Milan 1 vs 0 Atalanta

 

49′

Milan have started the second half in the same composed fashion as the first. Denis may have had a snapshot, but the hosts still continue to see more of the ball and look comfortable. Atalanta are still trying to frustrate the opposition in their organised banks.

 

48′

Yellow Card Alessandro Matri

 

47′

DENIS! The Argentine collects a knock-down from Moralez, before spiralling a cushioned effort way over the crossbar, with Abbiati untroubled. The Milan goalkeeper is still yet to be tested in this game.

 

46′

And we are back underway in the second half! Milan lead 1-0 thanks to Kaka, and Atalanta need to improve massively if they are to get a foothold in this game. The Nerazzurri have looked lacklustre and short of attacking ideas.

 

 

Stick around and continue following the second half with us here, as Keisuke Honda looks likely to watch his new side pick up their first three points of 2014. If Atalanta get back into the game, Mario Balotelli is being held in reserve on the bench.

 

 

Milan have had more of the ball and more chances, with Cristante striking the crossbar and both Robinho and Matri having half chances. Atlanta struck the post thanks to a thunderbolt from Raimondi, but the hosts hold a deserved lead.

 

 

HALF TIME! Milan head to the dressing room with a slender 1-0 leader, with Atalanta coach Colantuono looks rather furious with his team's first half showing. Kaka is the solitary goalscorer, with his 100th for Milan, following a lovely composed finish.

 

45′ +2

MATRI! Milan could have made it two, but Robinho's cut back from the byline is slightly too high for his teammate to deal with! Atalanta look to break, but their only forward runner is caught offside.

 

45′

Two minutes of added time have been awarded at the end of the first half.

 

44′

RAIMONDI! The midfielder strikes the top of the post with a ferocious effort, as the loose ball fortunately falls to his feet. It looked to take a slight deflection off De Jong, which just might have saved Milan's first half clean sheet! That was really travelling, the Italian got hold of that.

 

43′

Matri is pushed over in Milan's penalty area, as the retreating striker returned to his own half to defend a set piece. Atalanta had a spare man over at the back post, who would have had a chance of scoring, but the clear shove on Matri denied the visitors the opportunity to convert.

 

41′

Five minutes until the break, and Atalanta look to be facing a fiery Colantuono at the half time break. The away side's boss hasn't sat down for the entire first 45 minutes, pacing around and gesturing wildly. He isn't pleased with what his side have offered thus far at San Siro.

 

39′

Atalanta continue to struggle going forward, with Denis feeding off scraps. The Argentine has barely been involved, so much so that there is always a spare centre-half to mop up any overhit long balls. Brivio is the only midfielder to have been readily involved going forward, the visitors' right hand side has offered absolutely nothing.

 

37′

De Sciglio works well to win the ball back after Kaka gave it away, before supplying Robinho with the ball. The Brazilian has a strike which is deflected behind for a corner, but Milan can't create anything from the resulting set piece.

 

36′

That goal is no less than Milan deserve, with Atalanta being caught out after committing too many men forward for a corner. When the hosts struggled to break beforehand due to the stout and numerous Atalanta lines, they weren't to be denied when the Nerazzurri were a little light at the back.

 

35′

Assist Urby Emanuelson

 

35′

Goal Kaká
GOOOOOOOOAL! IT'S 1-0 TO MILAN! KAKA CONVERTS! Emanuelson breaks powerfully following an Atalanta set piece, before sliding the Brazilian in behind Benalouane! He slots his 100th Milan goal across Consigli, with a composed finish!

 

33′

KAKA! Great save from Consigli! The goalkeeper gets down well to his left, to push an on-target Kaka effort around the foot of the post! Despite being under pressure, the former Real Madrid man managed to get a shot away, but he was denied excellently.

 

31′

Atalanta continue to frustrate, with plenty of Nerazzuri shirts around the edge of the visitors' penalty box. Milan keep pressing and looking to create gaps in the resilient Atalanta lines, but to no avail. Robinho has a strike from a tight angle, but Consigli collects easily.

 

30′

NOCERINO! The midfielder finds himself deep in the opposition penalty area, and gets on the end of an unorthodox Matri flick-on. He can only head the ball directly at Consigli, despite claiming that Stendardo looked to foul him in the process.

 

29′

Poor ball from De Sciglio once again, as Cigarini is able to clear the attempted near post delivery with ease. Despite all of their possession, Milan are missing a cutting edge, which Balotelli could add in the second half if Allegri wants to risk him.

 

27′

Milan continue to have the better of the first half, stroking the ball around and giving plenty of the ball to Kaka. Allegri's men have only truly penetrated on two occasions, but they've looked bright. Atalanta remain organised and stubborn, clearly with their hearts set on keeping this game within their reach, should Denis get one good chance.

 

25′

Poor delivery from De Sciglio, after the young full-back was fed the ball by Kaka. Milan have built up some good momentum when pressing forward, with their full-backs pushing up the field and the likes of Kaka, Robinho and Cristante scurrying in between the Atalanta lines.

