AC Milan midfielder Gennaro Gattuso admits he is expecting a tough afternoon on Sunday at high-flying Atalanta.

But, as Gattuso is all too aware, the Bergamaschi have caused the Milan giants some problems in recent years.

"I've been at Milan for 10 years and I must say that, except for one time when we won 4-1, the other years we always struggled in Bergamo and the whole team knows that," he told the official club website www.acmilan.com.

"We know we are facing a tough team on a difficult ground, let's hope to do well on Sunday. At the moment we are doing well, we are not at 100%, but the team is finding consistency in the results, which is important.

"Sometimes I prefer to play badly and win games because winning is always important, the good football will come later, but also in this aspect I think we are on the right road.

"I think this Milan can win the league, but to do that we can't lose points and we have to be in the race in the last few months."

Rossoneri coach Carlo Ancelotti is expected to make a number of changes to the side that beat Sampdoria 3-0 in their last match.

Alessandro Nesta and Gianluca Zambrotta will come in for Daniele Bonera and Luca Antonini respectively in defence.

Gattuso will replace Mathieu Flamini in midfield whilst Kaka will take over from Alexandre Pato in attack.

Ancelotti is without injured trio Kakha Kaladze, Andrea Pirlo and Philippe Senderos.

Atalanta coach Luigi Del Neri is confident his Nerazzurri side can cause Milan a few problems at the Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia.

The Nerazzurri have begun the season brightly and are currently in eighth place and level on 13 points with the Rossoneri.

Last season the Bergamaschi pulled off a 2-1 win in this fixture whilst they have taken maximum points from all three of their home matches so far.

"The so-called 'big games' are just between two teams with important values and objectives," Del Neri told www.bergamonews.it.

"Sunday's game will not be a big game as we have a totally different dimension. That does not mean to say that we don't have the quality to put Milan in difficulty.

"On the contrary. In front of our fans and the whole city it is our duty to give our all and play some good football, as we always do.

"We can certainly create some problems even if they are great champions," he added before playing down the threat of Milan star Ronaldinho.

"Last year we confronted Ronaldo, Kaka and Alexandre Pato together and we won. It is difficult for one man alone to make a difference."

Del Neri looks set to make just one change to the Nerazzurri side that drew 1-1 at Chievo in the last round.

Midfielder Luca Cigarini returns from suspension so Diego De Ascentis will most likely make way.

Veteran striker Christian Vieri looks to have lost the race to overcome injury to face his former team whilst Alessio Manzoni and Antonino D'Agostino are also unavailable through injury.