Bird in the hand is worth two in the bush: Atalanta & Milan share spoils

When the rivals are more afraid of losing one point than motivated to pursue the whole spoils, a draw is the most probable outcome. That was the case in the duel between Atalanta and Milan - 1-1.

The Rossoneri took the early lead thanks to Samuele Ricci's fourth-minute opener and have rarely threatened La Dea's goal since. On the other hand, the home team went for the leveller, and once they scored one behind Ademola Lookman's "missile," they became satisfied with what they had.

To clarify what a "snoozefest" the second half was, it's enough to check the number of shots on target after the break - just one! Hence, it's no wonder that the half-time score became the final one, thanks to both sides' refusal to risk.

The Rossoneri proved to be lousy guests, as they stunned the packed Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia after only four minutes. Atalanta's defenders cleared the ball from the box following a corner kick, but unfortunately for them, Samuele Ricci met the rebound with a first-touch volley, which deflected off Ederson's knee and tricked Marco Carnesecchi.

However, Igor Juric's crew quickly recovered from the shock and started "bossing" the game. Isak Hien and Honest Ahanor fired it over the bar, while Mike Maignan skilfully stopped Ederson's long-range effort. Still, neither Milan nor the French custodian could save themselves from Ademola Lookman's bomb.

Napoli's saviour comes from Cameroon! Anguissa's winner breaks sturdy Lecce

Ten minutes before the break, Mario Pasalic sent a perfect ball to the area for the Nigerian, who found space and unleashed a missile that ended up behind Maignan's back, though it's questionable whether the keeper even saw the ball after Lookman's rocket.

Although the scoreboard showed the rivals were tied at the break, the visitors had little reasons to be satisfied with their performance.

As exciting as the first half was, the beginning of the second was just as dull. "Snoozefest" directed by La Dea and the Rossoneri lasted for 20 minutes, until the two Massimiliano Allegri's subs, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Christopher Nkunku (who had replaced Santiago Gimenez and Rafael Leao) broke the silence, with a combination that almost brought a goal.

Thanks to the substitutions or not, yet Milan took control of the game midway through the second half. The ball was mainly in Atalanta's half, but the situation on the scoreboard didn't change. Moreover, there wasn't a single shot on target after the break until the 85th minute, when Maignan superbly stopped Davide Zappacosta's precise strike and saved the Rossoneri.

This was La Dea's seventh draw in the current Serie A campaign and they'll remain seventh, at least until their rivals play their games tomorrow. On the other hand, Milan caught up with Roma in second spot, though the Giallorossi have yet to play their ninth-round match against Parma at home (tomorrow, 20.30).

SERIE A ROUND 9

Tuesday

Lecce - Napoli 0-1 (0-0)

/Anguissa 69/

Atalanta - Milan 1-1 (1-1)

/Lookman 35 - Ricci 4/

Wednesday

20.30: (1.60) Como (3.60) Verona (6.50)

20.30: (1.48) Juventus (4.40) Udinese (8.00)

20.30: (1.53) Roma (4.25) Parma (7.00)

22.45: (1.80) Bologna (3.60) Torino (5.10)

22.45: (1.90) Genoa (3.50) Cremonese (4.70)

22.45: (1.40) Inter (4.60) Fiorentina (8.00)

Thursday

20.30: (2.60) Cagliari (3.25) Sassuolo (3.00)

22.45: (3.70) Pisa (3.45) Lazio (2.15)

*** odds are subject to change***