AC Milan vs Atalanta Review
Atalanta boosted their chances of qualifying for the Champions League with a notable 1-0 win against AC Milan, marking their first Serie A double over the Rossoneri since the 2007/08 season. Gian Piero Gasperini’s team is now in a battle to keep their spot in the top four after a difficult stretch of results in late March and early April, while Milan can only hope for a chance at European competition next season through the Coppa Italia. In the early stages of this tense first half, La Dea controlled the tempo, patiently looking for an opportunity against a well-structured Milan defense.
Of the few clear chances that arose, Éderson should have performed better when he headed wide from Raoul Bellanova’s cross, and Mateo Retegui missed the target after being set up by Mario Pašalić. However, Milan had the best chance of the half when Luka Jović executed everything perfectly except for the finish, skillfully turning in the box to connect with an Álex Jiménez pass before sending his shot wide. After the break, Sérgio Conceição’s team started strong, creating more opportunities for Tijjani Reijnders and Youssouf Fofana, but Rafael Leão pulled his angled shot past the far post.
Yet, it was Atalanta who scored first with a well-crafted goal that was unexpected given the flow of the game. A beautifully coordinated move culminated when Bellanova headed Ademola Lookman’s cross back across the goal for Éderson to finish with an impressive diving header. Gasperini’s team pushed for a second goal, with Lookman shooting over the bar while Milan struggled to regain their early momentum. Their frustration was highlighted when Leão attempted a clever pass behind the Atalanta defense, but it was too heavy for the advancing Tammy Abraham. In the final moments, Lookman had a chance to score again in a one-on-one with Mike Maignan but was thwarted by the goalkeeper’s outstretched leg.
In the end, the Rossoneri suffered a close loss, extending their recent erratic performance at the San Siro, where they have managed just one victory in their last six competitive home matches. They remain in ninth place, while La Dea solidified their hold on third place, having lost only once in their last 14 away league games.
