From our correspondent Luca Bianchin
December 6, 2024 (changed at 11.31pm) – BERGAMO
Mr. Judge, is the sentence ready? Of course it is ready: the Bergamo court on 6 December certifies that Atalanta is a championship team and Ademola Lookman is one of the five strongest players in the championship. It was understood even before but the stress test against Milan was not trivial and Gasp passed it: 2-1 victory, with goals from De Ketelaere, Morata and Lookman three minutes from the end. Above all, an uncontrolled second half: dominated. It is no coincidence that at the end the curve sang: “We will win the tricolor”. Numbers. Atalanta extends their streak of consecutive victories in Serie A to 9 and overtakes Napoli, rising to 34 points. First alone, with one more game. Milan remains distant, at 22, and emerges from this evening bruised: they held up well for a while, so-so for another quarter of an hour, then they were forced to defend and that was it. And defending yourself is not the specialty of the house.
cdk-lookman
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The matches, even when they are good, are stories of men. This time, two in particular. Charles De Ketelaere played for Milan two years ago and missed a sensational goal against Monza. When he entered San Siro, he looked like a child among lions: scared, clumsy, as if he had to play with the stadium ramps on his back. Watch it again in the 12th minute. De Roon takes a free kick from the left and takes it well, the ball falls in the second half, where De Ketelaere takes Theo from behind and jumps to the third floor. A powerful headed goal, the most unforeseeable for those who made photomontages with Kinder bar advertisements. A goal with a foul, considering that Charles relies on Theo Hernandez? For Milan yes, for La Penna no: regular. The other story is Ademola Lookman, who arrived in Bergamo as a supporting player and is now a great player. Already seen it, with Gasp. Ademola who wanted to leave in the summer and probably made plans for January 2025. Plans to be cancelled: Atalanta can go all the way, and will want to do it with their key player.
the match goal
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Milan equalized De Ketelaere's goal in 10 minutes. Vertical by Theo for Leao, who runs behind Bellanova and puts a great ball for Morata, ready to deflect it over the rainbow. Three strong players at work. The 2-1 instead comes from a corner extended by Kolasinac for Lookman's deflection: another goal conceded by Milan on an inactive ball. Side note: Lookman tried all game, like an accomplished player.
-intense match
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Yes, but what game was it? Of a high standard. Intense. Sincere, because she made things clear straight away: we are not here to face each other. Pulisic had an opportunity after 14 seconds: nice pass from Musah and crossed shot, saved by Carnesecchi. Atalanta said “well, I'm here too” in the third minute: Ederson goes away to Emerson Royal and finds Pasalic in the area, who shoots high. And again. Minute 6: Leao's rabona for Theo who kicks, closed in by Bellanova. 7th minute: Morata's goal disallowed for (clear) offside. It is logical that the celebrations of De Ketelaere and Morata did not surprise anyone, like an opportunity for the 2-1 that occurred in Bellanova, born from an error by Reijnders and canceled by a save from Maignan. Let's do the math: 24 minutes, two goals, 3 clear chances for Milan, 2 for Atalanta. Seen the darkest Fridays. The rest of the match was less electric. Always high intensity but fewer scoring opportunities. In the first half, a shot from Pasalic was saved by Maignan. In the second, Atalanta took control of the match: their possession, their territorial advantage. Not many opportunities, but a clear feeling of Milan on the ropes. There was a lot of play in front of Gabbia and Thiaw, who took a risk already in the 34th minute: the Nerazzurri counterattack, a shot from Lookman (look at that) and a save from Maignan diving to the right. Then the goal and another opportunity for Retegui, who only came on in the 75th minute: with Milan off balance, he crossed the pitch and had his shot saved to make it 3-1 face to face with Maignan. Clear signals.
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budget
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So, budgets. Fonseca paid for the most difficult crash test of the moment: the eleven with Musah atypical winger held up even at the home of the Europa League champions, then gave up. The impression is that he won't move from here for a while anyway, provided that Pulisic's injury – stiffening of a calf, out before half-time – is what it seems: not very worrying. Gasp, on the other hand, enjoyed his team from the stands. Aggressive, precise, intense, mean when needed. Ederson and De Roon in the middle were giants – Reijnders canceled out – and it was said about the attackers. The ranking is clear: with all due respect to the Champions League, mechanical Atalanta has a dream to chase. It is triangular, has three colors.
