Serie A
AC Milan holds off Atalanta to extend unbeaten run
AC Milan extended its unbeaten start to the Serie A season to seven matches, though it was forced to hold on for a nervy 3-2 victory over Atalanta at San Siro.… Show More
AC Milan extended its unbeaten start to the Serie A season to seven matches, though it was forced to hold on for a nervy 3-2 victory over Atalanta at San Siro.
Goncalo Ramos and Adrien Rabiot put Milan in control before the break, with Mario Gila pulling the host further clear in the second half, but Atalanta threatened a comeback.
Gianluca Gaetano's 66th-minute strike was followed up with a Nikola Krstovic goal nine minutes from time, but Ruben Amorim's side was able to hold on for all three points.
Christian Pulisic thought he had broken the deadlock after 14 minutes, powering a shot past Marco Carnesecchi, but the goal was disallowed for offside following a VAR review.
Krstovic then squandered a chance to put Atalanta ahead five minutes later as the visitor countered at pace, rounding Mike Maignan before sliding his effort into the side netting.
Milan's breakthrough finally came 24 minutes in when Relja Obric was penalised for handball inside the box, with Ramos making no mistake from the resulting spot-kick.
Rabiot doubled the Rossoneri's lead minutes before half-time, continuing his good form with a superb finish as he cushioned Diego Moreira's pass before chopping past Orbic and guiding a tidy finish into the bottom-left corner.
An eventful second half began with Omari Hutchinson crashing an effort against the post before Atalanta conceded another penalty when Thomas Kristensen handled inside the area, but Ramos saw his shot from 12 yards kept out by Carnesecchi.
Milan, though, swiftly added to its lead off the resulting corner as Rabiot flicked on Luka Modric's teasing corner for Gila, who nodded home untroubled from close range.
But Amorim's side took its foot off the gas and allowed Gaetano to pull one back, with Krstovic reducing the deficit even further in the 81st minute, drilling home Raoul Bellanova's cutback to leave Milan sweating.
Maignan was called into action moments later to preserve the host's slender advantage, parrying Davide Zappacosta's effort as the Rossoneri held firm and saw out the win.
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