AC Milan’s winning streak was ended by Atalanta BC in a 0-0 draw at home in Serie A, though 16-year-old goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma was crucial to the Rossoneri earning a point on Saturday.
Milan, who had won their previous three matches, moved provisionally to fifth place. Atalanta were up to seventh ahead of yesterday’s matches.
Milan coach Sinisa Mihajlovic was sent off shortly before fulltime for dissent and kicking a water bottle in the direction of the fourth official.
Photo: Reuters
“I was wrong to kick the bottle, but I was angry with my own players, not the referee,” Mihajlovic said. “If I’d wanted to hit the fourth official [with the bottle], I would have hit him.”
“When you can’t win, it’s important not to lose,” he said. “What’s positive is that we extended our unbeaten streak and we didn’t concede. Donnarumma is there to makes saves. He was good today, because he saved everything he had to... Atalanta had a great game and certainly deserved more.”
Donnaruma pulled off stunning saves in quick succession about an hour in.
He got down brilliantly to parry a header from Luca Cigarini, who fired the rebound over the bar from point-blank range. Six minutes later, he pulled off another great reaction save to deny fellow youngster Alberto Grassi.
Milan could have won the game 11 minutes from time, but Cigarini cleared Luiz Adriano’s header off the line.
It was Donnarumma’s fourth match for Milan since he became the youngest goalkeeper to start a Serie A match at 16 years, 8 months, 6 days. He has let in just two goals.
“It’s a pity, we did really well tonight in attacking high up the pitch and we had many scoring opportunities,” Atalanta forward Alejandro Gomez said. “Donnarumma was excellent, it’s not easy at the age of 16 to play with the Milan jersey. I wish him a great career.”
Earlier, Bologna won 2-0 at fellow strugglers Hellas Verona in what was billed as a relegation fight, even at this early stage of the season.
The visitors took the lead after just five minutes when Emanuele Giaccherini placed a precise finish into the right side of the net with a swiveling half-volley from Adam Masina’s cross.
Masina again found plenty of space down the left flank nine minutes later and, although his cross was intercepted, the ball came out to teenager Godfred Donsah, who fired into the bottom-left corner for his first goal for the club.
It was Bologna’s second win in as many matches under Roberto Donadoni, after the former Italy coach replaced Delio Rossi. Bologna moved provisionally two points clear of the relegation zone, while Verona were left six points from safety.
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