Atalanta director Cristiano Giuntoli admits they ‘want to find a clear identity’ under coach Maurizio Sarri, with more changes for the trip to Milan.
It kicks off at San Siro at 17.00 UK time (18.00 CEST).
The absentee list remains lengthy, as Giacomo Raspadori suffered a muscular strain in Thursday’s Conference League match, joining Franck Kessie, Giorgio Scalvini, Odilon Kossounou, Isak Hien and Kamaldeen Sulemana on the treatment table.
Eljif Elmas is also suspended today after his red card against Venezia.
Giuntoli patient for Atalanta process
Coach Maurizio Sarri and director Cristiano Giuntoli (@atalanta_bc)
“We have a very deep squad with talented players, so we still maintain this is a competitive side,” Giuntoli told Sky Sport Italia.
“Unfortunately, many of the injuries are focused on the same area of the pitch, specifically in defence. We’re coming off two good victories and want to see consistency in the performances as well as the results.”
Atalanta had a difficult start to the campaign, perhaps inevitable considering Sarri’s style of football is so vastly different to that of his predecessors in Bergamo.
He seems to have found their identity in the last couple of matches, beating both Venezia and Conference League opponents Pafos 3-1.
BERGAMO, ITALY – OCTOBER 15: Atalanta BC players applaud the fans after the UEFA Conference League 2026/27 League Phase MD1 match between Atalanta BC and Pafos FC at Stadio di Bergamo on October 15, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
“We want to find a clear identity, the coach has a lot of experience and has evaluated some things, we tried the 4-3-3, the 4-2-3-1, but the attitude of the lads is ultimately the most important thing,” added Giuntoli.
“The result then can be dictated by many different variables, but that mentality has to be consistent.”
Lazar Samardzic told Sky Sport Italia today that they have “started playing the kind of football the coach wants to see,” but Atalanta’s expectations are lowered by the timing of such a radical change on the bench.
BERGAMO, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 12: Lazar Samardzic of Atalanta BC reacts during the Serie A match between Atalanta BC and Parma Calcio at Stadio Atleti Azzurri d’Italia on September 12, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
“It is certainly a year where we need to find our identity,” noted Giuntoli.
“You can call it starting from scratch, Year Zero, a season of adjustment, but we started with play-offs in August for the Conference League, it has been a packed schedule and there hasn’t been much time to work in training.
“We’re coming off two victories, we had some bad results before, and it is a process.”