Milan won on the day Ibrahimovic returned
Ibrahimovic came on in the 74th minute to replace Olivier Giroud. He was applauded by many Milan fans, called his name, when he returned after more than 260 days of absence due to a knee injury. With this entry, Ibrahimovic, at the age of 41 years and 146 days, is the oldest player to play for Milan in the past 30 years.
The Swedish striker has scored 92 goals in 160 matches for Milan, including eight goals in 27 games last season, contributing to Milan's last two Serie A titles in 2011 and 2022. Despite suffering a serious injury last month. 5, he was still given a one-year contract extension by Milan from July 2022.
"I've suffered a lot, but now I'm back and I feel fine. I won't go out to play for a few minutes like this, I want to play the whole game," Ibrahimovic said after the match.
In the match on the evening of February 26, Atalanta did not keep as sharp as when holding Milan 1-0 in the first leg. The sixth-placed team in Serie A only had one shot, while Milan had 11 shots.
Giroud soon missed an opportunity in front of Atalanta goal. After the cross as placed in the seventh minute, the French striker volleyed over the bar from seven meters.
Giroud redeemed some of his mistake when he created the opening goal after 25 minutes. After a team-mate's header, Theo Hernandez volleyed from 25 yards, causing the ball to hit the post, hit goalkeeper Musso's back, and then flew back. goal. The match organizers counted the goal as Musso's own goal.
Last year, Theo Hernandez also scored to help Milan beat Atalanta 2-0. That Serie A penultimate match took Milan close to its first title in 11 years.
Like the two defeats to Sassuolo 0-1 and Lecce 1-2 in February, Atalanta lacked confidence. Coach Gian Piero Gasperini's team revealed a series of gaps after the break. Milan could have doubled the lead soon, if Giroud, Rafael Leao, Junior Messias and Brahim Diaz had been more precise. The shot on Musso was Giroud's second defeat against the keeper in this match.
Milan had to wait until the 86th minute to get a second goal. After Leao's slit, Messias tipped the ball lightly past the goalkeeper.
After the victory at Atalanta, Milan have the same 47 points after 24 matches with the second ranked team Inter. The reigning Serie A champions are behind due to the difference: +11 compared to +16.
The fourth ranked team Roma can also level the gap with Milan and Inter. Jose Mourinho's teachers and students will do it if they win Cremonense on February 28.
Napoli currently leads with 65 points after 24 matches. With a gap of 18 points compared to the group behind, they are very close to the Serie A championship.
