A win for Milan over Atalanta in Sunday’s clash at San Siro would put mean a giant leap towards the title with just four points required from their final two matches.
In fact, if Inter fail to beat Cagliari in the later game, it would mean the Scudetto is theirs
However, simply beating Atalanta at home is not straightforward as it may seem, despite La Dea’s underwhelming season. Milan have not achieved that for eight years.
The last time the seven-time European champions beat Atalanta at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza was on January 6, 2014 – with former Ballon d’Or-winner Kaka scoring twice in 3-1 win.
Since then, the two sides have met seven times in Milan with visitors winning three and the rest drawn.
That victory was particularly significant for Milan as it marked Kaka’s 100th goal for the club as well as Massimilano Allegri’s centenary as manager of the Rossoneri – but it was also the current Juventus coach’s last home game in charge as he was dismissed following the 4-3 defeat to Sassuolo six days later.
Milan, at this point managed by Filippo Inzaghi, lost 1-0 the following season with German Denis scoring the only goal while Sinisa Mihajlovic managed a 0-0 draw in 2015-16.
It was another goalless draw for Vincenzo Montella the following campaign in Gian Piero Gasperini’s first visit as Atalanta coach.
The next season saw a revolutionised Milan with the likes of Leonardo Bonucci and Hakan Calhanoglu in their side but they lost 2-0 in Gennaro Gattuso’s second home match in charge. Bryan Cristante and Josip Ilicic scored the goals.
Gattuso came close to ending the winless run in 2018 but a stoppage-time penalty from Emiliano Rigoni earned Atalanta a 2-2 draw.
Milan suffered the nadir of losing 5-0 away to Atalanta the following campaign but Stefan Pioli and his team showed somewhat of an improvement when they drew 1-1 at San Siro.
Last season, despite making a challenge for the Scudetto, they were hammered 3-0 at home by Gasperini’s side.
What a time it would be for Milan to put an end to this dreadful run.
Well, Milan does not win the Scudetto in 10 years so maybe is time to put this stat to rest. Go boys!
“What a time it would be for Milan to put an end to this dreadful run.”
Yeah Yeah Yeah…
What’s the point of all this blabbering about this game? Articles and more articles about this supposed hoodoo? Come on, my beloved Rossonero, let’s crush Atalanta and put an end to all this nonsense once and for all!
Let’s not get all Negative Nancy with these stats. This is NOT the same Milan, NOT the same roster and NOT the same coach. Yea it’s been a dreadful run in the past, but we’re on the verge of something very important here and I believe in these boys and coaching staff!
FORZA MILAN!
Hell Yeah! That’s the spirit, ACm1899!!!