After a disappointing result versus Cagliari, AC Milan face a pivotal match-up versus Atalanta on Sunday. A win will guarantee a Champions League spot, although they can still qualify with a draw or loss depending on the results from both Napoli and Juventus.
Betting on others is never the proper avenue, however, so Milan must put all focus on this match. Facing Atalanta is a daunting task, as the team is second in Serie A with the best attack (90 goals in 37 matches).
AC Milan: Three Keys to Victory over Atalanta
Forget the Past 37 Matches
To fully focus on this match, Milan must totally forget the past 37 matches. Essentially, they no longer matter as this match has the implications of a final. The squad must treat it as such, as it’s not only the biggest game of the season but the biggest in several years.
The same mentality that was displayed two weekends ago versus Juventus is needed. Milan looked poised to take a tumble and lost Zlatan Ibrahimovic early to an injury. Knowing how much that match meant, the squad responded brilliantly in a massive 3-0 victory.
The line-up must be absolutely perfect. Now is not the time for experiments by Stefano Pioli. Whatever is working best in training is the way to go. This likely means that Mario Mandzukic gets a start at striker, while Samu Castillejo does not play unless absolutely necessary.
A win will mean everything to the team and the fans who have desperately waited for this moment for nearly a decade.
Fullback Play
The play of Davide Calabria and Theo Hernandez will be very important in this match.
Atalanta’s two wide midfielders, Hans Hateboer and Robin Gosens, are fantastic. They’ll participate defensively, but their sound judgement moving forward will also have them involved in nearly every attack.
One slip-up by Milan, such as a bad pass or a missed tackle, will see one of these Atalanta players flying down the wing ready to supply Duvan Zapata with a scoring chance.
Calabria and Hernandez will be tasked with shutting them down. Zapata is a massive target inside the box, and Milan’s defence cannot afford for him to have plenty of aerial chances or the ball at his feet in the final third.
Besides defence, Calabria and Hernandez will also be relied upon going forward. If they’re able to intercept a ball from Hateboer or Gosens, then they must fire forward quickly. Atalanta plays with three in the back, so a counter-attack coming from the wings is one of the best ways to catch them off guard.
Score a Goal in the First Half
It’s vital for Milan to score a goal in the first half. They clearly had nerves in the Cagliari match after not scoring early (which they’ve become accustomed to compared to seasons prior).
This is most important not only for confidence but the style of play. When Milan scores early, they stay on the offensive and look to create more chances through build-up play. When they’re desperate, it’s long ball after long ball into the box. The second strategy, at least with the Rossoneri, almost never works. It’s also safe to say Atalanta would load the box if that was to happen.
The attacking play must be fluid. Lobbed passes, mistimed crosses, and horrendous volleys all came into play in the Cagliari match, and to absolutely no effect. A determined Milan is a strong Milan, and this happens with an early goal.
Match Prediction: AC Milan Come Out on Top
Milan will rise victorious in this match. They tend to play down to their competition, but look a lot better versus Italy’s other “top dogs.”
Atalanta has also clinched a Champions League spot for next season. It’s unlikely that they loosen up their line-up due to this, but they won’t be playing with the same sense of urgency as Milan.
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