AC Milan's season has taken a dramatic turn for the worse. Just over a month ago, the Rossoneri were dreaming of a Serie A title challenge. Now, after a comprehensive 3-2 defeat at home to Atalanta Bergamo, they are fighting to secure a top-four finish and Champions League qualification. The loss extended Milan's winless run to three matches, dropping them to fourth place in the table.
Atalanta struck first through Ederson in the seventh minute, punishing Milan for a slow start. The Brazilian midfielder fired a crisp strike past Marco Sportiello to give the visitors an early lead. Milan struggled to recover, and their woes deepened before halftime when Davide Zappacosta doubled Atalanta's advantage after a clever assist from Nikola Krstovic.
The second half began with another blow for Milan. Giacomo Raspadori made it 3-0 just seven minutes after the restart, finishing a well-worked team move. At that point, the match looked beyond Milan's reach. Even as they pushed forward, they found Atalanta goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi in fine form, denying them on multiple occasions.
Milan thought they had pulled a goal back when Niclas Fullkrug found the net, but the effort was correctly ruled out for offside. The home side's frustration continued until the final minutes, when Strahinja Pavlovic reduced the deficit with a headed goal in the 88th minute. Then, deep into stoppage time, Christopher Nkunku converted a penalty to make it 3-2. But it was too little, too late.
The defeat leaves Milan in fourth place with 68 points, having played 34 matches. Juventus moved ahead of them after beating Lecce 1-0 on Saturday. Meanwhile, Roma's thrilling 3-2 comeback win over Parma pulled them level on points with Milan, and Como are just two points behind after their narrow victory at Hellas Verona. The battle for Champions League spots is now incredibly tight.
Milan have now lost their last three Serie A matches, a worrying slump at the worst possible time. Their defensive frailties have been exposed, and their inability to finish games has cost them dearly. With only four matches remaining, every point is crucial.
The pressure on manager Stefano Pioli is mounting. After being so close to the top, seeing Juventus and Roma close the gap has been a bitter pill. The Rossoneri need to rediscover their form quickly or risk missing out on Europe's elite competition altogether.
For Atalanta, this win was a statement of intent. They have climbed to fifth, just three points behind Milan, and are also in the hunt for Champions League football. Their performance at San Siro was clinical and efficient.
The remaining fixtures will test Milan's resolve. They face tough opponents, and any more slip-ups could prove fatal. The team that was once fighting for the Scudetto is now fighting for its Champions League future.
Based on reporting from L'Equipe.
