Atalanta has made draws a constant companion this season. This was their seventh in nine matches, the fifth in a row in Serie A. They always leave with a sense of something unfinished. Milan, on the other hand, had to accept this outcome for the third time in their last four games. Their recent results tell a story of regret (the missed penalty against Juventus), relief (the equalizer at the 93rd minute against Pisa), and now new doubts, a feeling that their progress has stalled.
These single points may help them reach the safety mark (as Massimiliano Allegri once joked) but they do not help the Champions League race, let alone the fading image of being a hidden title contender created by their strong start. Napoli has pulled away, Roma too. Now level on points, Roma could move ahead today. On Sunday, Milan will host Gasperini’s team to prove they deserve their position.
Even considering the absences, Milan struggles to build play and looks toothless in attack when Leao and Gimenez start together. Both are replaced, and the backup pair, Nkunku and Loftus-Cheek, brings more energy and creativity, writes La Gazzetta dello Sport in this morning's print edition.
Still, Milan ends up with only one shot on target, the goal itself. As against Pisa, the early lead slows them down, and changing approach against Atalanta becomes risky. Ricci’s goal pushes Milan too deep. Allegri sticks with his 5-3-2 setup meant to create density, but it has flaws, especially on the right, where Leao fails to track back. Pulisic, in that position, used to stay closer to midfield (5-4-1). Leao pays for this indifference, his lack of involvement, and some fatigue, and is substituted at halftime by Nkunku. Gimenez wastes every chance and leaves with a minor injury, though his substitution was inevitable.
Milan’s main issue, beyond staying far from the opponent’s box, is too many errors when building from the back. Almost everyone takes turns making mistakes. Even Modric starts with a lost ball, a long pass out of play, then a bad pass that leads to the action for Atalanta’s goal — the first Milan has conceded away from home. Atalanta thrives on pressing high and attacking vertically, opening space for their forwards to play one-on-one (Lookman) or exchange short passes (De Ketelaere). In recent games, Juric’s team lacked ruthlessness in front of goal, and those flaws reappear when chances, created through pressing and refined by Pasalic, are wasted by Ahanor and Lookman.
The Nigerian forward, though, is sharp and scores the equalizer in the 35th minute, their second shot on target out of nine attempts in the first half. In the second half, Atalanta slows down, the match balances out, but late chances from Zappacosta (twice) and Musah show their physical and mental strength, though still missing the killer instinct.
Ricci’s goal was his first for Milan, slightly deflected by Ederson, who awkwardly tried to intervene. All of Bergamo was waiting for Lookman’s breakthrough, his first goal since May 12, after a turbulent summer of personal ups and downs. His left-footed strike carried all his frustration and desire to revive his bond with the team and the fans.
With Tomori’s return, Milan went back to their usual defensive trio. The Englishman was assigned to mark Lookman but failed on the equalizer. He stepped forward too early trying to anticipate, Pasalic slipped the pass through, and Gabbia could not close in time, nor could Saelemaekers on the far side. On the other end, Pavlovic marked De Ketelaere tightly, a duel between strength and finesse. Modric was limited by Pasalic, while Ricci covered for him when Milan defended, but the Croatian still came out on top.
The early forced substitution of De Roon after 20 minutes for Brescianini gave Atalanta’s 3-4-1-2 more energy. When Juric brought on Musah in midfield late in the game, it looked like a truce, but his team pushed again. They have not won in Serie A since September 21. They remain the only unbeaten team in the league but are stuck in mid-table, a place Milan does not want to find itself.