 

23′

KAKA! The Brazilian is nearly fed in behind enemy lines by a clever scooped flick from Cristante, but a cool header from Brivio back to Consigli prevents both Kaka and the lurking Robinho to connect with the intuitive delivery.

 

22′

Milan continue to hold their shape well, preventing Atalanta's wide men from having any positive effect on this game. Denis is looking isolated, but the Argentine only needs a snapshot to convert. Strong, and good in the air, Milan need to remain alert despite their current comfortable position.

 

21′

Mexes gives away a free kick about 25 yards from goal, allowing for Atalanta to try their luck and test Abbiati for the first time this afternoon. Cigarini takes it, but his effort is poor, bouncing before it reaches the target and nestling in the arms of the Milan goalkeeper.

 

19′

Substitution Carlos Carmona Daniele Baselli

 

19′

Nigel de Jong is dropping extremely deep in between Zapata and Mexes, allowing for De Sciglio and Emanuelson to really push on, therefore allowing the likes of Robinho and Cristante to drift inside and provide some threats in behind Matri. Atalanta are struggling to get going offensively.

 

18′

Carmona is down on the turf one again, after previously being clattered by his own goalkeeper, as Consigli punched away a dangerous cross. He's leaving the field looking in some discomfort, forcing Colantuono to make an early change, throwing on Baselli in his place.

 

17′

Milan have looked promising in the opening stages, with young Cristante being involved in everything good that the home side have done. Atalanta seem happy to keep Milan at bay and do the absolute minimum, releasing Denis on occasion, with only Moralez as real support.

 

15′

Excellent work from Matri! The former Juve striker turns smartly to evade a challenge, before playing Cristante in behind Brivio. The youngster centres in search of Robinho, but Consigli is quick off his line to punch away. Milan build again, with Robinho firing wide of the target from 25 yards.

 

13′

CROSSBAR! Milan break quickly and efficiently, before Cristante strikes the top of the bar! Robinho is released on the left, before picking out the youngster with a good cross. He gets ahead of his man, flicked the ball beyond the helpless Consigli, but sees his effort cannon off the woodwork!

 

12′

Mexes is fouled by Stendardo, as the Atalanta defender leaves the Frenchman on the turf holding his face, after being blocked off. That set piece looked well rehearsed, with Brivio being gifted an attempt to strike a volley from the edge of the penalty box, but his teammate's actions denied his side the chance for play to continue.

 

10′

Milan have shown glimpses of quality in the opening ten minutes, despite having several key players absent. Atalanta break down the left, with Brivio eventually arrowing an attempted cross wildly out of play for a goal kick. His teammates aren't too impressed.

 

9′

CRISTANTE! Matri drives into the penalty area, before opting to centre the ball instead of having an effort at goal himself! Lovely build up play involving the former Juventus man and Robinho, but young Cristante just couldn't get on the end of the square ball.

 

8′

Mexes attempts to find Robinho wide on the left hand side, but the Brazilian fails to control what was a rather wayward ball from his teammate. After a composed start from the hosts, Atalanta are beginning to grow into proceedings a little more, with Robinho squandering plenty of early possession.

 

6′

Nigel de Jong clears the first real challenge Atalanta advances, as the visitors struggle to get their foot on the ball, much to the animated frustration of Colantuono in his technical area. It's a rather flat atmosphere at San Siro, to mirror their rather poor Serie A season thus far.

 

5′

Milan continue to dominate in the opening minutes, as Atalanta are forced further back towards their own penalty area. Emanuelson presses forward down the left, before trying to slide a ball down the channel. It's too heavy, however, and makes its way to Consigli.

 

3′

ROBINHO! What a terrible effort! A swinging back post cross from De Sciglio picks out an unmarked Robinho, who has plenty of time to set himself for the volley. Instead of hitting the target, he drags his attempt wide of the post, before giving De Sciglio a thumbs up for the delivery.

 

2′

Milan hold onto the ball composedly in the early stages, with Atalanta slowly beginning to press up the field. Robinho darts inside, but is stopped by an excellent sliding tackle from Cigarini. A useful start from the hosts, as Atalanta have only retained possession for all of three seconds.

 

1′

We are underway in the first half at San Siro! Our referee for the game is Sebastien Peruzzo, and he gets proceedings going with the first blow of his whistle. Atalanta will be keen to move on from their heavy defeat to Juventus last time out, but Milan certainly aren't the same type of machine as Antonio Conte's side. Rossoneri need a victory here today.

 

 

Only a few minutes until kick-off, as Rossoneri bid to start 2014 in winning style, against a Atalanta side who are similarly stuttering in Serie A. Mario Balotelli is a major absentee, but there should be enough experience in the hosts' starting line-up to cause a few problems. Atalanta will be buoyed by their success against the same opposition last season.

 

 

German Denis has matched Mario Balotelli's scoring record in the first half of the season, managing six goals from his lone striker role. The Argentine will be key for any success Atalanta wish to have this afternoon, though last season Luca Cigarini was the hero for the travelling Nerazzurri, grabbing the only goal in a close victory at the San Siro.