MILAN BATTLE FOR A POINT

With injuries mounting, Milan's threadbare squad battled their way to a 1-1 draw with Atalanta on Tuesday night after Samuele Ricci opened the scoring with his first goal for the club.

Line-ups & Tactical Setup

AC Milan (3-5-2):
Goalkeeper: Maignan
Defence: Tomori, Gabbia, Pavlović
Midfield: Bartesaghi, Fofana, Modrić, Ricci, Saelemaekers (Athekame 90')
Forwards: Gimenez (Loftus-Cheek 62'), Leão (Nkunku 46')
Coach: Allegri

Summary

AC Milan travelled to Bergamo for Matchday 9 of the 2025-26 Serie A season and left with a 1–1 draw against Atalanta. The visitors took an early lead, only to see it cancelled out before half-time, and despite some pressure in the second half, could not find a winner.

• Milan’s goal: Samuele Ricci (4′) – a deflected long-range strike to open the scoring.
• Atalanta’s equaliser: Ademola Lookman (35′) – levelled the contest by firing into the roof of the net

Because the match ended level, Milan missed an opportunity to significantly close the gap on the teams above, while maintaining their unbeaten streak (9).

Atalanta have now drawn their last five games.

First Half – A Dream Start, Then A Wake-Up Call

Milan shocked Atalanta early. Just 4 minutes in, Samuele Ricci picked up the ball outside the box and unleashed a left-footed strike that deflected into the bottom left corner, giving Milan a dream start. The Rossoneri looked composed, confident, and in control in the early stages.

However, as the first half wore on Atalanta responded. They gradually gained traction, applied pressure, and their reward came in the 35th minute when Lookman fired home the equaliser. Suddenly the momentum shifted.

Milan perhaps looked a little too relaxed after taking the lead; their intensity dipped and Atalanta grew in confidence. A cautionary tale for the visitors: early breakthroughs are welcome, but sustained control is just as important. Milan dropped back after taking the lead and as the chances came for the home side, it was only a matter of time before they took one.

Second Half – Opportunity Missed

In the second period, Milan attempted to regain ascendancy and did so following the introduction of Nkunku and, in particular, Loftus-Cheek. They probed down the wings, committed players forward, and tried to impose their rhythm. Atalanta, for their part, were more cautious: content to absorb pressure, occasionally threatening on the counter but lacking a killer blow.

Yet despite the dominance in phases, Milan could not convert their control into a second goal. The last 20 minutes saw the tension rise – Atalanta made substitutions to freshen up, while Milan were unable to find the decisive moment. The closest they came to a winner was through the impressive Loftus-Cheek, however his downward header was dealt with by Atalanta before Nkunku could force it over the line.

By the final whistle there was a sense of frustration among the travelling fans and players alike — a point is valuable and stretches the unbeaten run to nine - but this result puts an even greater emphasis on the dropped points against lowly Pisa last Friday night.

Tactical Notes & Player Performances

• Milan’s opening goal underlines how a well-timed strike can set the tone. Ricci’s contribution was crucial, and his confidence will be a plus.
• The dip in intensity after the goal is something Milan will need to address. Atalanta’s equaliser came not just from good execution, but from Milan allowing time and space with Saelemaekers the wrong side of Lookman as the ball was played through.
• In the second half, Milan dominated possession and territory for spells, but lacked the final pass or cutting edge to turn chances into a goal.
• Atalanta defended with organisation, showed character after going behind, and managed to secure a point on a tough night. For Milan, that might feel like a missed chance rather than a solid draw.
• The substitutions will surely be examined by the media — in particular, Rafael Leao being hauled off at half-time.

What This Means for Milan

• The unbeaten run continues (9), which is positive for morale and confidence. Milan are proving tough to beat.
• However, the draw means Milan drop vital points in the race for the top spots. In a season where margins are thin, these are the games that can define the outcome. As referenced, this makes the draw against Pisa look even worse.
• The coaching team will likely emphasise the need to close games out. Leading away from home is good; preserving that lead is even better.

Looking Ahead

Milan must take the positives — the early goal, the overall dominance phases — and learn from the areas of weakness: concentration, game management, and killer finishing. With the Serie A schedule demanding consistency, the coaching staff will look to tighten the defensive shape after leads and sharpen the offensive edge when chances arise.

In summary: a solid point from a challenging venue, but with growing concerns over squad depth - or lack of. The sooner the likes of Pulisic, Rabiot and Jashari are back, the better. For Milan, the task now is to build on the good and rectify the not-so-good, as the title race remains firmly alive.