Atalanta strengthened their UEFA Champions League qualification prospects after claiming an impressive 1-0 victory away at AC Milan, securing their first Serie A double over the Rossoneri since the 2007/08 season.
Gian Piero Gasperini’s side have been left with a scrap to maintain their top-four place after a sobering sequence of results in late March and early April, while the Rossoneri can only dream of having such lofty aspirations, knowing the Coppa Italia could be their only route into European competition next season.
La Dea were dictating the pace early on in this cagey first half, carefully biding their time to work an opening against a well-organised Milan rearguard.
Of the few clear-cut chances to materialise, Ederson ought to have done better when he headed wide from Raoul Bellanova’s cross, while Mateo Retegui missed the target after being spotted by Mario Pasalic.
But it was Milan who had the best opportunity of the half, as Luka Jovic did everything right barring the finish, turning superbly in the box to meet an Alex Jimenez pass before blazing his attempt wide.
AC Milan – Atalanta match statsOpta by StatsPerform
Sergio Conceicao’s side began brightly after the restart with further chances for Tijjani Reijnders and Youssouf Fofana, before Rafael Leao dragged his angled strike past the far post.
However, it was Atalanta who struck first with a beautifully worked goal which went completely against the run of play.
A sublime free-flowing move reached its crescendo when Bellanova nodded Ademola Lookman’s cross back across the face of the goal for Ederson to meet with a sublime diving header.
Gasperini’s men pressed forward for a second, as Lookman fired over the bar against a Milan side that were struggling to recapture their early intensity at the start of the half.
Their frustration was epitomised when Leao looked to play a clever pass in behind the Atalanta defence, but his ball was too heavy for the onrushing Tammy Abraham. Lookman could have added a second in the closing stages in a one-on-one opportunity with Mike Maignan, but was denied by the Frenchman’s outstretched leg.
Ultimately, the Rossoneri would fall to a narrow defeat to continue a recent inconsistent record at the San Siro which has yielded only one win in their last six competitive home games (D3, L2).
They remain slumped in ninth, while La Dea strengthened their grip on third place, having now only lost one of their last 14 away league matches (W10, D3).
Flashscore Man of the Match: Ederson (Atalanta)
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