AC Milan suffered late heartbreak at the Gewiss Stadium as they twice came from behind but conceded an injury time winner against Atalanta to lose 3-2.
Ademola Lookman scored a goal in each half for the home team to put them in front twice, but Milan levelled firstly through Olivier Giroud’s header from a corner and then from substitute Luka Jovic.
Just as the game looked like heading for a 2-2 draw, captain Davide Calabria was sent off for a second yellow card and then Luis Muriel’s backheel a few minutes into added time stole the three points for the Bergamo side.
The result means that Milan have slipped seven points behind Juventus and could go as many as nine behind Inter who play against Udinese tonight.
Stefano Pioli made just one change to the starting line-up from the team that beat Frosinone as Olivier Giroud returned from suspension to start up front, meaning Theo Hernandez was used at centre-back again.
Atalanta had the first half-chance of the game as they took a corner short which eventually fell to Charles De Ketelaere, who stabbed a shot into the arms of Mike Maignan from inside the box though he looked offside.
Then it was Milan’s chance to threaten for the first time when Christian Pulisic was found in space down the left side, and his cross fell to Giroud whose shot was charged down by Djimsiti.
De Ketelaere missed a huge opportunity to net against his former club when Lookman nodded down a cross into his path, yet he blazed over unmarked from six yards out.
The Rossoneri should have taken the lead in the 28th minute when a corner found Tomori at the back post but his volley was straight at Musso.
Up at the other end, Maignan denied De Ketelaere as he raced through on goal and chose not to square it, however the whistle had gone for a foul in the build-up.
With seven minutes of the first half left, Atalanta took the lead. Lookman received the ball from a throw-in and was never really closed down, instead being allowed to switch onto his right foot and unleash a shot that looped in via a deflection with Maignan grounded.
Right at the end of the first half, Milan got themselves level and it was Giroud who scored against Atalanta for the first time. There was some controversy about the corner that was given because the hosts felt Musah had fouled Lookman in the build-up, but Florenzi’s outswinging corner met the head of the Frenchman who steered it past Musso.
Milan had the first chance of the second half and it was Giroud who was on the end of it again. Ruben Loftus-Cheek surged into the box down the right side and provided a pull-back that the striker fired wide of the near post.
Atalanta then threatened when Scalvini saw a gap through the middle and ran forward before firing a fierce rising shot that Maignan tipped over the bar.
In the 55th minute, Atalanta got themselves back in front and it was Lookman who scored again. The Nigerian did well to work the ball wide to De Ketelaere, who provided a low cross that was slammed into the roof of the net at the near post.
It could have been 3-1 a few minutes later when De Ketelaere again found space down the left flank, though he dragged a shot wide from a narrow angle and it went out for a throw-in.
A couple of changes came as Samuel Chukwueze was withdrawn for Ismael Bennacer, then Loftus-Cheek made way for Luka Jovic.
The game could and probably should have been put to bed inside the final 15 minutes when Scalvini tumbled through two challenges and shot with Maignan parrying the ball to Lookman before making an incredible save and then watching the rebound fired wide from close range.
They would be made to regret that big missed chance as Jovic made it 2-2 in the 80th minute. It was excellent work from from Pulisic down the left side as he rolled the ball across the six-yard box and Giroud’s dummy allowed the Serbian to sweep home from about eight yards.
There was a final bit of drama in the third minute of added time as Davide Calabria received his second yellow card for a clumsy challenge near the half way line, meaning Milan had to see the game out with 10 men.
The last twist in the tail came during the fourth minute of added time as Miranchuk was found on the right side of the box and rolled the ball to Muriel who took possession and scored past Maignan with a cheeky backheel.
FIRE PIOLI!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is why the Frosinone win should have been taken as an “exception” rather than an example. Now while Atalanta is currently an average team that didn’t manage to win a single game since a month, going to an away game against a team that is completely different from our previous opponent with pretty much any disregard to their offensive ability is an unforgiveable mistake.
RLC was hyped as “Ruud Gullit” after the PSG game but he is currently very average.
Reijnders is on the decline and seriously needs to be benched.
