Atalanta could leapfrog AC Milan in table as fifth plays fourth

Arguably the biggest game in Italy’s Serie A this week will take place on Saturday evening as Atalanta hosts AC Milan looking to move above them in the table. There are a handful of clubs looking to qualify for next season’s edition of the UEFA Champions League by grabbing that fourth spot, and while AC Milan is currently in pole position, a lot could change between now and the end of the season.

Atalanta vs AC Milan Game Center

Atalanta must make good form count

There is no doubt about it that Atalanta is one of the most difficult sides to beat in Serie A, and they look to have found their form at just the right time, as the season is set to enter its final stretch. Over the last eight matches, only defending champion Juventus has collected more points than Atalanta, allowing the club to make a late push for Champions League qualification.

AC Milan is unlikely to be a walkover, however, and have found form themselves since the turn of the year. The Rossoneri can come into this game full of confidence following a 3-0 win over Cagliari last time out, although this should be a far sterner test away from home.

And while the betting is relatively close, it is Atalanta that comes in as the favorite to take all three points. You can back the home side to win at +105, while Milan is out at +250 to do the same. A draw comes in at the slightly lower price of +240.

Home side should continue recent resurgence

While there is no denying that Milan has very much been on an upward curve of late, Atalanta should be able to make their own recent form count, as well as the fact they have home advantage. It is of course never easy trying to predict the exact scorelines in football matches – particularly one as evenly matched as this contest – but a narrow 2-1 win for Atalanta comes in at +750 and may well be worth backing when you consider the home side’s recent upturn in fortunes.

Such a result would then also allow you to back OVER 2.5 goals in the game, which is priced short at just -110, as well as both teams to score, which is at even lower odds of -143. Therefore, in an attempt to try to give any potential winnings from this game a boost, you may wish to consider combo betting, which allows you to select multiple outcomes at higher odds.

For example, a combo bet of an Atalanta win, coupled with both teams to score, is at the much higher price of +300, while a home victory and OVER 2.5 goals in the game is at +220. OVER 2.5 goals and both teams to score comes in at +120.

Goals and entertainment should be in the cards

Atalanta has been scoring goals for fun this season and is the highest-scoring team in Serie A – not even Juventus has scored as many. However, they are also leaking at a rate of over a goal a game, meaning goals are likely to be in the cards on Saturday night.

Given Atalanta’s leaky defence, they may well have to win this one coming from behind, an outcome you can back at +800. They are at much shorter odds to win this game to nil (without Milan scoring a goal), with the price set at +260.

With goals expected, you can also back Atalanta to score in both halves at +225, while they are out at +550 to actually go out and win both halves. But who will get the goals?

Colombian forward Duvan Zapata grabbed the Sportsbook against Spal last time out, and he is at +110 to find the back of the net this time around. You can also back the striker to score the first or the last goal of the game at +375 – just as he managed last week.