Serie A | Atalanta 2-1 Milan: Nine in a row for incredible Dea | OneFootball

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.

epa11761060 Atalanta’s Charles de Ketelaere (C) scores the 1-0 goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Atalanta BC and AC Milan, in Bergamo, Italy, 06 December 2024. EPA-EFE/MICHELE MARAVIGLIA

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.

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.

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)