Scalvini injury deepens Atalanta’s centre-back problem before Milan trip

Atalanta may have to face unbeaten Milan with only three reported centre-back options after Giorgio Scalvini left the 3-1 win over Venezia with a left thigh injury. The defender is a major doubt for Sunday’s trip to San Siro, where Atalanta’s defensive depth is already stretched by the absence of Isak Hien and Odilon Kossounou.

Scalvini went off in the 67th minute against Venezia with discomfort in the flexor muscle of his left thigh. Sead Kolasinac replaced him. Atalanta said Scalvini would undergo tests to establish the extent of the injury; a muscle tear has not been confirmed.

Calciomercato reports that Scalvini is expected to miss Atalanta’s first Conference League match against Pafos and that his availability for Milan is seriously in doubt. With Hien and Kossounou also unavailable, the report identifies Kolasinac, Joakim Maehle Kristensen and 2006-born Obric as the centre-back options.

That leaves Atalanta with little room to absorb another defensive setback. The club’s tests on Scalvini will determine whether one of those three options has to step into a bigger role against a Milan side that has yet to lose in the league.

The league positions underline the challenge. Atalanta have nine points from six games and sit 10th, while Milan are fifth on 12 points. Scalvini’s injury does not yet rule him out, but the combination of his uncertainty and the two other absences makes the defensive situation the central concern ahead of Sunday.