Chukuweze is still a flop and Adli can’t defend to save his life.
Our defense is still as shaky as ever. Theo as a CB might work against Frosinone but not against stronger teams.
Calabria got an unnecessary red card and with our lack of defenders, replacing him is gonna be hard.
I guess the only “two” positives are FINALLY scoring from a corner kick and Jovic still scoring.
The only positive from this is that pioli perhaps is one foot closer to the door. There’s no other positive.
Yes, this is a change needed at Milan. Whoever says that a coach does not make a difference is wrong. I have seen how teams completely change because of a coach. Pioli does not suit Milan anymore. Milan wants to have a concept of bringing young players, but the team has a coach who does not play them or does not know how to develop them well. I think that is where the system fails. Today, Gasperini should have taught Pioli a lesson about CDK and how to make young players work. Why is CDK playing well with Atalanta? Milan needs a coach with a stronger character and identity who can inspire more the players. There is no incentives in this Milan. Milan deserves to be eliminated from Champions League too. I usually do not even criticise the team or coach this hardly. But, it might be about time to do something else! If Milan let Tonali go, why not Pioli?
It was a grave mistake to play Theo at CB , after only 10mins they could have scored twice! What better game then Frosinone was it to blood Simic in the team? He would have played tonight and Theo could stick to LB and Florenzi goes back to the bench where he belongs.
Bloody hell , we have had too many injuries, cards and bad luck too ,but Pioli has complicated things this year resulting in a team that leaks goals way too easily always having a mountain to climb.
Yeah I agree with your comments.
Tonight we had the pleasure of seeing CDK & Chucky on the pitch at the same time!
Only about €65,000,000 worth of nothing.
What is going on with our scouting? These are 2 mistakes that would cost your job
@Giga94 bro I literally said after that Frosinone game that I didn’t have a good feeling about it. The game was poor tbh and Fros was in it until we scored which was almost a whole half. And they maintained that pressure too.
true. I didn’t really like the Frosinone game, sure we scored 3 goals, but at times they had good chances and could have scored because of our defense. Some people we had a good performance though, I personnaly was more worried about Atalanta.
I expect pioli to last until thursday, after that he should be fired, but with our management, I wouldn’t be surprised if he is allowed to stay until summer, or heck even next season.
Milan didn’t play like team that wanna win something this season
Milan didn’t play like a team at all. They rarely do these days. And that is ALSO on the head coach. He needs to go.
Oh look SempreMilan star player Adli is the one that didnt track for that last goal, and people wonder WHY HE DOESNT PLAY
He tracked fine. The goal was beautiful.
However. Adli didn’t defend very well in other instances.
Also. You might want to refrain from speaking lest more people learn how little you know.
says the genius who never watches any matches and tries to comment after seeing highlights, goal was beautiful my ass, Pulisic did a needless dribble and gave it away and started it all and then our stupid midfielder lost his man
Stop thinking Adli is some sort of misunderstood player, he is AVERAGE THATS WHY HE DOESNT PLAY
whats wrong with you
Hahahahhaaa! Had the Arsenal game on the TV and the Milan game on my tablet.
The goal WAS silky smooth. As a former center back and defensive mid, that ball/player was ushered into a low chance spot. By trailing a short bit he also prevents a pass to the center. The backheel was one of the only shots that would have a chance, a very low chance, and it would have to be a perfect shot which it was. Going that fast most defenders aren’t going to think that a backheel will happen.
I like Adli but his defensive performances over the past 4 or 5 games have been going downhill. I wouldn’t defend his performance in this game but I will defend his positioning on the goal.
Now, want to speculate more? Maybe put the shovel down?
sure you did, always like typing crap and think everyone believes you
this isnt your cuckoo land
Played in college. Too skinny for D1 though. Also coached club team for boys up to U16 state league. Learned I don’t like parents and gave it up. Ran my own men’s league club as well. Want to know more.
No need for you to believe anything besides the normal useless drivel you write though.
@OmahaWI Leave this old man alone, he might not survive listening facts…
OmahaWI don’t answer that useless drivel spewed by that child.
