The best of Junior Messias at AC Milan
Check out some of the career highlights of Junior Messias at AC Milan. The Brazilian joined from Crotone on loan in the summer of 2021.
AC Milan vs Atalanta: Line-ups
AC Milan
Atalanta
Atalanta Will Hard to Break Down
#1
A draw this weekend would see Milan finish a season with more than 80 points for the first time since 2010-11, when they last won Calcio’s greatest prize, and much of their recent success has been built upon defensive resilience – despite an improvised pairing at the heart of their back four.
#2
With the help of Fikayo Tomori and Pierre Kalulu – Danish defender Simon Kjaer being sidelined by serious injury, and captain Alessio Romagnoli dropping down the pecking order – Pioli’s men have faced the fewest shots in Serie A during 2022.
#3
Indeed, throughout this calendar year, only Liverpool have conceded fewer goals than the Rossoneri’s nine in the top five European leagues, so they have the foundation to end a seven-game winless streak at home to Sunday’s opponents.
#4
Sitting eighth in the table, Atalanta are locked together on points with both Fiorentina and Roma ahead of Serie A’s penultimate weekend, and have negative head-to-head records against both, so they may even miss out on Europa Conference League football if they fail to take points from their trip to San Siro and next week’s curtain-closer, at home to Empoli.
#5
Having had 20 different scorers in Serie A this season – more than any other side, and the second-highest total in the league’s long history – it is perhaps perplexing why the Bergamaschi have stuttered over recent months, but with Luis Muriel and Mario Pasalic back among the goals of late, Milan certainly cannot rest easy before their final home game.
DPP Verdict
Though it ultimately finished 3-2 to Milan in October’s reverse fixture – after Atalanta pulled two late goals back to give the scoreline a hint of respectability – this time around, the high stakes could make it a much tighter affair. Indeed, even a single strike could decide the destiny of the points, and the sense of self-belief forged by recent comebacks can help the Rossoneri edge out La Dea and inch closer to the title.
