Winless in their last four league games (D2, L2), Raffaele Palladino’s Atalanta travelled to Milan desperate for a positive result.
La Dea were fortunate to escape an early effort from Adrien Rabiot, who struck the post from the edge of the box, and the visitors made the most of that reprieve in the seventh minute, as Ederson pounced on a loose ball inside the area to sweep a clinical finish into the bottom corner for his second league goal of the season.
Having broken the deadlock, Atalanta looked to press home their advantage, and a second goal duly arrived on the half-hour mark.
Nikola Krstovic showed impressive awareness to lay the ball off to Davide Zappacosta in the box, and the wing-back held his nerve to slot a composed finish beyond Mike Maignan.
Faced with a two-goal deficit, the Rossoneri probed for a route back into the contest, but Rafael Leao was unable to beat Marco Carnesecchi, who stood firm to thwart the Portuguese forward.
Having lost only two of their last 11 top-flight trips to Milan (W4, D5), Atalanta remained in the ascendancy, and Palladino’s men added a third in the 51st minute when Giacomo Raspadori fired an angled strike into the top corner from Ederson’s pass.
Determined to avoid further embarrassment, Milan upped the ante with time heading into the final 30 minutes, but Carnesecchi stood up to be counted for the visitors, denying Christopher Nkunku a first league goal since February.
Massimiliano Allegri’s side continued to search for a consolation, as Rabiot powered a low strike wide of the target before Niclas Fullkrug saw a well-taken finish ruled out for offside.
Undeterred, Milan finally made their pressure count in the 88th minute when Samuele Ricci’s inviting free-kick was headed into the far corner by Strahinja Pavlovic.
Encouraged by that goal, the hosts pulled another back in stoppage time, as Nkunku converted from the spot after a clumsy foul from Marten de Roon.
Despite Milan’s spirited comeback and a last-gasp chance for Matteo Gabbia, Atalanta ultimately held firm under pressure to secure the three points, earning just their third away league victory in nine matches.