Facing a talented Atalanta team in Bergamo, Stefano Pioli and Milan extended their domestic unbeaten streak to seven. Strong individual performances from Sandro Tonali, Mike Maignan and Franck Kessie helped the Rossoneri to a three-score lead, but Atalanta nearly made a dramatic comeback with two late goals. Despite an adequate defensive performance, individual mistakes doomed La Dea, which is now sitting in eighth-place due to the 2-3 loss.
Atalanta
Juan Musso – 6.5
Musso made a several easy saves and was not asked to do much. The Argentine was solid when distributing and could do little about the Milan’s three goals.
Berat Djimsiti – 7
Despite tasked with nullifying Theo Hernandez, Rafael Leao and Ante Rebic, Djimsiti held his own. Milan’s left wing was largely unable to create quality chances against the Albanian defender.
Merih Demiral – 6.5
Demiral played well, making one particularly impressive tackle on Alexis Saelemaekers, but Gian Piero Gasperini sacrificed the defender at halftime to switch to a more offensive formation.
Jose Louis Palomino – 6.5
Palomino made one significant error, but he was strong on the night, winning several aerial duels and tackles.
Davide Zappacosta – 5
After starting the match well on the right wing, the former Chelsea player disappeared from the match. Zappacosta showed little creativity, and Atalanta’s offense functioned better when he dropped to a full-back role.
Marten de Roon – 8
De Roon was by far Atalanta’s best midfielder, effectively shutting down Brahim Diaz in the defensive and middle third. The Dutch international was key in Atalanta’s efforts to restrict the Milan’s space in the midfield.
Joakim Maehle – 5
Maehle was ineffective against Kessie and Calabria and failed to influence the Nerazzurri offense.
Remo Freuler – 4
Freuler’s horrible giveaway allowed Tonali to double Milan’s lead just before the break. Overall, the captain had an decent match, but his grave mistake was monumental and ultimately cost Atalanta points.
Matteo Pessina – 5
The attacking midfielder suffered a leg injury and left the match after just 25 minutes. During his short time on the pitch, he failed to provide much of an offensive spark.
Ruslan Malinovskyi – 6.5
The Ukranian was not perfect, but he combined well with Duvan Zapata and created a number of chances.
Duvan Zapata – 7.5
Zapata was by far Atalanta’s most dangerous player, but his creativity decreased as the time progressed. The Colombian scored a late penalty after a Milan handball in the box, but it was too late to change the outcome of the match.
Substitutes
Giuseppe Pezzella – 5
Pezzella did not seem ready to play after Pessina’s injury and had almost no effect on proceedings.
Teun Koopmeiners – 6.5
The Dutch midfielder replaced Freuler as a defensive midfielder, and he played well alongside de Roon.
Josip Ilicic – 6
On the right wing, Ilicic stretched the field more than Malinovskyi, helping Atalanta score two late goals.
Luis Muriel – 6
Muriel provided a creative spark after coming on, but he was unable to tangibly impact the match.
Mario Pasalic – 6.5
Despite entering the match late, the Croatian scored an easy tap-in to bring Atalanta within one goal.
AC Milan have taken 19 of 21 Serie A points this season after edging Atalanta 3-2. ?
Rossoneri on the rise? ?#UCL pic.twitter.com/Q5zk2IDRlb
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) October 3, 2021
Milan
Mike Maignan – 8
Maignan bailed out his defense several times, making a handful of dramatic saves in the first 45 minutes. He kept his side in the match and at times played like the best goalkeeper in Italy.
Davide Calabria – 8
Calabria was in fine form both offensively and defensively. He made a fantastic run to score the opening goal just 23 seconds into the match, and he largely neutralized Maehle in the channel.
Simon Kjaer – 7.5
After struggling with Zapata early, Kjaer adjusted to the striker’s style of play and became much more comfortable in defense. The Dane’s form greatly improved in the second half, and he made a number of quality tackles.
Fikayo Tomori – 5.5
Tomori had a difficult start and made a number of errors, nearly allowing a goal when he lost Zapata in the box on a set piece. However, like the rest of Milan’s defense, he improved as the match progressed.
Theo Hernandez – 8
Hernandez was in good form, creating the opening goal by aggressively driving the ball up the pitch. He was consistent defensively and dealt with Zappacosta on the wing.
Franck Kessie – 8
Kessie was his usual self, dominating Milan’s defensive midfield with strong tackles and quiet offensive support. The Ivorian and Tonali proved to be perfect partners in Milan’s double pivot.
Sandro Tonali – 8.5
Perhaps his best day in Milan colors, Tonali provided crucial defensive play and scored the second Rossoneri goal. His slide tackle on Zapata prevented an equalizer in the first half, and he also flashed his potential as a deep-lying playmaker.
Alexis Saelemaekers – 5
Saelemaekers had another poor match. His subpar passing occasionally hampered Milan’s attack, though the Belgian did make intelligent tactical decisions.
Brahim Diaz – 5
Diaz was also not in-form, with Atalanta’s strong defensive midfield stifling his usual creativity. The Real Madrid loanee was not heavily involved in possession, and as a result, Milan’s midfield and forwards struggled to connect.
Rafael Leao – 7
For the first 80 minutes of the match, Atalanta’s defense kept Leao quiet. However, on a counter attack started by Hernandez and Junior Messias, the Portuguese forward fired a beautiful shot into the corner of the net, in what would surprisingly be the game-winning goal.
Ante Rebic – 6
Rebic was at his best when floating to the midfield or the wings, but his support from the midfield was lacking. The Croatian has not been a perfect fit in the number nine role so far, but with Olivier Giroud and Zlatan Ibrahimovic injured Stefano Pioli does not have many options.
Substitutes
Junior Messias – 5
In his Milan debut, Messias conceded a penalty, but the Brazilian showed flashes of offensive creativity and will likely earn more playing time in the coming matches.
Ismael Bennacer – N/A
Fode Ballo-Toure – N/A
Pietro Pellegri – N/A