MILAN – There’s no stopping the Milan Primavera after they ran out 3-1 winners away at Atalanta on Sunday to register a fifth win on the trot in the league.

The Rossoneri made a dream start and after only 6 minutes Vassallo broke the deadlock when the striker was sent through on goal by Felicioli and stayed ice-cool to slot the ball past the Atalanta shot-stopper.

Milan built on their strong start and continued to cause problems for Atalanta with Cutrone and Gamarra both coming close before eventually adding a second on 17 minutes. Felicioli was involved again and provided the assist for De Santis to score his fifth league goal of the season.

Brocchi’s boys were in complete control and shortly after the half-hour mark Felicioli was decisive once more providing a pin-point cross for Cutrone who made no mistakes to head past the Atalanta ‘keeper and extend the team’s lead.

Minutes before the half-time whistle however Atalanta pulled one back after Plizzari could only parry a Lunetta shot into the path of Mazzocchi who prodded the ball into an empty net.

Atalanta were immediately dangerous after the break through Zambataro while Plizzari then made a great save on a header from Atalanta’s Gatti to frustrate the home side’s hopes of a comeback.

The Bergamaschi tried their luck from distance in the closing stages in an effort to cut the gap but neither La Vigna nor Mazzocchi were successful as Milan came away with a 3-1 victory and another 3 points.

This is how the two sides lined-up for the match:

ATALANTA: Turrin; Morra, Zambataro, Gasperoni, Kresic, Gatti, Di Rocco, La Vigna, Mazzocchi, Ranieri, Lunetta. Subs: Mazzini, Marchetti, Dossena, Ghidini, Bolis, Castellano, Demba, Susnjara, Napol, Bastoni, Caponi, Latte. Coach: Valter Bonacina.

MILAN: Plizzari; Piacentini, Felicioli, De Santis, Gamarra, Bordi, Zanellato, El Hilali, Cutrone, Crociata, Vassallo. Subs: Crosta, Malberti, Mondonico, Iudica, Maldini, Hamadi, Hadziosmanovic, Casiraghi, Agnero, Spinelli, La Ferrara, Zucchetti. Coach: Cristian Brocchi.

MILAN – A second-half strike from Niang cancelled out Armero’s early goal as Milan and Udinese played out a 1-1 draw at the San Siro on Sunday afternoon in round 24 of Serie A.

The Colombian, and one-time Rossonero, broke the deadlock on 17 minutes when he pounced on a Kuzmanovic header which had come crashing off the crossbar following a great save by Donnarumma.

Three minutes after the restart however Bacca sent Niang racing through and the Frenchman picked out his spot to fire past the Udinese shot-stopper at the far post and net his fifth league goal of the season.

Milan pinned the visitors back and in the closing stages the pick of the chances fell to Bertolacci who came agonisingly close to scoring a winner only to thump the crossbar from close range.

CLICK HERE for more and the minute by minute match report. Here are the stats meanwhile to emerge from the Serie A clash at the San Siro:

6 – the 1-1 draw with Udinese was the team’s sixth successive positive result in the league.

8 – Niang took his overall goal tally for the season to 8 versus Udinese. 5 have been scored in Serie A while 3 have come in the TIM Cup.

3 – the number of consecutive top-flight matches in which Niang has found the back of the net: a personal best.

21 September 2011 – the date of Milan’s last 1-1 draw at home to Udinese in Serie A. On that day the goal-scorers were El Shaarawy and Di Natale.

SINISA MIHAJLOVIC
“We’re sorry not to have come away with the 3 points because we had a great chance to cut the gap to the sides above us in the table, but I want to congratulate my players. We just weren’t quite sharp enough and were lacking a bit of luck. The result was fortunate, but the performance wasn’t and was there from the team. We cannot get down for the result and we have to keep this going. Boateng and Balotelli have improved in terms of their fitness. We are the side that creates the most, but we don’t capitalise on those chances. This is an area we need to improve upon. But playing like we have been doing, and being more clinical in front of goal, we can improve our position in the table. Bertolacci’s effort wasn’t a goal not given, but a chance missed. We have not had luck on our side this season in the league. The only match we drew but we deserved to lose was versus Atalanta, but in the others we deserved other results. We have been doing well in this second part of the season, we could have had more points, but football is also great because of this. Let’s hope we have a bit more luck in the next matches, because we have also been playing well. When you play well and don’t win it’s disappointing and a shame.”

ANDREA BERTOLACCI
“A win would have been a fairer result based on how we played. We went into the match on the back of two wins and we wanted to extend our winning run. We have dropped two points and that leaves us feeling disappointed, but we gave our absolute all. I am someone that has to go through negative times to emerge even stronger. Looking back at the replays, it looked like my shot went in, but it didn’t, and there are days when the ball just doesn’t want to go in. We can take consolation from the fact that Fiorentina and Inter also dropped points. Let’s look at the positive side. It’s our goal to get the enthusiasm back and if the fans are behind us we can do well. I feel a part of this group, we are a strong side and are all motivated.”

SINISA MIHAJLOVIC (press conference)
“Today was a great opportunity to close the gap and we deserved to come away with 3 points. The performance was there from the team and we cannot let this draw today get us down. We are one of the teams that has most shots on goal and we can climb up the table. I had to make a change at the break and I chose Kucka. I hope he doesn’t have anything serious. We were always in control of the match. It’s true we conceded a goal that could have been avoided, but we created a lot of chances. I expect more from Balotelli and that will come when his fitness gets better.”