Milan Hold Off Atalanta Rally as Maignan Saves the Day at San Siro

Milan moved into fourth place with a 3-2 win over Atalanta at San Siro, but a night that appeared settled after Gila’s third goal turned into a sharp reminder for Ruben Amorim’s side. The Rossoneri were outstanding for long stretches, carried a 3-0 lead and even missed a second penalty, before Atalanta’s late surge left Mike Maignan with the decisive save from Davide Zappacosta.

For Amorim, the result extended the encouraging response shown in the Europa League victory in Salzburg. His Milan looked increasingly recognisable in the first 70 minutes: energetic without the ball, quick in circulation and far more coherent in the spaces around Gonçalo Ramos. Yet the final half-hour offered a different lesson, as Atalanta recovered from a dismal start and came close to an unlikely equaliser.

Milan’s first-half authority

Amorim made seven alterations from the team that started in Salzburg, underlining his willingness to use the squad rather than treat rotation as a slogan. Gila returned in defence, while Samuel Chukwueze and Diego Moreira came back on the flanks. Luka Modric resumed in midfield, and Christian Pulisic was selected behind Ramos ahead of Cisse.

Atalanta coach Maurizio Sarri, meanwhile, had to improvise around a long injury list. Hien, Kossounou, Scalvini, Kessie and Raspadori were unavailable, while Elmas was suspended. Nikola Krstovic started ahead of Gianluca Scamacca, Lazar Samardzic was preferred to Nicola Zalewski and Mario Pasalic took his place in midfield.

Atalanta’s problems deepened after 20 minutes when Sead Kolasinac suffered a muscular injury. His departure brought a Serie A debut for 20-year-old Obric, a difficult introduction to a match in which the visitors were already under sustained pressure.

Milan’s early control was not immediately rewarded. Pulisic had a goal ruled out for offside, while Rabiot failed to make the most of an opening in the area. But the home side broke through in the 22nd minute when Yunus Musah’s shot struck Obric’s arm. Referee Daniele Chiffi reviewed the incident and awarded a penalty, which Ramos converted by sending Marco Carnesecchi the wrong way.

Atalanta’s only real escape from the first-half pattern came through Krstovic, who rounded Maignan after a direct move but found the outside of the net from a tight angle. Otherwise Milan dictated the match, with Rabiot operating close to Ramos in possession and helping Pulisic drop into midfield when Atalanta had the ball.

The Frenchman doubled the lead before the interval. Moreira played him through, and Rabiot moved past Obric before beating Carnesecchi with his right foot at the near post. Milan had enjoyed 69 per cent possession after 30 minutes and carried that command into the break.

A third goal, then an Atalanta revival

The home side resumed on the front foot. Chukwueze curled narrowly wide, Omari Hutchinson struck the post after coming on, and Carnesecchi denied Pulisic. Milan then had another opportunity from the spot when Rabiot’s effort hit the arm of Kristensen. Chiffi again went to the monitor, but Carnesecchi stopped Ramos’s second penalty.

That miss did not initially alter the direction of the contest. Four minutes later, Modric delivered a corner, Rabiot flicked it on and Gila headed in from close range for 3-0.

It was only then that Atalanta began to find the intensity missing from their opening hour. Krstovic hit the post in the 63rd minute, and Sarri’s changes gave his side greater presence around Milan’s area. Zalewski, introduced with Gaetano, created the first goal back when he found Gaetano centrally; the midfielder shifted the ball and drove a left-footed shot beyond Maignan.

Krstovic then made it 3-2 in the 81st minute, finishing after Raoul Bellanova broke down the right and delivered a low cross. Milan, who had looked so composed, were suddenly defending deep. Amorim reshaped his side into a 5-4-1, with Estupinan on the left and Moreira operating as the right-sided wing-back.

Atalanta pressed for the third goal. Zappacosta was twice involved, first shooting straight at Maignan from the edge of the area and then missing Milan’s best late defensive lapse. Escaping from De Winter on the left, he found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper, but Maignan produced an outstanding stop to preserve the lead.

There were still further moments of tension. Scamacca had an effort while offside, Zalewski sent in a dangerous cross-shot and Estupinan’s intervention almost released Scamacca in the area. Milan also had opportunities to finish the game on the break, with Carnesecchi saving efforts from Ramos and Jashari.

Amorim’s side shows both progress and vulnerability

The victory was Milan’s second positive performance in succession and offered substantial evidence of the work Amorim has sought since his arrival. His team varied between a back three and back four depending on the advances of Gila and Moreira, while Rabiot’s movement supplied Ramos with a closer attacking reference point.

For much of the evening, Milan recovered possession quickly, used both wings and played with an aggression that San Siro had not regularly seen this season. Moreira and Ramos combined effectively on the left, while Modric, Musah and Rabiot gave the hosts control in midfield.

But the closing stages will concern Amorim. Milan allowed Atalanta to regain belief after the third goal, and their loss of concentration transformed a commanding performance into a precarious finish. The coach will have a clear message from the 95-minute contest: improvement is evident, but a side chasing Champions League positions cannot assume a match is over at 3-0.

Atalanta left with a defeat that erased much of the momentum built through their previous two wins. Sarri had said before kick-off that his squad was still competitive despite the absences and was trying to establish a clear identity. Their final push showed spirit and quality, but their initial passivity and defensive disruption had already left too much to recover.

Pre-match voices and a full San Siro

Before the match, Amorim had stressed the need for consistency after the win over Sassuolo. “We are improving as a team,” he said. “Now we have to be consistent in the small details. We want to win tonight and then win the next one as well.”

Samardzic had spoken of Atalanta’s wish to vary positions and make themselves harder for Milan to read, adding that Sarri’s side had begun to play more closely to their coach’s demands. Yunus Musah anticipated a contest based on running, intensity and duels.

San Siro welcomed 73,869 spectators, with Roberto Donadoni honoured before kick-off in a Milan number seven shirt. Pippo Inzaghi, who represented both clubs and was Serie A’s leading scorer with Atalanta in 1996-97, also attended.

Teams

Goals: Ramos 22′ penalty, Rabiot 45′, Gila 58′, Gaetano, Krstovic 81′. Ramos had a second penalty saved by Carnesecchi.