Atalanta made it nine Serie A wins on the trot after similar Charles De Ketelaere and Ademola Lookman goals saw Milan capitulate.
La Dea were seeking a club record ninth consecutive Serie A victory, but also rested Mateo Retegui ahead of the Champions League clash with Real Madrid, so Charles De Ketelaere was the centre-forward against his old club with Juan Cuadrado, Davide Zappacosta and Gianluca Scamacca injured. The Rossoneri crushed Sassuolo 6-1 in the Coppa Italia midweek with a rotated squad, but were still missing Luka Jovic, Ismael Bennacer and Alessandro Florenzi. Gian Piero Gasperini continued his two-match touchline ban, so Tullio Gritti was again on the bench for the hosts.
See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.
Milan had a huge chance within 15 seconds, Christian Pulisic stinging Marco Carnesecchi’s gloves with an angled drive, and soon after Ederson dribbled between three to pull back only for Mario Pasalic to fire over from six yards.
Alvaro Morata had the ball in the net only after he was caught offside, but Atalanta took the lead instead, as De Ketelaere out-jumped Theo Hernandez at the back post to nod in Marten de Roon’s free kick and score against his former club. Milan were furious, insisting the Belgian had pushed his old teammate.
It’s a towering header from Charles De Ketelaere to give Atalanta the lea over AC Milan 💥
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/dbqMVt0r99
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) December 6, 2024
The equaliser came 10 minutes later, as Rafael Leao sprung the offside trap on the Theo Hernandez through ball to sprint down the left and flash a ball across the face of goal for the Morata tap-in.
It’s an instant response from AC Milan through Alvaro Morata 🎯
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/imaWWIW1cz
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) December 6, 2024
Raoul Bellanova fired a shot at Mike Maignan’s chest, but Milan lost Christian Pulisic to a calf injury after 38 minutes.
De Ketelaere turned Emerson Royal to cross to the back post, where Matteo Ruggeri’s volley ended up hitting teammate Pasalic from close range.
Pasalic also tried to control a cross and shoot from 12 yards, though Matteo Gabbia threw himself in the way for the decisive block.
Lazar Samardzic came off the bench and immediately set up Lookman on the counter, a shot drilled through Emerson Royal’s legs for a tricky Maignan save.
Maignan also pushed a Lookman effort over the bar and Atalanta scored on the resulting corner, as Sead Kolasinac flicked on the Samardzic set play for Lookman totally unmarked with a free header at the back post. The Nigeria international had been lost by Emerson Royal.
A BIG GOAL! ⚽
Ademola Lookman’s 88th-minute finish is the decider against AC Milan 💥
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/sJO3bize8X
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) December 6, 2024
It was nearly 3-1 in stoppages, as Maignan stood his ground to deny Capocannoniere Mateo Retegui one-on-one.
Atalanta 2-1 Milan
De Ketelaere 12 (A), Morata 22 (M), Lookman 87 (A)
Player statistic
| Charles De Ketelaere (Assist: Marten de Roon) |
 |
12' | ||
| 22' | |
Álvaro Morata (Assist: Rafael Leão) |
| Charles De Ketelaere |  |
55' | ||
| Raoul Bellanova | |
72' | ||
| Ademola Lookman (Assist: Sead Kolasinac) |
|
87' |
Match statistic
A proper team against a mid table team that can’t defend a decent cross.
where was the faux dutch tonight?
Once Gasperini is running out of gas, Atalanta will return as yo-yo club. But, hats-off to them. Who woulda thought they’d win Europa League where even big-club-wannabe Roma could not even win it?
I always thought Emerson Royal was a bizarre signing to say the least. Not sure what people see in him.
It’d be great to see Atalanta go on and win the title.