The crisis at Milan has reached alarming levels following a 3-2 home defeat to Atalanta, raising doubts about their qualification for the Champions League. With this result, the Rossoneri drop to fourth place, now tied with Roma and overtaken by Juventus, plunging into a scenario of instability and increasing pressure.
The context could not be more concerning: with only seven points gained in seven matches, the European dream is at risk. The absence of stars like Christian Pulisic, who suffered a muscle injury on the morning of the game, Luka Modric, and the suspended Fikayo Tomori forced the coach to rely on Santiago Gimenez, who had not started a match since October 28. The Milan team took to the field wearing special shirts dedicated to Mother’s Day, displaying the names of the players’ mothers on the back in an attempt at inspiration.
On the Atalanta side, who were without Lorenzo Bernasconi, the team was under pressure after only two points from four games and elimination from the Coppa Italia against Lazio. The tension was reflected in the stands, where the ultras vehemently protested against CEO Giorgio Furlani, as well as against owner Gerry Cardinale and other club officials, demonstrating the growing discontent among the fanbase.
The match kicked off with Adrien Rabiot nearly opening the scoring, but it was Atalanta who took the lead in the fourth minute. Ederson, taking advantage of a play that continued despite a complaint about a shirt pull on Nikola Krstovic, placed a shot into the back of the net. The visitors’ pressure continued, with Krstovic threatening from distance and Zappacosta extending the lead with a precise shot after an assist from De Ketelaere, putting Milan at a disadvantage of 2-0 before they even managed to enter the opposition’s area.
Goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi shone by denying a goal to Gimenez, while Rafael Leao showed frustration, receiving a yellow card for a harsh foul and wasting a clear opportunity by shooting directly into the goalkeeper’s hands. The attempts at a reaction from the Rossoneri were thwarted, with Alexis Saelemaekers being stopped in his tracks and Ruben Loftus-Cheek leaving the game injured at halftime, making way for Christopher Nkunku in an effort to reignite the attack.
Atalanta showed no mercy, and capitalizing on a midfield error, Ederson launched Raspadori for an almost perfect goal that made it 3-0. The fans’ outrage was immediate, with many leaving the stadium, leaving the Curva Sud almost empty with 35 minutes remaining. Leao’s substitution was unpopular, and his subdued performance reflected the individual and collective crisis.
The situation worsened when Odilon Kossounou went off injured shortly after coming on, and despite Nkunku’s efforts, Carnesecchi continued to be a wall. Atalanta also had opportunities for a fourth goal, with Krstovic and Fullkrug wasting clear chances, while Milan saw two key players, Estupinan and Saelemaekers, receive yellow cards that will lead to suspensions for the next game against Genoa, joining Leao.
In the final minutes, Milan managed to reduce the deficit in the 81st minute, when Strahinja Pavlovic took advantage of a free kick from Samuele Ricci to score, breaking a drought of over 300 minutes without goals at home. However, hope was quickly stifled. In stoppage time, Nkunku was fouled in the area, converted the penalty, and set the final score at 3-2, a vital victory for Atalanta and a harsh blow to Milan’s ambitions.
This result leaves the Rossoneri on high alert, with a crisis that shows no signs of ending. The Milan team will need to find urgent solutions to avoid a total collapse in a season that promised much and is currently shrouded in doubts and internal tensions. The battle for the top of the Serie A is fiercer than ever, and Milan needs to react immediately, or risk seeing their European dreams fade completely.
This article first appeared on Apito Final.
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