AC Milan – Atalanta: Incisive Milan Walk Past Uninspired Atalanta (2-0)

This match took a clear direction from the start, as Milan dictated the tempo and applied constant pressure, frustrating an Atalanta side devoid of ideas and technical accuracy. Milan’s intensity and use of the central space ultimately determined the score in their favor for a much deserved 2-0 win.
Tactical analysis and match report by Giovanni Cesaroni.

Separated by just three points before the match, Milan and Atalanta faced off in San Siro to test their ambitions to finish in the top four. As the fight for Champions League qualification heated up in Serie A after Inter Milan’s 1-0 away defeat in Bologna earlier in the day, Milan and Atalanta squared up inside a packed stadium, with a massive chance to legitimate their top four ambitions.

The hosts seemed to have put their negative series of results behind them, after a change of system led the Rossoneri to three straight 1-0 wins in all competitions, regaining solidity at the back while giving renovated energy and belief to the whole squad. 

A further injection of confidence came when manager Stefano Pioli named his starting eleven as goalkeeper Mike Maignan finally returned to the pitch after 161 days of absence. In front of him, Malick Thiaw played at the center of the back three alongside Fikayo Tomori and Pierre Kalulu, Theo Hernández and Junior Messias on the wings, Sandro Tonali and Rade Krunić formed the central midfield barrier while Brahim Diaz and Rafael Leão were the offensive midfielders supporting Olivier Giroud up front.

By contrast, Atalanta came to San Siro after stumbling on Lecce at home (0-1), revealing the long-standing issues when attempting to roll on their game . . .