AC Milan host Atalanta at San Siro on Sunday, October 18, 2026, in Serie A Matchday 7. Kickoff is scheduled for 18:00 CEST, with Milan attempting to maintain their unbeaten league start and Atalanta looking to build on consecutive victories before the international break and in Europe.
Rúben Amorim's Milan enter the match fifth with 12 points from six league games after three wins and three draws. The Rossoneri have scored 11 goals and conceded five. Atalanta have nine points following three wins and three defeats, leaving Maurizio Sarri's side three points behind their Lombardy rivals.
Both teams also played in Europe on Thursday. Milan produced an emphatic 4-0 Europa League victory away to Salzburg, while Atalanta beat Pafos 3-1 in the Conference League. The short turnaround means squad depth and recovery could become significant factors at San Siro.
Head-to-Head Summary
Atalanta have held the advantage in the recent head-to-head series. Across the last 10 competitive meetings, Atalanta have won five, Milan have won two and three have finished level. The goals are much closer, with Atalanta scoring 14 and Milan 13.
The immediate sequence is even more favourable to the Bergamo side. Milan have not beaten Atalanta in their last seven meetings in all competitions. Atalanta won 3-2 at San Siro in May 2026, following a 1-1 draw in Bergamo earlier in the season. They also won both league meetings in 2024-25 and eliminated Milan from the Coppa Italia in January 2024.
San Siro has not protected Milan from that trend. Serie A's official preview notes that Atalanta have won three of their last four away matches against Milan, with the Rossoneri's most recent home victory in this fixture coming in February 2023.
Last 10 Meetings
May 10, 2026 — Serie A: AC Milan 2-3 Atalanta
October 28, 2025 — Serie A: Atalanta 1-1 AC Milan
April 20, 2025 — Serie A: AC Milan 0-1 Atalanta
December 6, 2024 — Serie A: Atalanta 2-1 AC Milan
February 25, 2024 — Serie A: AC Milan 1-1 Atalanta
January 10, 2024 — Coppa Italia: AC Milan 1-2 Atalanta
December 9, 2023 — Serie A: Atalanta 3-2 AC Milan
February 26, 2023 — Serie A: AC Milan 2-0 Atalanta
August 21, 2022 — Serie A: Atalanta 1-1 AC Milan
May 15, 2022 — Serie A: AC Milan 2-0 Atalanta
The pattern shows why Milan cannot rely on home advantage alone. Atalanta have repeatedly found ways to disrupt the Rossoneri at San Siro, while five of the last seven meetings have ended in an Atalanta victory.
AC Milan Current Form
Milan's last five competitive matches have produced two wins, two draws and one defeat. They drew 2-2 away to Lazio, lost 2-0 at home to Benfica in the Europa League, beat Lecce 3-0, drew 1-1 at Sassuolo and then defeated Salzburg 4-0.
That sequence has produced 10 goals scored and five conceded. More importantly, Milan remain unbeaten in Serie A after six rounds. Their 12 points leave them four behind leaders Inter and Lazio entering Matchday 7.
The 1-1 draw at Sassuolo showed both their strengths and frustrations. Milan created the better opportunities and went ahead through Adrien Rabiot, only to concede five minutes later. Amorim's side controlled significant periods but could not turn that superiority into three points.
Thursday's performance in Salzburg was far more clinical. Alphadjo Cissé scored a hat-trick and Gonçalo Ramos added the fourth as Milan won 4-0. The Rossoneri also kept a clean sheet and were able to rotate several players, potentially helping their recovery before Sunday's match.
Atalanta Current Form
Atalanta's last five competitive matches have produced two wins and three defeats. They lost 2-1 at Roma, 2-1 at home to Cagliari and 2-0 away to Juventus before responding with consecutive 3-1 victories against Venezia and Pafos.
Those five games have produced eight goals scored and eight conceded. Sarri's team therefore arrive with better momentum than they had before the international break, although three defeats across their opening six Serie A matches have already left them chasing the leading group.
The victory over Venezia was especially important. Atalanta scored three times inside the opening 30 minutes, with Franck Kessié opening the scoring before Nikola Krstović struck twice. The result moved Atalanta onto nine league points.
They then started their Conference League league phase with another 3-1 win. Eljif Elmas scored inside the opening minute, Giacomo Raspadori converted a penalty and Gianluca Scamacca added the third before halftime against Pafos.
AC Milan Team News and Injuries
Alexis Saelemaekers is a confirmed absence. Milan announced on October 13 that the Belgian underwent successful surgery on his right ankle following an arthroscopic procedure and stabilisation. The club has not announced a confirmed return date.
Matteo Gabbia is also unavailable after suffering a muscle injury during the draw at Sassuolo. The defender was stretchered off after only 20 minutes, forcing Koni De Winter into an early substitution.
Amorim nevertheless demonstrated considerable defensive depth against Salzburg. Fikayo Tomori made his first appearance of the season alongside De Winter and Strahinja Pavlović, while Davide Bartesaghi also started. Milan kept a clean sheet despite those changes.
The attacking options are healthier. Christian Pulisic, Ramos, Samuel Chukwueze, Cissé, Francesco Camarda and Ruben Loftus-Cheek were all involved in Austria, giving Amorim several possible combinations against Atalanta.
Atalanta Team News and Injuries
Atalanta's injury situation is more complicated. Kessié will miss the match with a low-grade calf strain, while Raspadori is also unavailable after suffering another problem in his right thigh while taking the penalty against Pafos.
Giorgio Scalvini is another confirmed absentee, while Isak Hien, Odilon Kossounou and Kamaldeen Sulemana have also been dealing with injuries. Sarri therefore enters the match with reduced defensive options.
