AC Milan 0 - 0 Atalanta: Milan held

Posted Sunday, December 18, 2016 by PA

The respective ambitions of AC Milan and Atalanta took a hit following a goalless draw at San Siro.

A single point means the Rossoneri are six shy of leaders Juventus, who could further increase their advantage in the Serie A title race with victory over second-placed Roma later on Saturday night.

Atalanta, meanwhile, have steadied the ship after suffering back-to-back defeats that slowed their charge into the Europa League spots, but they will now fear losing ground to the likes of Fiorentina.

Giacomo Bonaventura's swerving free-kick ended up with Juraj Kucka in the eighth minute, the Slovakian smashing just wide from a few metres out.

Rafael Toloi denied Gianluca Lapadula an easy tap-in before the half-hour mark when Luca Antonelli's shot had rebounded to him, and Atalanta replied with a close-range effort from Andrea Petagna.

There was chaos in first-half stoppage time as Gianluigi Donnarumma pulled off a miraculous save from Roberto Gagliardini's header before Milan raced down the other end to hit a post through Antonelli.

Chances were harder to come by following the restart and it was not until the 77th minute that Lapadula forced Toloi into a desperate goal-line clearance with Marco Sportiello beaten.

Kucka then found himself alone in the area for a free shot on goal that he sent beyond the far post.

Alejandro Gomez led Atalanta's rally with a ball for Toloi that Donnarumma flicked over the bar and Milan substitute Carlos Bacca was only denied a goal by Andrea Conti, who raced back to cover.