Adrien Rabiot now has 4 goals and 3 assists in Serie A's league campaign, and his latest contribution was the biggest yet. In AC Milan's 3-2 win over Atalanta in AC Milan vs Atalanta, he scored once, created another and helped decide a game that looked done at 3-0 before turning ragged. Milan were the better side for an hour. After that, they were mostly hanging on.

Rabiot's grip on the game

Milan's lead started with Gonçalo Ramos, who converted from the penalty spot in the 24th minute. Rabiot then took over the key moments. He scored in the 43rd minute to make it 2-0, then set up Mario Gila Fuentes for the third in the 57th.

That sequence was the match in miniature. Milan had control, runners arriving into good areas and a midfielder dictating the decisive actions rather than just tidying play up.

Rabiot's broader league numbers fit that performance. He is up to 4 Serie A goals and 3 assists this season, and his average rating stands at 7.4 when rounded from 7.39. This match brought a 9 rating, which lined up with how much of Milan's best work passed through him.

Football Italia's match report summed it up neatly: "Milan dominated for an hour and then switched off, almost fumbling the 3-0 lead as Atalanta mounted a fightback, but scraping the 3-2 victory with a decisive Adrien Rabiot."

Milan's late drop-off

The problem for Milan is that a game they had under control became frantic far too quickly. They led 3-0 before Atalanta scored twice in the final quarter of the match, and that changed the tone completely.

Gianluca Gaetano got the first back in the 66th minute, shortly after Nikola Krstović had hit the base of the upright. Krstović then made it 3-2 in the 81st minute after the ball was rolled across from the right, and from there Milan were no longer managing a win, they were surviving it.

Atalanta's league numbers already hint at that kind of game. They have scored 8 and conceded 8 in Serie A, which suits a side capable of making matches open but still leaving room for the opponent. Milan benefited from that early on, then nearly paid for their own drop in concentration once the game stretched.

There was also some confusion elsewhere around the coaching names attached to the fixture, but the reporting around the match itself was consistent on the essentials: Milan beat Atalanta 3-2, Rabiot was central, and a polished first hour nearly got wasted by a poor final quarter.

Milan will take the result and Rabiot's display. They will not enjoy reviewing the last 25 minutes nearly as much.

FAQ

Why was Adrien Rabiot the key player in AC Milan vs Atalanta?

Rabiot drove Milan's best work in the 3-2 win. He scored in the 43rd minute, then set up Mario Gila's header in the 57th as Milan built a 3-0 lead. His wider Serie A numbers also fit that display, with 4 goals and 3 assists this season.

Did AC Milan dominate Atalanta from start to finish?

No. Milan controlled the game for about an hour and were 3-0 up, but they did not stay in control. Atalanta scored twice in the final quarter, first through Gianluca Gaetano in the 66th minute and then Nikola Krstović in the 81st, which turned it into a tense finish.

Who scored in AC Milan's 3-2 win over Atalanta?

Gonçalo Ramos opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 24th minute. Adrien Rabiot added Milan's second in the 43rd minute, and Mario Gila scored the third in the 57th from Rabiot's assist. Gianluca Gaetano and Nikola Krstović scored Atalanta's two goals.

Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 3 outlets. How we work →