Elmas is suspended following his red card in the 3-1 victory over Venezia. He was dismissed after a VAR review in the 89th minute, removing another attacking midfielder after he had also scored against Pafos on Thursday.
Raoul Bellanova offers more positive news. He missed the Pafos match as a precaution following a physical problem against Venezia but is considered capable of recovering in time for San Siro, subject to Atalanta's final assessment.
Tactical Match Analysis
Milan's biggest advantage could be their ability to control central areas while still attacking from several different positions. Amorim has recently used both a 4-4-1-1 and 4-4-2, showing flexibility depending on personnel and opposition.
Rabiot is becoming increasingly important. He scored Milan's goal against Sassuolo and then contributed two assists in Salzburg, including the cross for Cissé's third goal. His ability to arrive late around the penalty area could become particularly dangerous against an Atalanta midfield missing Kessié.
Atalanta under Sarri have shown they can attack quickly from the opening whistle. All three goals against Venezia arrived inside 31 minutes, while Elmas scored within the opening minute against Pafos. Milan therefore cannot afford a slow start after playing away in Austria only three days earlier.
Krstović provides Atalanta with a direct central threat. His two goals and assist against Venezia demonstrated his ability to combine physical centre-forward play with efficient penalty-area movement. Scamacca offers another option and scored against Pafos after being given the starting role in Europe.
The wide areas could also become decisive. If Bellanova returns, his forward running gives Atalanta an important transition weapon, while Milan can use Bartesaghi, Pulisic, Cissé and other wide players to stretch an injury-hit Atalanta defensive unit.
There is also a set-piece dimension. Milan possess significant aerial strength through Pavlović, Tomori, De Winter and Ramos, while Atalanta have players such as Scamacca, Kolašinac and Kristensen capable of competing physically. With both teams playing their second game in four days, dead-ball situations may become increasingly important as energy levels drop.
Key Players to Watch
Adrien Rabiot
Rabiot has already contributed three Serie A goals and two assists this season. He scored Milan's opener at Sassuolo before creating two goals in the 4-0 win at Salzburg.
His ability to influence both midfield and the penalty area could be particularly important against an Atalanta side missing Kessié. Milan may look to use his physical strength to control second balls and his forward runs to overload the visitors centrally.
Alphadjo Cissé
Cissé arrives after the best performance of his young Milan career. His hat-trick in Salzburg made him the youngest Italian player to score three times in a single European club competition match.
Whether he starts or is used from the bench, his confidence and direct running give Amorim another dangerous attacking option. He has also already scored against Torino and Juventus this season.
Nikola Krstović
Krstović was decisive against Venezia, scoring twice and assisting Kessié during Atalanta's explosive first half-hour.
With Raspadori unavailable and Elmas suspended, Atalanta may require even more from their centre-forward options. Krstović's movement against Milan's reshuffled central defence could become one of the visitors' clearest routes to goal.
Charles De Ketelaere
De Ketelaere remains important to Atalanta's ability to connect midfield with attack. Against Pafos, his pass created Scamacca's goal shortly before halftime, demonstrating his ability to find runners around the penalty area.
Facing his former club provides an additional storyline, but his tactical importance is more significant. Milan must prevent him receiving freely between their midfield and defensive lines.
What the Numbers Tell Us
Atalanta have won five of the last 10 competitive meetings, Milan have won two and three have ended level.
Atalanta have scored 14 goals across those 10 meetings compared with 13 for Milan.
Milan have not beaten Atalanta in their last seven competitive meetings.
Atalanta have won three of their last four away games against Milan at San Siro.
Milan are unbeaten after six Serie A matches, with three wins, three draws, 11 goals scored and five conceded.
Atalanta have nine points after six matches and returned to winning ways by beating Venezia 3-1.
Both teams scored three or more goals in Europe on Thursday, with Milan winning 4-0 at Salzburg and Atalanta beating Pafos 3-1.
The numbers create an interesting contrast. Atalanta clearly hold the recent head-to-head advantage, especially at San Siro, but Milan's current league results are stronger. Amorim's side remain unbeaten and have conceded fewer goals, while Atalanta have already lost three Serie A matches.
Who Has the Statistical Edge?
Milan have a slight statistical edge based on current form, but the head-to-head record prevents that advantage from being considered clear. Their 12 points from six games, unbeaten Serie A record and five goals conceded provide stronger current-season evidence than Atalanta's nine points and three defeats.
Milan also enter the match after arguably their best attacking display of the season, scoring four times without reply in Salzburg. Amorim was able to rotate parts of his team, while players such as Cissé, Rabiot and Ramos produced important contributions.
Atalanta's recent history at San Siro remains the strongest argument in their favour. Three victories from their last four away matches against Milan and a seven-game unbeaten head-to-head run show that this fixture has consistently suited them.
Their absences make repeating that success more difficult. Elmas is suspended, while Kessié, Raspadori and Scalvini are among those unavailable. A draw is therefore realistic, but Milan's deeper available squad, home advantage and stronger league record give the Rossoneri a slight statistical edge.
Conclusion
AC Milan vs Atalanta brings together two teams encouraged by strong European victories but carrying very different league records. Milan remain unbeaten in Serie A with 12 points from six matches, while Atalanta have nine points after alternating three wins with three defeats.
Recent head-to-head history strongly favours Atalanta. They are unbeaten in seven competitive meetings with Milan and have won three of their last four visits to San Siro. However, Sarri travels with a weakened squad, with Elmas suspended and Kessié, Raspadori and Scalvini among the confirmed absentees.
Milan also have injury concerns, particularly Saelemaekers and Gabbia, but Amorim's available depth was evident in the 4-0 win at Salzburg. Current form and squad availability give Milan a slight statistical edge, although Atalanta's excellent recent record in this matchup means another draw remains a realistic outcome.