Unbeaten Milan look to turn European lift into a Serie A response against Atalanta

Milan are the only side in this matchup yet to lose in Serie A, and they return to league action with a European win behind them. Rúben Amorim’s team host Atalanta after drawing 1-1 with Sassuolo and beating Salzburg in the Europa League, looking to build on six unbeaten league games.

Milan have 12 points from three wins and three draws, placing them sixth. The Salzburg victory brought fresh momentum after the Sassuolo setback. Alphadjo Cisse stood out in Austria, while Amorim said he was “very satisfied” with the team’s work. He also warned that “we can still do better” and said the Salzburg match was already in the past. He described the Atalanta fixture as “very important” for Milan.

Atalanta arrive 10th with nine points, having won three and lost three. Their 3-1 victory over Venezia ended a run of league defeats to Juventus, Cagliari and Roma. They also won 3-1 in their Conference League home opener against Pafos. Coach Maurizio Sarri called the San Siro assignment difficult, praised Milan’s “important individual players” and said he hoped his side could continue to grow.

Sarri will be without suspended Eljif Elmas and injured Giacomo Raspadori and Franck Kessié. Milan’s injury absences are Alexis Saelemaekers and Matteo Gabbia. Luka Modrić and Mario Gila are expected to return to the starting lineup, while Samuel Chukwueze is available again.

Milan’s attacking figures give them a clear route to test Atalanta. They have Serie A’s best goal-conversion rate at 15% and rank third for shots on target at 49%. Their 60.2% average possession is the league’s third-highest, while their 89% pass-completion rate ranks third; Atalanta are fifth at 88%.

Cisse is another player to watch after reaching five goals this season across Europe’s top five leagues. Only Lamine Yamal, with nine, is younger among players to reach that mark. Adrien Rabiot has also assisted against Lazio and scored against Lecce and Sassuolo; another goal involvement would make it four consecutive matches for the first time in his career in those leagues.

Daniele Chiffi will referee the match, his 132nd Serie A appointment and 17th involving Milan. His most recent Milan assignment was a 1-0 win at Hellas Verona. Milan and Atalanta meet at San Siro on Sunday, 18 October, at 18:00 CEST. For Milan, the test is turning a European lift into a league victory; Atalanta will try to make their Venezia recovery count against an unbeaten opponent.