Rafael Leao lit up San Siro once again with a dazzling performance, and yet it wasn’t enough for AC Milan to claim all three points against Atalanta.
As Corriere dello Sera (via MilanNews) writes this morning, it was a game of regrets for Milan and great controversy after a penalty awarded to the away side which drew some anger from Stefano Pioli after the game.
The outcome is that the Rossoneri keep their distance from Atalanta (seven points) but Juventus have moved four points away again after their last-minute winner against Frosinone.
The paper describes Leao’s performance as ‘dazzling’ and after the criticism received throughout the season and after the difficult week with defeats in Monza and Rennes, he put his team on his shoulders and after three minutes put them ahead with a wonder goal.
He didn’t vanish after that, either. Throughout the match he is a thorn in the side of Gasperini’s defence who never really got near him without fouling him.
Therefore, Milan will have to force themselves to look at the glass half full: it was an excellent performance and above all a good reaction after the two consecutive defeats in which a lot of cracks had appeared.
Pioli must be given credit for having prepared a plan which he completely annihilated Atalanta who in the first half had under 30% possession, equalising only with a generous penalty and in the second half practically never leaving their half of the field.
The coach fielded a Milan that was dominant in play and pace, and only a bit of wasteful finishing plus an inspired Carnesecchi denied a victory for the Diavolo who, thus, left the pitch with some regrets.
There was also some anger too. At the end of the match, in front of the microphones, Pioli had no problem attacking Orsato’s decision to award a penalty after looking at the monitor.
The Milan boss also accused Holm of blatantly simulating a touch to the face given that the replay showed if there was contact it was on the shoulder.
