Milan-Atalanta 1-1, goals from Leao and Koopmeiners: news and result

The Portuguese opened the match with a great goal, then Koopmeiners equalized from a penalty. Third result without successes between championship and cups for Pioli, Dea undefeated in 2024

Gasperini was an easy prophet: between Milan and Atalanta the 0-0 draw is almost forbidden by the regulations. Less easy, however, was Pioli’s wish, who wanted a Devil who was more “annoying” than the Goddess. He found it, indeed he found it, only that it wasn’t enough to bring home three points that would have been richly deserved. However, the draw is not to be disdained, because it slows down the ambitions of an opponent who was coming off six wins and a draw in the last seven of the championship, with nineteen goals scored and three conceded. While Milan, between Monza and Rennes, had collected seven. In short, on the eve it seemed like an unequal challenge, but the Rossoneri return to the changing rooms with the regret of a failed opportunity: offensive production of quantity and quality, personality and Leao author of one of the best performances since he has been at Milanello. Given the latest releases, it was difficult to expect such a rediscovered Devil. Good sign in terms of the Champions League, although second place is now further away. Atalanta also remains in the area and on Wednesday will try to take points away from Inter in the championship recovery, again here at San Siro.

the choices

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Pioli has changed the team in four points compared to Rennes, changing in every department and substituting: Thiaw in place of Kjaer, Adli for Reijnders, Loftus-Cheek for Musah and Giroud for Jovic (out for the first of the two matchdays of suspension) . Kalulu is back on the bench after four months. Gasperini in the center of defense preferred Djimsiti to Hien and up front he relied on De Ketelaere with Koopmeiners and Miranchuk behind him. So Pasalic and Lookman are sitting down and can be estimated as the work progresses.

the tactical key

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Pioli and Gasperini know each other very well and so we need to try to do something different if possible. Something tactically new. Said and done. The Rossoneri coach created a 4-1-4-1 on the Devil’s skin which amazed the Goddess to the point of sending her into confusion. The setup: Adli stronghold in front of the defense – raise your hand if you, outside Milanello, would have imagined a similar solution -, Bennacer and Loftus-Cheek advanced inside in a very fluid and intelligent line of four to gather in front of the defense or support the maneuver depending on the moments of the match. Fluid because Bennacer (in any case attentive to Ederson) and Loftus continuously exchanged positions, a more or less perpetual motion completed by the movements of Pulisic, who often abandoned the flank to converge in the heart of the pitch. In other words, few points of reference for the Nerazzurri’s defensive phase, with the consequence that in the first 45 it was almost always Atalanta who had to chase Milan. Furthermore, unlike the latest releases, well placed and clear behind. Adli dealt mainly with Koopmeiners and very well remedied a couple of awkward situations, Thiaw breathed on De Ketelaere’s neck and Miranchuk was never able to find a clear starting point.

wonder

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The Devil’s advantage, however, came more from the most visionary of the Rossoneri players than for tactical reasons. Sensational goal. Minute number 3, Leao ran down the wing, slipping between Holm and Scalvini and when he entered the area he placed a curling torpedo which went off just under the far top corner. His last center in the championship dates back to September 23rd. Joking, but not entirely: to see a goal like that it was perhaps worth waiting five months. The Portuguese’s wonder had a disruptive effect on the match, which came out stunned, partly because it was a cold punch in the stomach of the Goddess and partly because it obviously excited Milan a lot. The Nerazzurri’s atomic attack throughout the first half produced only one shot from De Ketelaere after a dangerous pinball in front of Maignan. Milan were therefore authoritative, but slowed down the pace too much as the clock ticked down, which allowed the Bergamo players to stick their noses out of the door. Giroud took care of the rest, entering the area sprawled on Holm. Orsato went to the monitor and then pointed to the spot: Koopmeiners put Maignan centrally.

revved up

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At the beginning of the second half Lookman inside for De Ketelaere and Zappacosta for Holm, then Calabria for Florenzi and Scamacca for Miranchuk. Lookman’s entry was especially vigorous, ferocious on all balls, but Milan still produced the best opportunities. First a left-footed shot from Calabria was saved with difficulty by Carnesecchi, then two more pearls from Leao. A low cross for Loftus-Cheek who slipped badly and then a soft throw for Pulisic who volleyed it out for a few centimetres. As the minutes passed, Milan did the opposite of the first half and, ignoring their cup efforts, significantly increased their turnover, crushing Atalanta again. Ten from the ninetieth Carnesecchi stopped yet another skid from Leao and then Zappacosta saved a left-footed shot from Giroud on the line. Milan tried until the end, but the last minutes were understandably the result of lactic acid and minds clouded by fatigue.