Atalanta 1-1 AC Milan Player Ratings: Lookman Rated 8/10 as Spoils Shared in a Tense 1-1 Draw

A fascinating battle at the Gewiss Stadium saw Atalanta and Milan fight to a standstill, sharing the points in a tense 1-1 draw. Samuele Ricci gave Milan a dream start with a wonderful strike from distance inside four minutes. What a hit that was.

However, Atalanta, as they so often do on home turf, refused to buckle. They slowly grew into the match, probing and pushing against a resilient Milan defense. Their persistence paid off when Ademola Lookman, who was a thorn in the visitors' side all evening, produced a clinical finish to level the scores. He was simply electric.

The second half was a cagier affair. Both sides had chances to win it, with headers going wide and shots being blocked heroically. What stood out to us was the sheer intensity of the midfield battle, with neither team giving an inch. In the end, a draw felt like a fair result, though both managers will likely feel they could have nicked all three points. It was a game defined by two great goals and a lot of grit.

Here are Atalanta Vs AC Milan Player Ratings

AC Milan Player Ratings vs Atalanta

Here are AC Milan Player Ratings vs Atalanta

Goalkeeper

Mike Maignan - 6.0: A somewhat nervy performance from the captain. While he made a couple of necessary saves, his distribution was surprisingly poor, with only 68% of his passes finding their mark. We noticed an error that led directly to a shot, which is uncharacteristic for a keeper of his caliber. He also seemed a little hesitant on crosses. Not his best day at the office, but he didn't cost his team the game.

Defenders

Fikayo Tomori - 6.5: A mixed bag from the central defender. He made a couple of important blocks, but from our perspective, he was caught out of position a few times and was dribbled past twice. He lost the majority of his duels which is a concern. Tomori looked a bit rattled by Ademola Lookman's movement and struggled to impose himself physically on the game. He needs to be more dominant.

Strahinja Pavlović - 7.0: A solid and robust display. Pavlović won most of his duels (6 out of 8) and was strong in the tackle. He even created a chance, showing a bit of composure on the ball. He read the game well for the most part, making three crucial clearances. A much more assured performance compared to his defensive partner.

Matteo Gabbia - 7.0: Very tidy and efficient. Gabbia's 96% pass accuracy was outstanding for a defender, and he was composed under pressure. He made five clearances and won three of his four duels. The late yellow card was a slight blot on his copybook, but overall, it was a very dependable performance. We were impressed by his composure.

Midfielders

Samuele Ricci - 7.5: Scored an absolute screamer to give his team the lead. What a strike! Beyond the goal, his passing was almost perfect (97% accuracy), and he kept the play moving smoothly. He also did his defensive work, contributing four clearances. He was the brightest spark for Milan in an attacking sense and took his goal magnificently.

Luka Modrić - 6.5: A typical Modrić performance in terms of ball retention, with 92% pass accuracy. However, he didn't create as much as we'd expect. He was tidy but lacked that killer pass. Defensively, he was dribbled past twice and picked up a yellow card for a frustrated foul. A solid, if unspectacular, outing from the veteran maestro.

Youssouf Fofana - 6.5: A busy but slightly ineffective game. He won a decent number of duels and made some good tackles, but he also lost possession 12 times. He missed a big chance in the second half that he really should have buried. We saw flashes of his power, but the final product just wasn't there today.

Davide Bartesaghi - 7.0: A very promising performance from the young midfielder. He created a big chance and was a constant outlet on the flank, putting in five crosses. He was strong in the air, winning two aerial duels, and stuck to his defensive tasks. His crossing could be more consistent, but the intent was there all game. A really encouraging display.

Alexis Saelemaekers - 6.5: Full of energy as always. Saelemaekers won 7 duels and completed 3 dribbles, always looking to be positive. However, his final ball was often lacking, and he lost possession far too many times (12). He worked hard for the team, but the quality just wasn't quite there in the final third.

