Rafael Leao scored a spectacular solo effort, but Milan were held to a 1-1 draw by Atalanta thanks to a Teun Koopmeiners penalty and several Marco Carnesecchi saves.
The Rossoneri had lost back-to-back games, 4-2 to Monza in Serie A and on Thursday 3-2 at Rennes, although they still qualified for the Europa League last 16. Luka Jovic began his two-match ban, with Tommaso Pobega and Fikayo Tomori injured, but Davide Calabria and Pierre Kalulu were back in the squad. La Dea were only missing Isak Hien and started Milan-owned Charles De Ketelaere, having already beaten Milan twice this season in Serie A and the Coppa Italia.
Olivier Giroud saw his strike charged down by Giorgio Scalvini in the opening minute on a Theo Hernandez cross, and it was only a warning.
Rafael Leao had not scored in Serie A since September 23 against Verona, but broke that drought in serious style. He got down the left, nutmegged Emil Holm, skipped over Scalvini and then smashed a right-foot finish into the far top corner from a tight angle.
Take a bow, Rafael Leao 🔥
What a start for Milan! pic.twitter.com/11AadhoYnq
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 25, 2024
Mike Maignan only parried a Holm effort into the path of De Ketelaere, who could not take advantage, then the Belgian robbed Christian Pulisic to set up Teun Koopmeiners, only to be denied by the Yacine Adli block. On the resulting corner, a Berat Djimsiti back-heel flick was inches wide of the near post.
Theo Hernandez made a crucial sliding tackle on Holm and from the resulting corner, VAR spotted Giroud had mistimed his attempted clearance, instead catching Holm on the arm and chest. Koopmeiners sent Maignan down and converted the central penalty with power.
"I don't like this recommendation from the VAR."@ChristinaUnkel does not think the on-field call of Olivier Giroud's high kick should have gone to VAR. 👀 pic.twitter.com/QhoI8w9GNy
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) February 25, 2024
Giroud’s diving header turned an Alessandro Florenzi cross over, but Rafael Leao was booked for dissent on the stroke of half-time, a decision that clearly irritated and bemused him.
Ademola Lookman came on after the restart for his first club match of 2024 after AFCON duty, but Carnesecchi made a stunning reaction save on the hour mark when Davide Calabria had seemingly sent him the wrong way, only for the goalkeeper to stick out a trailing hand to parry at the near post.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek wasted a golden opportunity when he scuffed the Leao pull-back wide from 12 yards, then moments later Leao also set up Pulisic for an angled drive that flashed across the face of goal to skim the far post.
Loftus-Cheek also hit a rocket from distance to sting Carnesecchi’s gloves, then there was double chance when Leao forced another great save at the near post and the Giroud follow-up was cleared off the line by Davide Zappacosta, but the offside flag was up in a tight decision.
Scalvini seemed to dislocate his shoulder in the final minutes and had to come off. Mike Maignan made a stunning reaction save on Lookman with the last kick of the game, but it wouldn’t have counted for an earlier foul on Theo Hernandez.
Milan 1-1 Atalanta
Leao 3 (M), Koopmeiners pen 42 (A)
Player statistic
| Rafael Leão (Assist: Theo Hernández) |
 |
3' | ||
| 42' |  |
Teun Koopmeiners | ||
| 44' |  |
Marten de Roon | ||
| Rafael Leão | |
45+3' | ||
| 45+3' | |
Emil Holm |
| 56' | |
Ademola Lookman | ||
| 90+4' | |
Éderson |
Match statistic
Tonight represented the first game this season in which Milan played well for consecutive 45 minutes. We are nearly in March….! And yet still couldn’t beat a genuine top team 😂 Atalanta played for a point from the first minute. Milan though were composed, played on the front foot and ran very few r*sks. BUT. Individual mistakes define this squad. Whenever there is a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel, a Milan player goes and puts a spanner in the works.