Atalanta are the most unpredictable team in the league. They can destroy anyone 5-0 only to tie to some relegation team next week. But when they?re on fire, they play some of the best football in Europe. I?m rooting for a draw.

A draw?

If we want the scudetto we have to win against such half-baked teams. They humiliated us last season, Kessie said it was the focal turning point for us. I'm sure we have an open score with them and we'll do just about anything to win.

With Romagnoli, Theo, Bennacer, Hakan and Saelemaekers out, I doubt we can win.

Atalanta are a tough opponent. They beat Lazio and Roma 4-1 both times, tied against both Inter and Juventus, won against Liverpool at Anfield in the CL! They have the second best attack in the league. Almost made the semi finals in the CL last season.

This is hardly a half-baked team, man.

tbh you also described Juve. They are the same under Pirlo.

Half baked is maybe too harsh, but mark my words, we'll win this one.

I think we can win it. Will not be easy but it is possible. Please keep in mid that Atalanta also plays tomorrow. We rest.

I hardly think they're in as much of a pickle as us.

We're in an emergency situation with the absentees. Just read that Bennacer won't be back for this either

Hopefully we'll get some info on Rebic soon. He has to have recovered by now. Him and Krunic have been out for over 12 days now

What the hell is wrong with Bennacer? He?s been out for such a long time.

And this is precisely why I'm so frustrated with Tonali. He's simply not stepping out, not even trying to bring his rythm, tempo and playing intelligence into our gameplan.

Oh I fear we've rushed him too early last time he recovered, yes?

Some make the step up. Some find the shirt too heavy. Tonali is the latter.

Thing is, from being used his whole adult life to a pretty rotten Milan, he's now suddenly thrust into one pushing for the title.

We'd have been more forgiving had our team been weaker, but our expectations are now a lot higher.

They'd like to be in the same one, fighting for the title and still winning points despite half the team out sick or injured!

I'd take that pickle any day! That and having Ibra and Mandzukic in our squad.

I did not watch the Cagliari game, but I have read that Tonali actually played quite well. Even some of the biggest "Tonali haters" on other forums are acknowledging that the kid has been improving. As I said, give him time.

Indeed. Right now they are 1-1 with Udinese (after being down 1-0).

This

1-1 FT. After drawing 0-0 vs Genoa at home.

Here's to hoping for a win.

Yup. And all they get is 2 days in-between (so their players will be tired). It still is a tough game, but a win is possible.

Hoping to win against Atalanta... how the mighty have fallen. Come on, let's keep up the positive mentality. We are Milan. I think we can manage Atalanta.

Were we 'Milan' also when they crushed us 5-0 last season?

They're a tough opponent. Just like Juve, Inter, Napoli, Roma and Lazio. We may be first, but we're not that fearsome of a team to demand wins against these teams.

We have to approach the match carefully and take our chances, like we always do.

Still no news from Rebic. It's been two weeks already.

You're acting like a p*ssy tbh.

This Milan has been a different animal since last summer.

The only weakness, in my mind, is we're not as mentally strong as Juve when we face them. And even then we were lacking Ibra.

Am I? Let's see. We'll be missing Romagnoli, Theo, Bennacer, Hakan, Saelemaekers and Rebic (unless he turns Covid-free in these last couple of days). That's six starters against a tough opponent. Six!

And for the moment we don't even have a good backup in defense, so we're stuck with Kalulu (cos Pioli doesn't seem to consider Musacchio anymore). Not to mention Dalot and Castillejo who are just terrible. The only good news is that Leao will be back, but considering I can't stand Leao and for me this is a good news (cos the mediocre Hauge won't play), it really goes to show you in what dire situation we're currently in.

So, excuse me if I'm a little pragmatic. If we were with a full team I would have been sure we could win it, just as I was sure we could win against Juve.

No Ibra no party. Ibra? Party!

Party hard

Rebic and Hernandez are back... Gonna be a long night for Atalanta

Awesome news.

Agreed with the first part. I still believe the game with Juve would have been very different if we had all of our players (or at least most of them).

I think we have enough of a team to win this one. Of course, no Serie A games are easy, and Atalanta can be a tough opponent. FWIW, looks like they rested a couple of key players against Udinese, which probably cost them 2 points.

Why are we so quick to put a sticker on Tonali?

He's been steadily improving since that Benevento game imo. Had things gone as planned Tonali wouldn't be a starter, we'd be slowly integrating him into the system while rotating with Bennacer. Yes, he's coming into things rather slowly, and we would have liked for him to instantly challenge for the first 11. But not everyone can set that high a bar


Yes, but having all these absences makes these kind of fixtures exponentially more difficult than they need to be.


They rested a lot of their important players though...


This!


Now that we have Rebic and Theo back I'm very optimistic for this one

Steadily improving? Naah man.

I see you people lost that winner mentality. It figures... after years and years of mediocrity and defeat, tomorrow we face a big challenge. Yes, Atalanta defeated us 5-0. Any big team can slip up and get humiliated. But great teams remember, learn, adapt and strike back. Remember Milan against Liverpool. 10 out of 10 games we would have won that day in Athens I say. Why? We were ready and set to strike back.

If this Milan of Stefano Pioli is really good or dare I say big, then we most certainly will play a formidable game and win. Romagnoli and Bennacer included or excluded.

I really hope you're right.

One person who thinks right on here.

Meite instead of Diaz as AM.

F*cking weird choice. At least play Diaz instead of Castillejo at this point. Pioli is at it again...

Probably thinks Diaz could be a bit too lightweight for this one.

There's always time to adjust if we're struggling to score

Castillejo is way more lightweight than Diaz.

This game not on television for me

What do you know, we're being dominated by Atalanta.

0-1

Meite invisible up there. We're playing timidly. They need to wake up and Pioli needs to make some changes at the half

Kalulu also problematic. He keeps running up into cul-de-sacs leaving wide open spaces behind him

Not to mention the marking on their goal

Bad decision to ay Miete. But I understand what Pioli wanted to do. Should sub in Diaz quickly in the second half.

Playing Meite in the hole has been one of the worst decisions Pioli has ever made line-up wise. Completely useless. What the hell was he thinking? That we could stop Atalanta's fantastic dribbling with a more defensive mid? Only amateur coaches think like that.

Bring on Brahim now and consider playing Rebic instead of the ever useless Castillejo.

Yep, this one goes on Pioli so far. Musacchio should have started this one, Diaz also and not that parrot clown.

Harsh.

I think Meite is a decent sub, to replace Kessie if injured/tired/suspended. But that's it. You can't start him in such a game and especially as frigging AM.

Agreed. Remember how Pioli also said that he sees Krunića as a AM at one point? I think maybe this is his idea fix.

But anyway, Samu and Meite should be off, Rebić and Diaz in.

I really don't understand why Pioli is not fond of Diaz. He seems to have no trust in him, even when he's in decent form.

But doesn't he look ridiculous to you? Come on...

Yeah, so frustrating.

He's going for that whole The Weeknd look.

Diaz to come in. Good.

Oh jeez...