Ronaldinho with the equaliser

Milan scraped a draw away to Atalanta following another disappointing performance. Ronaldinho was the hero for Milan with his equaliser in the 83rd minute. However, with Atalanta playing with ten men following Radanovic’s sending off just before half time, Milan should have claimed three points.The Rossoneri will have to content themselves with a draw and can at least be thankful to have ended their goal drought.

First half

The game started slowly with Milan content to play short passes through the midfield without really putting pressure on the Atalanta defence.

The home side almost took the lead and perhaps should just nine minutes in when Valdez was picked out at the far post by Doni. Fortunately for Milan Valdez looping volley went wide. On this occasion it was Abate who was guilty of losing his man.

Seedorf was working hard but that would be about the best thing that could be said about the Dutchman in the first half.

Fifteen minutes had elapsed and Milan, desperate for a win, had not even registered a shot on target with Huntelaar and Pato struggling to get into the game.

Milan were once again look slow and predictable. Though on 20 minutes, following some a neat passage of passing Seedorf picked out Huntelaar in the box but the Dutchman’s effort was ruled out for offside.

GOAL Atalanta took the lead on 21 minutes through Tiribocchi. A Padoin cross caused confusion in the Milan defence and the ball fell nicely for Tiribocchi who made no mistake from inside the area.

Milan were really up against it now. Down a goal, desperate for a win and away from home it was not looking good for Milan at this stage.

The next chance fell to Atalanta when Doni drove in a powerful shot from just outside the area. With four Milan defenders around, it is incredible how Doni was allowed to get a shot in.

Pirlo was having a particularly poor evening. His free kicks in particular left something to be desired. He did, however, manage to pick out a Nesta on 30 minutes who headed high and wide.

There was a turning point on 38 minutes when Radanovic was sent off for a second bookable foul. A harsh red card indeed, for the foul on Pato seemed rather harmless. Nonetheless, Milan had been given a lifeline as Atalanta would have to play on with 10 men for the rest of the game.

Though down to ten men, it was Atalanta who carved out the next opportunity when on 43 minutes Padoin left Zambrotta for dead and found the incoming Tiribocchi at the near post. However Tiribocchi was unable to keep his effort down.

Doni was having a great half for Atalanta causing Milan numerous problems down Milan’s left flank.

Second half

Down to ten men it was inevitable that Atalanta were going to play for the draw and this they did.

With Milan a goal down, Leo brought on Ronaldinho for Flamini at the start of the second half.

With Ronaldinho on the left, Seedorf on the right Milan in a simple 4-4-2 formation Milan looked more dangerous though this was partly due to Atalanta’s decision to sit back and protect their lead.

On 49 minutes Milan should have had the equaliser. Pato turned his marker inside the box and had a chance from point blank range but Consigli did oh so well to deny Pato and Milan.

Next up and it was Seedorf who tried his luck from distance as Milan piled on the pressure.

On 57 minutes Gattuso was cautioned for a blatant foul on Doni that would eventually force the Atalanta captain to be substituted.

A minute later Leo took of Huntelaar and replaced him with Inzaghi.

Nesta was everywhere for Milan, making himself available for both defensive and offensive duties. On 64 minutes Nesta’s cross almost looped over Consigli earning Milan a corner as they still searched for the elusive equaliser.

Alessandro Nesta and Ronaldinho both collected yellow cards as Milan grew increasingly frustrated.

Milan almost found the equaliser on 74 minutes Ronaldinho’s shot is parried by Consigli and Pato on the follow up hits the cross bar. It seemed like it was not to be Milan’s day, again.

GOAL On 83 minutes Milan found the equaliser. Nesta, Milan’s stand-out performer, found Ronaldinho with a nice chip into the area. Ronaldinho brought the ball down well and nestled into the back of the net with a volley.

Zambrotta was lucky not to give away a penalty when bringing down Garics in the area. Pato, a few minutes later, then also had a claim for a penalty but the referee waves play on in both instances.

The game drew to a close with Milan looking content to settle for a draw. Ronaldinho’s goal ended goal drought for Milan that lasted 350 minutes.

Post match analysis to follow….

Leo’s change to a 4-4-2 system did not really work in the first half. Milan still lacked the ability to link the midfield to the attack and for this the forwards were once again feeding of scraps. How Milan controlled the match in the second half was only a result of Radanovic’s sending off and the substitution of Doni after he picked up an injury.

Worringly, it was Atalanta who were the more threatening side in the opening stages and after they went ahead they comfortably controlled the game. With Atalanta contolling the game it is obvious that there are fundamental issues in this side. Atalanta are not a strong side and for a side like Milan, it should be three points in the bag in such fixtures.

The side has not improved in seven rounds of football and therefore Leo’s capability as coach must be questioned. If anything the side has worsened since the opening round clash against Siena. Slow and predictable is Milan at the moment and though the reason is partly due the limited resources at Leo’s disposal, surely this side is still capable of more.

The 4-4-2 formation that Leo applied was great for our full backs. Zambrotta and Abate were given much more space as Flamini then later Ronaldinho and Seedorf pushed further up taking a defender away with them when Milan were moving forward. The new system gave Milan options down the flanks and created opportunities for the forwards. The quality of the crosses provided must be improved.

Leo’s handling of Huntelaar is also another concern. Admittedly Huntelaar did not have a great game, but at the moment most of our players are playing poorly. Huntelaar should have been left on the pitch. This season, Leo has either excluded the young Dutchman from the starting lineup completely or if he has started him he has made sure that he does not play beyond the hour mark. Surely Leo should be giving Huntelaar more time to prove himself. Strikers need to be confident. The less confident they are, the less chance they will have of scoring. As time goes by and with Huntelaar still searching for that first goal, I fear Leo is in danger of completely unsettling the player. Inzaghi is our past, Huntelaar is our future. Leo should be investing time in Huntelaar. He should be giving the Dutchman every opportunity to prove himself as I believe it will only be a matter of time before he does.

The result could have been worst had it not been for two fortunate events for Milan. 1) the harsh sending off of Radanovic before half time and 2) the injury to Doni that forced him to be replaced.

The match was there for the taking in the second half yet Milan struggled to break through the Atalanta defence. Much more is expected of a club like Milan. To be playing with one extra man and with full half in which to secure three points, coming away with one goal and one point is not a success by any stretch of the imagination.

The 4-4-2 system provided some promise however a sterner test is needed to really uncover whether it will work or not. For this there will be ample opportunity when Milan face Roma and then Real Madrid following the international break. Oh dear me, how I do fear these two matches.