Serie A Preview: Atalanta - AC Milan

The crisis-hit Rossoneri face a tricky match with Antonio Conte's Nerazzurri...

Oct 2, 2009 1:50:33 PM

More On :  AC Milan, Atalanta, Atalanta vs AC Milan
Antonio Conte (Grazia Neri)
Kick Off: Sunday, October 4, 15.00 CET
Stadio Atleti Azzurri d’Italia, Bergamo

Conte’s Crew

Atalanta have been a solid team over the last three years since rejoining the top flight, averaging 48 points a season. However, after four games this term they were bottom of the table without a point to their name and had scored just one goal. The Angelo Gregucci experiment had not paid off, and the Orobici hierarchy looked to another young coach to take the reins.
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Antonio Conte was that man, and the former Bari coach has overseen two draws – against Catania and Chievo Verona – since taking charge. Milan will be a stiff test for the Nerazzurri, but the visitors have traditionally struggled at the Atleti Azzurri d’Italia. Atalanta have won on two of the last three occasions the side have met in Bergamo, although the Rossoneri came out on top last season.

While the Orobici sold Sergio Floccari to Genoa over the summer, they replaced the Italian with the loan signing of Robert Acquafresca. The former Inter man has failed to find the net for his new club so far, but it is only a matter of time before he is back to scoring ways.

This must come sooner rather than later for Conte, however. His side have only scored twice in six games this season, and scraped past Serie B side Cesena in the Coppa Italia third round. There is potential at the Bergamasci – it is up to Conte to fulfil it.

More Misery For Milan

How much worse can it get for Leonardo’s Milan? After the Champions League defeat at home to FC Zurich plunged the Rossoneri further into crisis, fans were beside themselves as they vented their anger towards the team, the coach and the owners. It was, as Il Corriere dello Sport announced, ‘A Milan to make you cry’.

Vice-president Adriano Galliani called an emergency summit with his team after the result, but simply declared afterwards that no changes, managerial or otherwise, were in the pipeline and that everyone must roll up their sleeves and improve. It is questionable whether he truly believes Leonardo can steady a rapidly sinking ship or if he just has his head in the sand and is hoping everything will be alright, but the coach must find a way to revitalise his troops and start winning matches.

The problem for Milan is their lack of goals. They have failed to score in their last three matches, and are scoring at a rate of one goal every 180 minutes in the league – a worse ratio than relegation fodder Bologna. The excellent run of form that Filippo Inzaghi had at the end of last season has disappeared, while Klaas-Jan Huntelaar has cut a forlorn figure as he looks for his first goal in the colours of the Rossoneri.

Nor are the fixtures in Milan’s favour. They have had the benefit of some straightforward games at the start of the season – Siena, Livorno, Bologna, Bari – and not made the most of them. Roma and Real Madrid are next up after their trip to Bergamo – the Diavoli must improve quickly if they are to get within touching distance of the top four again.


FORM GUIDE

Atalanta

September 27 v Chievo Verona (A) – DREW 1-1 (Serie A)

September 23 v Catania (H) – DREW 0-0 (Serie A)

September 20 v Bari (A) – LOST 4-1 (Serie A)

September 13 v Sampdoria (H) – LOST 1-0 (Serie A)

August 30 v Genoa (H) – LOST 1-0 (Serie A)

Milan

September 30 v FC Zurich (H) – LOST 1-0 (Champions League)

September 27 v Bari (H) – DREW 0-0 (Serie A)

September 23 v Udinese (A) – LOST 1-0 (Serie A)

September 20 v Bologna (H) – WON 1-0 (Serie A)

September 15 v Olympique Marseille (A) – WON 2-1 (Champions League)


TEAM NEWS

Atalanta

Conte has almost an injury-free squad from which to select his side, as Edgar Barreto, Leonardo Talamonti and Adriano Ferreira Pinto are the only absentees for the Orobici.

Probable Starting XI (4-4-2): Consigli; Garics, Manfredini, Bianco, Bellini; Ceravolo, Guarente, Padoin, Valdes; Doni, Tiribocchi.

Milan

Alessandro Nesta was an injury worry for Leonardo, but it appears that the centre back will be fit for Sunday’s match. Ignazio Abate should be preferred at right back to Massimo Oddo.

Probable Starting XI (4-3-1-2): Storari; Abate, Nesta, Kaladze, Zambrotta; Gattuso, Pirlo, Ambrosini; Seedorf; Ronaldinho, Inzaghi.


PLAYERS TO WATCH

Simone Tiribocchi (Atalanta)

Despite Lecce’s dismal season last term, Tiribocchi was still able to score 11 goals and found the net last week against Chievo for his first goal for Atalanta. The 31-year-old has a powerful shot on him that makes him a danger anywhere in the final third.

Marco Storari (Milan)

The ’keeper has played superbly for the Rossoneri for much of this season, pulling off some priceless saves to keep his side in a number of matches. Atalanta will not be afraid to press forward, and Storari cannot afford to make any mistakes on Sunday.


PREDICTION

As Leonardo still looks for the missing link in his tactics, Conte is on the hunt for his first win as Atalanta coach. It is unlikely either will be found in Bergamo on Sunday, with a draw a likely outcome.

Atalanta 1-1 Milan

Anthony Wright, Goal.com
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