting their hands dirty over every ball to bring the game into their favour and are physical and athletic. In the middle there has to be a struggle, resistance, and an advantage in play: Reijnders and one of either Bennacer and Adli will support Loftus-Cheek, with the Éderson-de Roon duo supported by Koopmeiners and fluctuating Pašalić. The Bergamo side will set out with grit and substance, a potential solution to the dangers could be avoiding the central channels, emptying out onto the wings where Hernández-Leão and Florenzi-Pulisic have the skills to ward of the potential threats (watch the 1-0 in the Coppa Italia), like in the one-on-one situations. Beware, however, of Holm and Zappacosta who are difficult to face and won’t be shy of doubling their efforts.

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