Serie A: Atalanta Have Their Eyes on the Top Berth

Atalanta vs AC Milan

Atalanta are making a beeline to the top of the Serie A table because they’re the most in-form team in the Italian top-flight right now. They will play their second Serie A game of the week this Saturday when they host AC Milan at the Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo. Gian Piero Gasperini’s men are on an eight-game winning streak across all competitions. As a result, they’re now second in the standings with 31 points, only one behind table leaders Napoli.

AC Milan are slowly turning things around under Paulo Fonseca after a rough start to the 2024-25 campaign. However, they still have a long way to go because they’re the seventh seed with 22 points. A win over La Dea should put them back in the European mix.

This match between Atalanta and AC Milan is arguably the top draw of matchday 15, and SBOTOP is here to provide the preview.

 

Talking Points

Retegui is on fire for Atalanta

Mateo Retegui has gone from a relative unknown to leading the Capocannoniere race, as he is thriving under Gian Piero Gasperini’s free-flowing tactics. The 25-year-old forward, who moved to Italy for only €15 million from Boca Juniors in 2023, already has 12 goals to lead the whole Serie A.

Since a goalless draw against Celtic in the Champions League last October, Atalanta have scored a whopping 26 goals during their eight-game winning streak, with Retegui responsible for six of them, making him the most dangerous man on the pitch.

Ademola Lookman is also doing well for Atalanta lately, as he already has seven league goals and four assists. The 27-year-old is one of the team’s most versatile players since he can play as No. 10, a winger, or a striker, depending on Gasperini’s tactical needs.

With the two of them leading the way, Atalanta are scoring goals for fun in Serie A. La Dea lead the league in goals scored (36), assists (24), and shots fired (175), which should give AC Milan’s backline all they could handle on Saturday evening.

Atalanta also deserve credit for their work on the defencive side of the pitch since they’ve only conceded four goals during their eight-game unbeaten run. Sead Kolasinac, Isak Hien, and Odilon Kossounou have done a superb job covering for Marco Carnesecchi.

 

AC Milan regaining their shooting boots

Since losing 2-0 to Napoli before the start of November, AC Milan have gone undefeated in their last seven games across all competitions, including an impressive 3-1 victory over Real Madrid in the Champions League. Like Atalanta, AC Milan have been clinical in the final third, and they just had a coming-out party in their 6-1 rout of Sassuolo during the Coppa Italia Round of 16 last night.

Christian Pulisic remains the Rossoneri’s top scorer with five league goals, but Tijjani Reijnders is climbing up with three league goals, especially after registering a brace against Empoli last Sunday. Strahinja Pavlovic, Rafael Leao, and Tammy Abraham are also finding their form lately, which should help AC Milan’s Top 4 push.

 

History

AC Milan have won four of their eight Serie A meetings against Atalanta (D2, L2) since 2020-21. During this period, La Dea have lost more matches only against Inter Milan (L6) and Napoli (L5). The Rossoneri have drawn 45 of their 126 Serie A matches with Atalanta.

Atalanta won their last league match in Bergamo against AC Milan last December 2023 (3-2), and they will attempt to secure two consecutive Serie A home victories against the Rossoneri for the first time since January 2008. Gian Piero Gasperini’s side have recorded more than 30 points after the first 14 matchdays for the first time in their history. They have also scored at least two goals in each of their last 11 Serie A home matches.

 

Betting Tip

The Serie A 2024 odds expect a tense affair between Atalanta and AC Milan this weekend. Despite their gap in the standings, Atalanta and AC Milan’s odds aren’t far off from each other. La Dea are pegged at 2.03 to win, while the Rossoneri are at 3.22, and a draw is at 3.36 in the 1X2 market.

While picking the hosts is the easier choice, we feel that this fixture will be closer than it looks. Based on our recommended bet above, we should see several goals and Serie A 2024 highlights from this fixture. Viable alternatives include: Over 2.50 at 1.70, Over 3.00 at 2.11, Total Goal 2-3 at 2.04, and Total Goal 4-6 at 2.83.

   

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