AC Milan extended their lead in fourth place to four points with an impressive 3-1 win against rivals Atalanta.
Remo Freuler had given the home side a first-half lead, but Krzysztof Piatek netted just before the break against the run of play.
Hakan Calhanoglu got back on the scoresheet again 10 minutes into the second-half before Piatek with his sixth goal for the Rossoneri in all competitions.
The win means that Milan are now four points clear of Roma in fifth place and just one point behind Inter in third.
The home side had the first real chance of the game inside four minutes as Berat Djimsiti found space to head a corner towards goal, but he couldn’t keep his effort down.
Seven minutes later the Rossoneri really should have taken the lead as midfielder Franck Kessie headed wide from an unmarked position eight yards out – the teasing delivery having been provided by Suso.
In the 27th minute, Suso picked up a yellow card, meaning that due to an accumulation of cautions he will miss the next game against Empoli.
The home side took the lead just minutes later through Remo Freuler. The hard work was done by Josip Ilicic who weaved his way into a position to pull the ball back, and Freuler was on hand to finish from the penalty spot, though Gianluigi Donnarumma could have arguably done better than deflecting the ball onto the post and in.
Atalanta continued to pile on the pressure, and came close again when Papu Gomez fired a fierce shot from 25 yards that whistled narrowly wide.
Against the run of play Milan drew themselves level on the stroke of half-time, and it was Piatek on the scoresheet once again. Ricardo Rodriguez whipped in an inch-perfect cross from the left side, and the Poland international showed great movement to steal in at the near post and flick the ball past a diving Etrit Berisha.
Another look at the goal, wonderful finish by Piatek! pic.twitter.com/XFCJGMhdub
— MilanGifs (@MilanGifs) February 16, 2019
Atalanta started the second-half on the front foot as well but once again it was Gennaro Gattuso’s side who scored against the run of play. A teasing ball was only cleared to the edge of the box, where Calhanoglu was on hand to steal in and thump the ball into the far corner from 20 yards.
GOAAAAALLLLL! HAKAN! pic.twitter.com/Eq7sxk3Q5j
— MilanGifs (@MilanGifs) February 16, 2019
Six minutes later Milan added a third goal, and Piatek found himself on the scoresheet for the 17th time in Serie A this season. A corner was whipped in to the near post by Calhanoglu, where Piatek was on hand to head home from close range, beating Etrit to the ball and putting his head on the line in the process.
GOOOOAAAAALLLL! PIIIAAAATTTEEEKKK! pic.twitter.com/hQ17Wy3ddP
— MilanGifs (@MilanGifs) February 16, 2019
With just over 15 minutes to go Milan could have put the game to bed, but Lucas Paqueta was well caught when seemingly through on goal.
Donnarumma had to remain alert in order to maintain the two-goal advantage, and he was on hand to comfortably save a half-volley from Dejan Kulusevski following a nice knock down.
