Mario Gila opened his scoring account for AC Milan with a close-range header, sealing a commanding 3-0 victory over Atalanta that showcased both set-piece precision and relentless second-half pressure.
An In-Swinging Delivery and a Far-Post Finish
The decisive third goal arrived through a meticulously orchestrated set-piece sequence. Veteran midfielder Luka Modrić initiated the play with an in-swinging delivery aimed squarely at the near post. Strahinja Pavlović timed his run to perfection, meeting the cross and sending a precise flick-on toward the far post. Gila was waiting to nod the ball home, celebrating his milestone first competitive strike for the club directly in front of the Curva Sud.
Pitch-Side Monitor Triggers Penalty Drama
Proceedings took a dramatic turn shortly before the final goal when the referee halted play for a video assistant referee review. Officials examined a potential handball stemming from a previous shooting attempt by Adrien Rabiot. Following a trip to the pitch-side monitor, the referee awarded Milan a penalty. Yet, the attempt to pad the scoreline failed when Atalanta goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi guessed the correct direction to deny Marcos Ramos his second goal of the evening.
🪨🇪🇸Mario GILA is AC Milan’s best CB since Thiago Silva. pic.twitter.com/9hhGej7ZaJ
Fresh Legs and Rebound Chaos Off the Bench
The introduction of Omari Hutchinson injected immediate energy into the Milan attack as he quickly got involved off the bench. The substitute nearly caught Atalanta napping moments after coming on, whipping a dangerous cross from the byline that surprised Carnesecchi and glanced off the post. Christian Pulisic raced in to collect the rebound, but Carnesecchi recovered quickly enough to shut down the follow-up attempt.
Match Details at a Glance
Who scored the final goal for AC Milan?
Mario Gila netted the third goal of the match, securing his first official strike for the club.
Why was the game paused before the third goal?
The referee stopped play for a VAR review to check a potential handball on an Adrien Rabiot shot. The resulting penalty was ultimately saved by Atalanta goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi.
Which players engineered the decisive set-piece?
The sequence featured a delivery from Luka Modrić, a headed flick-on by Strahinja Pavlović, and the finishing touch from Mario Gila.
Related reading