AC Milan Humbled at Home by Atalanta as Champions League Hopes Take Hit
In a thrilling Serie A encounter, Atalanta secured a crucial 3-2 victory against AC Milan, who currently find themselves faltering in fourth place. This win not only bolsters Atalanta’s morale but also extends their unbeaten streak against Milan to six matches, with four wins and two draws in their last encounters.
Desperate for a victory after four winless league games—two draws and two losses—Atalanta, managed by Raffaele Palladino, arrived in Milan with a need for a positive outcome. They were momentarily saved from an early setback when AC Milan’s Adrien Rabiot rattled the post with a long-range attempt. Seizing the opportunity from this close call, Atalanta struck first in the seventh minute as Ederson capitalized on a loose ball in the penalty area, delivering a precise shot into the bottom corner, marking his second league goal of the season.
With the momentum on their side, Atalanta pressed to increase their lead, which they successfully did on the 30-minute mark. Nikola Krstovic demonstrated remarkable awareness by assisting Davide Zappacosta in the box; Zappacosta displayed composure as he found the back of the net, doubling Atalanta’s advantage.
Facing a challenging two-goal deficit, AC Milan ramped up their efforts to reclaim the match. However, their attempts were thwarted by Atalanta’s goalkeeper, Marco Carnesecchi, who denied Rafael Leao’s chance, maintaining Atalanta’s lead. Historically, Atalanta has only lost twice in their last 11 visits to Milan, boasting four victories and five draws, which added to their confidence as they continued to apply pressure.
The visitors’ dominance was further cemented when Giacomo Raspadori scored the third goal in the 51st minute, unleashing a well-angled strike from Ederson’s pass into the top corner. As the game progressed, AC Milan escalated their offensive efforts, but once again, Carnesecchi was a formidable barrier. He deflected a strike from Christopher Nkunku, who was seeking his first league goal since February. Milan’s quest for a consolation seemed fruitless as Rabiot sent a low shot wide and Niclas Fullkrug had a goal disallowed for offside.
However, the Rossoneri’s persistence bore fruit in the 88th minute when Samuele Ricci’s free-kick found Strahinja Pavlovic, who netted a header into the far corner. Encouraged by this late strike, AC Milan surged forward in stoppage time, where Nkunku converted a penalty after Marten de Roon committed a clumsy foul. Despite the spirited resurgence from Milan and a final opportunity crafted by Matteo Gabbia, Atalanta held their ground to secure the three points, achieving only their third away victory in nine attempts.
Flashscore Man of the Match recognition went to Marco Carnesecchi of Atalanta, whose significant contributions in goal were pivotal to his team’s success.
