AC MILAN v ATALANTA: OPPONENT REVIEW

This season's Coppa Italia quarter-finals, in addition to the Roma derby, sees a Lombardy one between AC Milan and Atalanta, who have not met in the competition since the 2000/01 season. Also on that occasion, the match was played in the quarter-finals and saw the Rossoneri advance to the next round, scoring six goals in total: a 4-2 home victory in the first leg and a 2-1 away defeat in the second leg. Overall, the two sides have eleven times in the Coppa Italia: after remaining unbeaten in the first seven in the competition, with five wins and two draws, AC Milan have lost two of the last four (2W) against Atalanta, including the most recent.

The Rossoneri, however, have reached the Coppa Italia quarter-finals on four of the last five occasions (the only exception being in the 2020/21 season when Inter were the victors), after having been knocked out at this stage of the competition in four of the previous five editions. Atalanta, on the other hand, have alternated between a victory (four) and a defeat (three) in each of their last seven Coppa Italia matches; the side from Bergamo have been eliminated at the quarter-final stage seven of the last ten times, including the two most recent: a 3-2 home defeat to Fiorentina in 2021/22 and a 1-0 defeat away to Inter in 2022/23.

HIGH PRESS AND WINNING THE BALL BACK QUICKLY
In what is now Gasperini's eighth season in charge of Atalanta, the Dea's playing style has seen some characteristics emerge. Among these that stand out, since the first year, is the aggressive and decisive nature of his players to win back possession. It is no coincidence that the side from Bergamo are first for balls recovered in all areas of the pitch (1234) and fourth in the league for offensive ball recoveries (149), i.e. within a maximum of 40 metres from the opponent's goal. Furthermore, possession gained in the attacking zone has led to a shot at goal 29 times, with only Napoli (36) having done better so far.

Data for balls recovered balls is also on a par with that for balls intercepted, which sees Gasp's men in first place in this category, too (189). However, an area that is of concern for Atalanta is set-pieces: the Dea have conceded the most goals, in percentages, from dead ball situations in this season's current Serie A: 43% (9/21). Specifically, no team has conceded more goals from crosses than the Bergamo team (eight, like Salernitana and Verona).

DE KETELAERE AND KOOPMEINERS IN FINE FORM
Among the players in the Atalanta ranks, there is one player that those inside Milanello got to know well last season. We are obviously talking about Charles De Ketelaere, who joined AC Milan last year and left on loan for Bergamo after a below-par season. The Belgian seems to have found, most recently, a certain run of consistency in front of goal, as seen by his involvement in seven goals (four goals, three assists) in his last six appearances in all competitions, following ten consecutive games without. Furthermore, the former Bruges player is the only player among those who play in Serie A to boast at least two goals scored in three different competitions in the 2023/24 season: two in the league, two in the Europa League and two in the Coppa Italia.

Having fully blossomed last season, Teun Koopmeiners is also performing at high levels this season, confirming himself as one of the league's best midfielders. In particular, he is finding lots of inspiration in the creating phase of play away from the Gewiss Stadium. In fact, he is the player to have scored the most number of goals (four) out of those who have scored only on the road in the league. Furthermore, the Dutchman is Atalanta's creator, having made the most number of chances for his teammates: 41, followed by Ademola Lookman with 25. After deciding the league fixture between Atalanta and AC Milan with a 95th-minute backheel winner, Luis Muriel will certainly also require special attention, as he has scored twice for Atalanta against AC Milan in Serie A, but both, however, coming at home, including the one in December.

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