Milan-Atalanta is a match valid for the Italian Cup quarterfinals and is played Wednesday at 9 p.m.: lineups, predictions, TV and streaming.
Stefano Pioli managed to make his bench firmer also thanks to the Coppa Italia success against Cagliari, a match dominated far and wide by his Milan. Despite the use of several second lines, including many elements coming from the Rossoneri’s nursery (Traoré, Jimenez) a week ago, the Diavolo made a virtue of necessity, overwhelming the Sardinians 4-1 in a match in which the palm of best man on the field was taken by last season’s bomber Jovic – a double for the former Fiorentina player – who again responded in person.
The wide victory against the Rossoblù earned a ticket to the quarterfinals, where Hernandez and his teammates will be engaged in an interesting all-Lombard derby with Atalanta, which in turn got the better of Sassuolo in the round of 16. On velvet also Gian Piero Gasperini’s team, which on Wednesday took advantage of the Emiliani’s extensive turnover, beaten 3-1 at the Gewiss Stadium. Both now have a chance to go all the way, as they would face the winner of the challenge between Fiorentina and Bologna in a possible semifinal. AC Milan, which has not lifted the Coppa Italia in nearly two decades, is hunting for its seventh straight result after a fine 3-0 win over Empoli on Sunday in which Loftus-Cheek, Giroud and the 2004-born Traoré scored.
Gasperini plays it out with the starters
The Rossoneri thus consolidated third place in the standings, flying to +7 from fifth and keeping the gap unchanged from Inter and Juventus, which are still far behind.
On the other hand, Atalanta hit the brakes again in the away game, returning from the Olimpico with a draw: the direct clash with Jose Mourinho’s Roma ended 1-1, with Dybala replying to Koopmeiners. La Dea remains outside the top four, but is only three points behind Fiorentina. Next Monday there is an important fixture with Frosinone, however Gasperini has no intention of snubbing the Coppa Italia: the starters are on the pitch, including that De Ketelaere who is so keen on redemption whenever he meets his former team. Moderate turnover instead for Pioli, who will put his trust in Jovic up front, preferring him to Giroud. In defense there is Gabbia, who has just returned from loan at Villarreal.
The prediction
The last challenge between Milan and Atalanta was a month ago, when the Rossoneri were mocked in full recovery by a wonderful backheel goal by Muriel, surrendering 3-2 to La Dea. In the Coppa Italia, on the other hand, the last precedent dates back to 2001, with Milan getting the better of the first leg and the return leg: it was the quarterfinals then, too. This is a difficult match to read but it is especially complicated to identify a clear favorite: we expect a balanced match, with Atalanta that should manage to avoid at least a defeat in regulation time. The goals, as in the championship challenge, will not be lacking.
The probable lineups of Milan-Atalanta
MILAN (3-4-3): Maignan; Calabria, Gabbia, Hernandez; Musah, Loftus-Cheek, Reijnders, Jimenez; Pulisic, Jovic, Leao.
ATALANTA (3-4-2-1): Carnesecchi; Scalvini, Hien, Djimsiti; Holm, de Roon, Ederson, Ruggeri; Koopmeiners, Pasalic; De Ketelaere.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-1
