February 26, (THEWILL) – Atalanta’s impressive unbeaten record when facing AC Milan at the San Siro continued on Sunday evening, as La Dea secured a hard-fought 1-1 draw to extend their Serie A unbeaten run to eight matches. The result condemned the Rossoneri to lose further ground on the league’s top two teams.
Despite earlier wins for both Inter and Juventus, Milan fans still arrived in droves and were treated to a moment of brilliance just three minutes in as their side took the lead. Rafael Leão’s dancing feet were solely responsible, as he evaded Emil Holm and Giorgio Scalvini before hitting an unstoppable strike past Marco Carnesecchi into the top corner.
What followed was an impressive response from Atalanta, with the side on a five-match winning streak looking to add to their remarkable 17 goals from that period. Efforts from Holm and Milan loanee Charles De Ketelaere were unlucky not to equalise for La Dea.
Milan had more freedom after weathering the early storm, but Atalanta’s equaliser came just before half-time. Stefano Pioli was incredulous that Olivier Giroud’s high challenge on Holm resulted in a penalty, but Teun Koopmeiners was unfazed, dispatching it down the middle past a grounded Mike Maignan.
The second half did not match the intensity of the first, but promising signs came from substitutions for both sides. However, only the finishing touch was missing for the hosts, with Christian Pulisic and Giroud going close. Content with a point, Atalanta sat deep in their own area for the remainder as Milan failed to replicate Leão’s early heroics.
While not making up ground on fourth-placed Bologna, upcoming matches give Gasperini’s men a chance to move into the driving seat. Milan have yet to lose at the San Siro since November but missed the opportunity to move within a point of second-placed Juventus.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
