ROME: After a week marked by the highly anticipated arrivals of former Juventus forward Mario Mandzukic and Chelsea defender Fikayo Tomori, AC Milan were expected to celebrate winning Serie A’s halfway title in style.
Instead, the Rossoneri were handed a humbling 3-0 defeat at home by Atalanta on Saturday and saw their lead over city rivals Inter Milan trimmed to two points.
The only consolation was that Milan still secured the Winter title -- which seven times out of 10 leads to the actual championship.
Cristian Romero, Josip Ilicic and Duvan Zapata scored for Atalanta -- the surprise Champions League quarter-finalists last season.
It was Milan’s second defeat of the season but also the second in four matches, having been beaten 3-1 by nine-time defending champions Juventus earlier this month, also at home.
“It’s a very competitive league. We know it’s difficult. But we are up there at the top and we want to have our say,” Milan coach Stefano Pioli said. “Losses to Juventus and Atalanta are nothing to be ashamed of. It’s competitive when you reach this level. We will analyse the defeat, try to see where we can improve and focus on the next match.”
Inter drew 0-0 at Udinese under driving rain.
Third-placed AS Roma, who trail Milan by six points, gained some relief after a rough spell with a 4-3 win over visiting Spezia.
Atalanta are fourth, one point behind Roma.
Milan were outplayed at home with Romero heading in the first goal after 26 minutes in the San Siro.
Ilicic added a second from the penalty spot eight minutes after the break after receiving a Franck Kessie elbow in the face.
Mandzukic came off the bench for the final 20 minutes but could not find the net on his debut despite testing Atalanta keeper Pierluigi Gollini.
Colombian striker Zapata connected with a Romero cross to seal the three points with quarter of an hour to go.
In Udine, Inter coach Antonio Conte was sent off in added time for protesting.
Lorenzo Pellegrini scored the winner for Roma two minutes into stoppage time after former Giallorossi winger Daniele Verde had equalised for Spezia in the 90th.
Borja Mayoral scored twice and Rick Karsdorp also found the target for the Giallorossi, who were without captain Edin Dzeko due to an apparent feud with coach Paulo Fonseca.
Roberto Piccoli and Diego Farias also scored for Spezia, who were left four points above the drop zone.
Fiorentina, in 12th, eased their relegation worries with a 2-1 win over rock bottom Crotone, thanks to first half goals from Giacomo Bonaventura and Dusan Vlahovica.
Published in Dawn, January 25th, 2021