Forwards

Santiago Gimenez - 5.5: A really quiet and frustrating evening for the striker. He only managed 21 touches before being substituted due to injury. He was caught offside, picked up an early yellow card, and lost most of his physical battles. He never really got a sniff of a clear chance. We hope the injury isn't serious, but this was a performance to forget.

Rafael Leão - 5.5: We were very disappointed with this showing. Substituted at half-time, Leão was a complete non-factor. With only 13 touches, he was totally anonymous. He completed one dribble but otherwise seemed disinterested and unable to impact the game in any meaningful way. Milan need so much more from their star man.

Manager

M. Allegri - 6.5: His team started brightly with a fantastic early goal. The tactic seemed to be to contain Atalanta and hit them on the break. However, they conceded control for large parts of the first half. The decision to take off Leão was bold but probably necessary given his performance. The team looked solid enough defensively but lacked a creative spark to find a winner.

Atalanta Player Ratings vs AC Milan

Here are Atalanta Player Ratings vs AC Milan

Goalkeeper

Marco Carnesecchi - 6.0: He could do absolutely nothing about the opening goal, it was a world-class strike. Otherwise, he wasn't tested a great deal. His two punches from crosses showed decisiveness, but his distribution was a little wayward. A quiet game for the shot-stopper.

Defenders

Odilon Kossounou - 7.0: A very tidy and composed performance. An incredible 98% pass completion rate shows his comfort on the ball. He made three clearances and nine ball recoveries, reading the play exceptionally well. He was rarely troubled and provided a calm head at the back for his team.

Isak Hien - 6.0: Defensively, he was okay, but he will be having nightmares about his missed chances. He missed a clear header from close range and another big chance later on. For a defender of his size, you expect him to bury at least one of those. Those misses proved costly and prevent a higher rating.

Honest Ahanor - 6.5: He had a very active game before being subbed. He was a surprising threat from set-pieces, registering three shots, though all were off target. He made a crucial error leading to a shot which docks his rating. He won a good number of his duels but was also dribbled past once. An eventful, if slightly chaotic, performance.

Midfielders

Éderson - 7.5: A fantastic all-around midfield performance. He was a rock in the middle of the park, winning four duels and recovering the ball seven times. His passing was crisp and progressive, with 12 passes into the final third and a 94% accuracy rate. He even tested the keeper with a shot on target. What stood out was his control and dominance.

Marten de Roon - N/A: Sadly forced off with an injury after just 20 minutes. He didn't have enough time to make an impact on the game.

Lorenzo Bernasconi - 7.0: A really bright spark for Atalanta. He created two chances, including one big chance, and was a constant menace with his six crosses. His decision-making could improve, but he was always looking to make something happen. He also contributed defensively with an interception. A raw but exciting talent.

Davide Zappacosta - 7.5: A brilliant performance up and down the right flank. He had 83 touches, showing his constant involvement. He attempted four shots, completed three dribbles, and delivered some dangerous crosses. He was a menace throughout the game and combined his attacking intent with solid defensive work, making six recoveries. A top display.

Forwards

Mario Pasalić - 7.5: Provided the crucial assist for the equalizer with a lovely pass. He was the main creative force for his team, creating three chances in total. His link-up play was excellent, and he consistently found pockets of space between the lines. He worked tirelessly until he was substituted late on.

Ademola Lookman - 8.0: The best player on the pitch. He scored a fantastic goal, showing great composure and technique. Beyond the goal, he was a constant threat, creating three chances and always looking to take on his man. He was fouled twice and his movement caused the Milan defence problems all night. A true match-winner's performance.

Charles De Ketelaere - 6.0: A quiet game against his parent club. He drew three fouls but struggled to make a real impact in the final third. He lost possession 11 times and seemed to be on the periphery of the action for large spells. From our perspective, he looked like he was trying too hard to impress and it didn't come off.

Manager

I. Juric - 7.0: His team showed great character to come back after conceding such an early goal. He set his side up to press high and be aggressive, which paid off with the equalizer. His substitutions were logical, aiming to inject fresh legs and ideas to find a winner. He will be frustrated by the missed chances but pleased with the overall performance and fighting spirit.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match is Lookman