Milan and Atalanta (1-1) did not pass the tie in an entertaining game, especially in the first half. The result, with goals from Çalhanoglu and Zapata, leaves Juventus at the gates of their ninth consecutive Scudetto if they win next Sunday against Sampdoria.
Atalanta long ago rebelled against those who called Italian football defensive. Like a Gallic village – in this case Bergamasca – Gasperini's men resist making good football and goals. About 96 and going up. And with the same idea, they jumped to the San Siro pitch to play against Milan. With the ‘Papu’ playing Asterix and Zapata de Obelix. The Argentine commanded his own with his particular 1.65 cm periscope while the Colombian fixed centrals. Locals, like the Romans, breathed waiting for their moment and, against all odds, found it early.
It was through a lateral foul thrown by Çalhanoglu in the 14th minute. The Turk, oblivious to everything about his future, stroked the ball and put it where he wanted, in Gollini's farthest squad that accompanied the leather to the net . Without much noise, Milan was already ahead. The nuts, however, continued to be sought by the Atalanta. First with a clear penalty that Malinovskyi failed – because to say that Donnarumma stopped it, he blames the fatal blow of the Ukrainian – and then, with an award, with a rejection picked up by Zapata that ended up beating the young goalkeeper. Draw and to follow.
That was what Atalanta must have thought because, after the goal, he kept looking for another one to feed his numbers against a Milan that moved between despair and the complaints of Ibrahimovic, who disappeared during the first half.
Second half down
Already in the break, and with the carousel of changes taking off, the party took on a more boring tone. He stayed even and neither seemed to worry about wanting to change his mind. One more thing, if you allow it, the Atalanta, because of what was second in the table and had to lengthen as much as possible the wing of Juventus. Papu Gómez ran out of gasoline and Zapata diverted his sights. Both had chances but not as clear as that of the shot to the post that Bonaventura crashed in a counterattack by Milan very well led by Rafael Leao.
And that is what Pioli dedicated themselves to, waiting and leaving but it did not work either and they had to settle for the draw that leaves them sixth four points behind Napoli who have yet to play their match this day.
The Atalanta team, for its part, leaves two points behind the third, Inter and five for Juve who, if they win this Sunday, will continue to reign in Italy without opposition.