It’s IQ degrading. He never has anything worthwhile to type and when he does it’s usually stupid and always off topic. He is like a bad infection that won’t stop spreading.
I agree. For a player of his stature he is very weak physically and can’t defend very well. The only positive I can say about him is he is calm with the ball. Other than that he is very average.
Reindeer honestly need to rest. He looks tired in this game. Been playing all match basically for this season, club and country.
Calabria with the immature tackle gonna cost us. We already running short of defender and he did that silly tackle.
Chuk really doesn’t play well this season. Can’t even beat defender on 1v1. Even RLC look hesitant to pass him the ball as he will most likely gonna lose it.
It was a nightmare defending, I kinda expected it since we lose the majority of defender. Toothless in attack as well, we only got momentum after Jovic score. Firing Pioli won’t solve anything, new coach would get new problem, but the injury problems has always been there
nah new coach will come here and have an invincible season, our squad is so gud, we have loads of money too, just need the owners to bribe UEFA to get rid of the sanctions, why havent they thought of doing that?
Hey, it’s the re#ard back with his illogical comments.
Yeah man, the UEFA sanctions are fake right? They can just be bribed and go away and Milan should be spending 300m/season like Chelsea lmao
Oh, oh, someone is pissed (must be French or Albanian). I don’t know man, I can’t see why you are so pissed with @Xezy saying reasonable things. Must be in the genes.
Oh, oh, someone is pi$$ed (must be French or Albanian). I don’t know man, I can’t see why you are so pi$$ed with @Xezy saying reasonable things. Must be in the genes.
The only question is why didn’t he put a defender and took out Giroud after the red like what was Pioli expecting our second goal was by luck as if we could have scored a third with 10 men
Didn’t watch the game, but I definitely jinxed it by betting on us losing….
Now what ? Pioli needs a 100mil more cause “he has no good players”?
How can De Katelare work for Ghasperini but not for Pioli ?
Pasalic seems to be doing better than our current mids too, but remember he wasnt good enough for us either.
For god sake just look at the subs Ghasperini made in his attack, changing their best player Lookman which would be unthinkable for a small coach like Pioli. However that’s what made the difference in the end, Ghasperini knew what he was doing. Unlike Pioli who has no plan but just waits on induvidual players to do something on their own. Also take a look at Napoli now without Spaleti and yet with the same players. That just shows you how important the coach and the system is to all of you who think that just getting new players will automaticly change something…
Super bummed out after this one. Yeah we have some injuries but Atalanta looked way better than us in the midfield which is where I expected us to carry the day and help us squeeze out three points away. Zero points. It’s hard to see how top four will be anything other than a grind until the end of the season. Love what the bald man has done overall at Milan but we need a new coach after this season.
I have always supported Pioli but seems this is the right time to ask Pioli to take a leave.
We all called for Sinic against Frosinone but he prefers to use Theo as CB. I didn’t celebrate Theo performance against Frosinone bcos I knew Theo was not suitable for that role. we were luck against Frosinone bcos they didn’t attack Milan the way they should.
Simic would have gather confidence against Frosinone and today match would be to build on the confidence. Pioli failed on that aspect.
Theo was like a tame dog for 90mins while Florenzi was on the field for 90mins doing nothing. apart from Pulisic, Theo was the next attacking treat but Pioli decided to tame him for 90mins.
Chukueze was a waste of money. I knew he would struggle in Italy. Chuks is a winger that would play 360 mins without a single meaningful cross. His successful dribbling rate is very low. He lacks stamina.
Calabria seems not grow with age. No wonder he find it difficult to get a call up to the Italian national team despite being Milan Captain. Scavini is really ahead of him and it shows tonight. No impactful play from him. He always show commitment but his football intelligence seem low.
Above all, Pioli needs to give us identity footfall.
Pioli have most expensive team in serie a….
and he keeps losing
Atalanta are also going through an injury crisis. STOP using injuries as an excuse. Milan fans do not protect Pioli. Pioli supporters are not Milan fans. Protecting Pioli while supporting Milan are like drinking water and singing at the same time. If you insist such a fan exists then the person is simply a troll. Simple. End of discussion.