Date: January 23, 2021
Time: 18:00 CET
Here we are almost halfway through the Serie A calendar, and we have the fortune of ending the first half of the campaign against table leaders Milan. Even with an unfortunate last two matches against Genoa and Udinese, Atalanta have overall had a successful campaign tied for 5th in the league; and a win on Saturday could have La Dea potentially climbing up to 3rd behind the two clubs from Milan. It’s very easy to have a short memory in football, but two consecutive draws won’t determine a season. And while a win against Milan also wouldn’t determine the season – I won’t lie – it would still feel very very nice to dethrone the club that has only lost once in the league so far this year.
It’s no mystery to anyone that Milan have had their injury woes this year, but as they continue to recuperate it continues to become less and less of a crutch for them to fall back on. Saturday will be one of their first games with a considerably healthy squad. Bennacer and Calhanoglu are the largest notable absences due to injury/COVID, and perhaps for Milan their most significant asset is back to business.
With Zlatan Ibrahimovic back in the lineup, Milan has their elder statesman to bring stability and a constant goal scoring threat back to their front line. Ibrahimovic was very effective last time out against Atalanta, not really as a goal scoring threat, but a target man to skip over La Dea’s press. His distribution frustratingly didn’t allow Atalanta to do what they did best- pressing the backline and winning the ball back as quickly as possible to jump start an attack. Saturday will be a new day in what should be an epic battle between Cristian Romero and Zlatan. The aggressive nature and the superior defensive arsenal of Romero over Palomino will make for a much more even and exciting matchup that I expect to be the determining factor in who takes 3 points. If Romero can neutralize Zlatan’s distribution as the target man, Atalanta should be able to dictate possession more than their last matchup, and hopefully conduct the offensive flow that they wish. Still, easier said than done. Zlatan is still a handful when healthy, and probably has a few tricks up his sleeves to try and pull the wool over the eyes of the young Argentinian.
If the defense can do its thing, than its up for the midfield and offense to dictate the flow of the match. A much more open game should give Atalanta more opportunities to attack against fewer men in the box, and hopefully give Ilicic more freedom to operate against a questionable Milan right-sided defense. Theo Hernandez isn’t the world’s greatest defender, and central defense support in either a not 100% Kjaer or an inexperienced Kalulu should have Ilicic licking his chops. If the Slovenian shows the form he did against Benevento and Roma (among other opponents) it’ll be a long day in the office for Milan’s backline, and hopefully pull one of Tonali or Kessie away from the midfield to offer support and throw off their shape.
Last year’s 5-0 Christmas massacre still seems to be fresh in many minds of the Milan tifosi, and presumably some of the players as well. It seemed to wake Milan up from its funk and put them on the path they are now. So indirectly Milan should be thanking Atalanta for their storming form since COVID!
While no one should expect another lop-sided score line, this match really does have the ability to swing any direction. The full gambit including a Milan victory, an Atalanta victory, or a hard-fought draw would all be equally likely results; bringing exciting football to the neutral and anxiety-ridden viewing to the supporters of both clubs. A road victory would be enormous going into the second half of the season, and hopefully set up Atalanta for a storming spring campaign on all three competitive fronts. Gasperini will have the troops ready, and big games tend to bring out the best in the club. Let’s do it again on Saturday! As always, Forza La Dea!
