AC Milan v Atalanta, a big Easter clash
Easter Sunday will come to an end with a big clash between AC Milan and Atalanta at San Siro. The Rossoneri are aiming to build on their fine win in Udine last week, fully aware that three points could reignite their European ambitions. After three consecutive defeats, La Dea also won last week in their big six-pointer against Bologna, and now they want to defend third place.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
After remaining unbeaten in five consecutive games (W4 D1), Milan have lost two of their last three Serie A games (D1) against Atalanta and could suffer two consecutive defeats against the Bergamo club for the first time in the top-flight since May 2014-January 2015 (with Clarence Seedorf first and Filippo Inzaghi then on the bench). Milan have lost only one of their last 13 home games (W8 D4) in the second half of the Serie A season against Atalanta - the one on 30 March 2008 (1-2) – while the last Rossoneri coach to have suffered a defeat in his first match at the Meazza against the Nerazzurri in the second half of the top flight was Nils Liedholm, in April 1978 (0-1).
DID YOU KNOW?
Atalanta have not played on Easter Sunday in Serie A since 1978 (defeated against Inter); on that same date, Milan won what is now their last match on this day (2-0 against Pescara). The Rossoneri and the Bergamo team have never faced each other on this holiday in the competition. It will be only the second time that Milan have faced Atalanta with at least 10 points fewer in the standings at the start of the day in a Serie A season (61 currently for the Bergamo team and 51 for the Rossoneri); in fact, in all the previous 127 meetings between the two teams, this has only happened once so far: on matchday 36 of the 2019/20 championship (-15 in that case) which ended 1-1, at the Meazza. After 12 consecutive unbeaten away games (W9 D3), Atalanta lost their last away game against Fiorentina (0-1) and could suffer two consecutive defeats away from the Gewiss Stadium for only the second time this season (the first last August); however, the Bergamo side are the team that have collected the most points away from home in the 2024/25 in Serie A (33, W10 D3 L3), fewer than only Liverpool (35), PSG (36) and Barcelona (36) in the current Big-5 European leagues. Milan and Atalanta are two of the three teams that have gained the most points from losing situations in this championship: 16 for the Rossoneri and 15 for the Bergamo team, both behind only Bologna at the top with 17 points. Considering only goals scored after the 60th minute, Atalanta would be first in the standings with 62 points: 10 ahead of the second (Napoli with 52), and 12 ahead of Milan with 50 points, together with Roma, Fiorentina and Bologna.
PLAYERS
Tijjani Reijnders, with 10 goals, all from open play in this Serie A, has become the second Dutch player to score double figures for Milan in a single season in the competition after Marco Van Basten (five times - 1988/89, 1989/90, 1990/91, 1991/92 and 1992/93). Among midfielders in the big-5 European leagues who have scored all their goals from open play, only Jamal Musiala (12/12) has more than the Rossoneri this season (10/10, like Hamed Traorè). Mateo Retegui has been involved in 28 goals in this Serie A season (23 goals and five assists): only Mohamed Salah (45), Harry Kane and Omar Marmoush (both 30) have done better than him in the big-5 European leagues in 2024/25; furthermore, the only Atalanta player to have scored more in a single season in the top-flight was Filippo Inzaghi in 1996/97 (24).
DISCIPLINE
Suspended: none Cautioned: Leao, Hernandez, Bondo (Milan); Hien; Djimsiti, Lookman, Gasperini (Atalanta)
REFEREE
PICCININI (IMPERIALE – ZINGARELLI) IV: MARCHETTI, VAR: FABBRI, AVAR: GUIDA
UPCOMING MATCHES IN SERIE A
Venezia-Milan (Sunday 27 April, 12.30 CEST) Atalanta-Lecce (Friday 25 April, 20.45 CEST) (Photo Getty Images)