Upon returning to Serie A, Atalanta finished comfortably in tenth place in 1972, but was relegated in 1973 after just two years back in the top flight. At the beginning of the 1972–73 season, Atalanta did not concede a goal in its first six matches and was considered very solid defensively, but then fell apart in a 9–3 loss against Milan, leaving both the players and visiting fans at San Siro shocked. Atalanta then struggled throughout the season and was relegated on the final matchday due to inferior goal difference—the heavy loss against Milan proving decisive for the club's relegation. The club also missed the possibility to secure safety in the final three matches of the season, losing each of them.