Milan responded with goals from Olivier Giroud and Luka Jovic, but Muriel had the final say.
In a thrilling contest in Bergamo, Luis Muriel delivered a stunning stoppage-time winner, securing a 3-2 victory for Atalanta over AC Milan.
Gian Piero Gasperini’s team took the lead twice with goals from Ademola Lookman, but Milan responded strongly, equalizing through Olivier Giroud and Luka Jovic, seemingly securing a point in the match.
Despite Milan’s resilient comeback, their captain Davide Calabria was sent off in stoppage time. Shortly after, Atalanta secured their first victory in five matches as Muriel cheekily backheeled the ball past Mike Maignan from close range.
Giroud had an early opportunity for Milan, but his close-range attempt was well blocked following Christian Pulisic’s cross. Shortly after, Charles De Ketelaere missed an incredible chance to give Atalanta the lead, as Lookman nodded the ball down, and the Belgian somehow steered it over the bar from four yards.
Despite Milan’s dominance in possession, it was Atalanta who took the lead in the 38th minute. Lookman fired towards the goal, and his effort struck the leg of Fikayo Tomori, looping up over goalkeeper Maignan and into the net.
In first-half stoppage time, Milan leveled the score as Giroud connected with Alessandro Florenzi’s corner, executing a powerful header from 12 yards that eluded the reach of Juan Musso. This sparked fury among Atalanta supporters and players, who felt aggrieved at the denial of a free-kick in the preceding play when Yunus Musah collided with Lookman.
Both teams commenced the second half positively, with Giroud narrowly missing a chance from Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s pull-back. Meanwhile, former Milan midfielder Mario Pasalic’s deflected effort sailed wide. Atalanta regained the lead ten minutes into the second half when Lookman provided an exquisite cross for De Ketelaere to guide in effortlessly.
Atalanta continued to pose a significant threat, with Lookman missing a crucial opportunity to secure his hat-trick 14 minutes from time. Scalvini’s determined run resulted in a shot parried by Maignan, who scrambled to deny Lookman from the rebound. However, the winger squandered the chance by blasting wide from four yards out.
Four minutes later, Milan capitalized on Atalanta’s missed chances as Pulisic delivered a low cross, allowing substitute Jovic to sweep in from the center of the area. In stoppage time, Calabria received a second yellow card for a tackle on Aleksei Miranchuk, providing Atalanta with an opportunity. Miranchuk’s run forced the ball into Muriel’s path, and the Colombian’s improvised finish secured three points for Atalanta.
Milan faces a crucial task with a trip to Newcastle on Wednesday, needing a victory to stand any chance of advancing to the knockout stage of the Champions League. Meanwhile, Atalanta prepares to face Polish side Rakow Czestochowa in the Europa League on Thursday.
