ATALANTA v AC MILAN: FUN FACTS

After the opening victory at San Siro, the Rossoneri are visiting Atalanta this evening for the first top-of-the-table clash of the season, kicking off at 20:45 CEST.  The contest at the Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo marks a historically-significant occasion for Milan and Pioli. Let's take a look at the most interesting statistics and trivia from the fixture. 

U-TURN
Under the guidance of Pioli, AC Milan have succeeded in reversing the negative trend in results against La Dea. Atalanta have lost each of the last three games against AC Milan in Serie A, having gone unbeaten in 10 of the previous 11 (4W, 6D). AC Milan haven't conceded in two of the last three league matches against Atalanta, as many as in the previous 14 against the Bergamaschi. 

ROSSONERI DOMINANCE
Widening the perspective of the history between the two clubs in Serie A, having reached their 123rd confrontation in the top flight, the Rossoneri lead the tally with 54 wins over 25 for the Bergamaschi, with 43 draws. However, the there have been 61 games in the competition between at the home of Atalanta: 14 home wins, 25 for the Rossoneri, and 22 draws. Since Gasperini's arrival in the Nerazzurri dugout, La Dea have won just one of their six Serie A home matches against AC Milan (2D, 3L). 

DEFENSIVE FOCUS
If the challenge between AC Milan and Atalanta has often guaranteed goals, the numbers from the first matchday have already provided some indications of the defensive resilience of the two sides this season: AC Milan (74) and Atalanta (64, tied with Juventus) were the two teams that spent the most minutes on top on the first day of the Serie A season. AC Milan conceded two headed goals against Udinese, half of the four conceded in the entire 2021/22 league season. Atalanta, for their part, are the side who conceded the fewest shots on target (one in 11 conceded) in the first week of the Serie A, while only Napoli (six) have faced fewer total shots than Milan (nine). 

NEMESI
Stefano Pioli is the coach who has managed to win the most matches against Gian Piero Gasperini (nine) – completing four draws and five wins for against the current Nerazzurri coach. Pioli's nine victories against Gasperini in Serie A represent a record for the Rossoneri coach in the competition – in addition, his teams have scored 37 goals against Atalanta in the top flight, more than any other opponent. 

INDIVIDUAL GOALS
The Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo was able to provide the setting for a day of celebrations in the Rossoneri dressing room, with three players set to celebrate important personal milestones. The next game will be the 100th Serie A appearance for Theo Hernández: since his debut in the league in 2019/20 he has been involved in 33 goals (19 goals, 14 assists); only Gosens (36) has more among defenders. Similarly, Fikayo Tomori could play his 50th game in Serie A, while next will also be the 150th game in the Italian top flight for Rade Krunić. 

SPECIAL ANNIVERSARIES
Other Rossoneri players are also looking for records in Bergamo. Ante Rebić, who scored a brace in the first match against Udinese, could become the first player in AC Milan history to start the season with multiple goals in each of the first two games of a Serie A season. Rafael Leão is chasing his first goal of the season after blanking against Udinese: Atalanta were the only side against whom the Portuguese scored in both the home and away match in the 2021/22 Serie A. Finally, AC Milan captain Davide Calabria made his Serie A debut against Atalanta on 30 May 2015 – the full-back also scored the fastest goal in Serie A last season, after 27 seconds against the Bergamaschi. at none other than the Gewiss Stadium (3 October 2021).

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