San Siro had expected another uncomplicated Milan afternoon after Thursday’s 4-0 Europa League win in Salzburg, and for almost an hour Rúben Amorim’s side appeared ready to provide one. Instead, a 3-0 lead against Atalanta turned into a tense final stretch before Milan held on for a 3-2 Serie A victory.
The result lifts Milan provisionally into fourth place, inside the Champions League positions, with the seventh round due to conclude on Monday. They remain four points behind leaders Inter, who won 3-1 away to Bologna on Saturday.
Luka Modric started in midfield as Milan produced what may have been their most assured first half of the season, though video review was never far away. Christian Pulisic had a 14th-minute finish ruled out for offside, before Atalanta nearly made the hosts pay. Nikola Krstovic beat Mike Maignan to a long ball after the goalkeeper had come outside his area, but sent his effort into the side netting with the goal unguarded.
Milan soon had the benefit of another VAR decision. Sead Kolasinac was forced off injured and his replacement, Relja Obric, was penalised for handling Yunus Musah’s shot. Gonçalo Ramos converted from the spot in the 24th minute to put Milan ahead.
The home team then took control through possession, nearing 70 per cent of the ball and slowing the contest to their preferred pace. Just before the interval, Modric won possession and released Diego Moreira down the left. Adrien Rabiot collected Moreira’s delivery, shaped to shoot and guided a low finish inside the post for 2-0 in the 43rd minute.
A lead that suddenly shrank
Atalanta introduced Omari Hutchinson after the break and he quickly struck the post from a tight angle. Milan’s third goal followed a further intervention from the video officials: Thomas Kristensen was judged to have blocked a Rabiot effort with his arm.
Carnesecchi stopped Ramos’s second penalty, but Milan made the next set piece count. Modric swung in the corner, Rabiot flicked it on at the near post and Mario Gila headed home at the far side in the 57th minute. It was the Spanish centre-back’s first Milan goal since arriving in the summer.
What looked settled was unsettled by Atalanta’s response. Krstovic first crashed a long-range attempt onto the crossbar, a warning that Maurizio Sarri’s visitors were no longer content merely to contain the game. Nicola Zalewski, introduced from the bench, then sent Gianluca Gaetano through in the 66th minute; Gaetano controlled with his right foot and finished across Maignan with his left.
The match tightened further in the 82nd minute. Raoul Bellanova reached the byline and Krstovic met his cross with a diagonal finish to make it 3-2. Maignan then preserved Milan’s advantage with an important save from Davide Zappacosta as Atalanta pressed for the equaliser.
There was no late third goal for the visitors, leaving Milan with three points that began as a demonstration of control and ended as a test of nerve in the autumn light of Milan.
