Without a Single Shot on Target
Milan’s Fall Ahead of Coppa Italia Derby Return
After a goal festival with four goals against Udinese, AC Milan once again failed against Atalanta and couldn’t even register a single shot on target.
Despite having players like Christian Pulisic, Santiago Giménez, Rafael Leão, and João Félix in the attack, expectations from this team are much higher. This defeat was another blow to AC Milan’s attack, which has been disappointing in this turbulent season.
In the match against Udinese, everything went perfectly for Milan; four goals were scored by four different players, an event that had only happened once before this season. But against Atalanta, Milan fell from that brilliant form to a weak performance. The match statistics show the depth of the disaster: only one shot towards the goal, which was blocked and easily caught by Atalanta’s goalkeeper.
This means Milan practically created no serious threat to the opponent’s goal. Luka Jović had a spectacular move in the first half, leaving Atalanta’s defender behind, but his shot went wide. In the second half, Leão found himself in a good position but also wasted his shot. Pulisic was completely lost under Atalanta’s tight defensive pressure and his obvious fatigue. Tammy Abraham couldn’t create a miracle either, though he might be ready for the crucial Coppa Italia derby on Wednesday.
João Félix, who joined Milan as a brilliant talent, has turned into a failed project. Seeking to shine and revive himself, he has appeared lackluster due to poor personal performance and insufficient support from the team. Giménez, who recently returned from injury, has also failed to meet expectations. Some believe he is not suited for Serie A, but part of the problem lies in the team’s inability to create opportunities for its attackers. When a team can’t position its attackers properly, even the best players struggle.
This offensive failure comes after Milan heavily invested in strengthening its attack during the January transfer window. However, matches like the one against Atalanta reveal deep problems in the attacking phase. Now, ahead of the Coppa Italia return leg against their rival after a 1-1 draw in the first leg, Milan must rediscover the form they showed against Udinese. To advance, scoring is essential, and the Rossoneri must quickly resolve their attacking issues to secure at least one notable achievement from this disappointing season.