Milan's top-four ambitions face Atalanta test

AC Milan have returned to winning ways and get a chance to consolidate their position in the top four on Sunday but they face a tough test when they host Atalanta in Serie A.

Milan climbed back into the Champions League spots after winning 1-0 at Monza on Saturday, their third consecutive win in all competitions after a run of seven games without a victory.

They are now fourth on 44 points from 23 games, level with third-placed Roma and three points above Atalanta in sixth.

Among Milan's recent wins - all 1-0 - was their uplifting last-16 Champions League home victory over Tottenham Hotspur.

However, reigning champions Milan have not yet won four successive games this season and the last time they enjoyed more victories in a row without conceding was five years ago.

"It's easy to be a team when things are going well, it was much less easy to overcome those three or four difficult weeks," coach Stefano Pioli said on Monday, when he was named best Serie A manager at the 2021-22 Italian football coaching awards.

"We are fighting for the top four places in the league which is an important goal. We have seen how good it is to play in the Champions League, we want to play in it again next year."

However, Milan's top-four push faces a hurdle when they host Atalanta, who are also pushing for a European spot.

Pioli's side have picked up only one point in their last four matches against sides in the top six in Serie A, with their last such win coming in September against Inter Milan.

VULNERABLE ATALANTA

But it is a good time to face Atalanta, who have lost three out of their last four matches in all competitions. Their recent downturn includes losses to lowly Sassuolo and Lecce.

Before their decline in form, Atalanta had earned four wins