TIME MACHINE: ATALANTA v AC MILAN

Atalanta v AC Milan, the first midweek game of our campaign, and a match with many memories for Rossoneri fans. Some may be sweet, others more bitter, but it has never been boring. It is a true rivalry, even back in the times when the Nerazzurri were not a team right at the top of the league. In our Time Machine before Matchday 9, let's look back at our game on 8 January 2012.

On the one hand, AC Milan were in a Scudetto duel with Antonio Conte's Juventus (but a strong Udinese side were also in pursuit of the top two), on the other hand, Atalanta were firmly mid-table but they needed to resist any pressure coming from below them. It was Matchday 17, and the first game after the Christmas break. Allegri's Rossoneri had just won two consecutive games 2-0 (the most recent against Cagliari at San Siro) having  finished 2011 in the best way possible, and coming into the game in the traditional 4-3-1-2 with Emanuelson supporting the forward two of Pato and Ibrahimović. And it was indeed Zlatan who broke the deadlock that afternoon in Bergamo, after each side both had a good chance. In the 22nd minute, Manfredini brought down Pato, and then Ibra beat Consigli from the spot to make it 1-0.

After the break, AC Milan kept attacking, hitting the post through Pato's great header. Atalanta didn't back down either: Abbiati denied Cigarini's close-range effort and he also got a hand on Carmona's venomous free kick. Denis wasted a chance, hitting the post from very close range, and Manfredini made up for giving away the penalty by blocking Ibrahimović's effort. But Zlatan was involved in the Rossoneri's second, the goal that sealed the game in the 82nd minute: his low cross from deep found Boateng, who finished past Consigli to get his fourth goal of the season. Ibra missed a chance to make it three after some great individual play, but it finished 2-0 to AC Milan, putting themselves top of the league in the first match of the new year.

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