As the Serie A season reaches a pivotal stage, AC Milan finds themselves in a precarious position, needing a strong finish to secure a top-four spot. Their journey begins with a challenging away fixture against Bologna at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara, a team also eyeing a late-season surge to climb the table.
Match Details:
- Date: Thursday, February 27
- Kick-off: 20:45 CET
- Venue: Stadio Renato Dall’Ara
- Referee: Maurizio Mariani (VAR: Di Bello)
Background:
Originally scheduled for late October, this match was postponed due to severe weather conditions in the Emilia region, sparking controversy. Bologna’s CEO defended the decision, while Milan and Serie A officials pushed for alternatives like playing behind closed doors or relocating the match. Now, with a rescheduled date, both teams face off under different circumstances, each desperate to salvage their campaigns.
Team News:
Milan’s recent form has been shaky, with a Champions League exit and a disappointing loss to Torino. The pressure is mounting, and manager Sergio Conceicao is expected to make tactical adjustments. Rafael Leao might be benched, and the midfield could see changes with Youssouf Fofana partnering Yunus Musah, while Tijjani Reijnders takes a more advanced role. Santiago Gimenez is likely to lead the attack.
Predicted Milan XI (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Jimenez, Tomori, Pavlovic, Theo; Fofana, Musah; Pulisic, Reijnders, Felix; Gimenez
Bologna’s Perspective:
Bologna, after a stellar fifth-place finish last season, faced significant changes with key players and their coach departing. Despite a rocky start under new manager Vincenzo Italiano, they’ve shown resilience, with notable wins against Roma and Fiorentina. However, a recent Derby dell’Emilia loss to Parma has dampened spirits.
Predicted Bologna XI (4-2-3-1): Ravaglia; Calabria, Beukema, Lucumi, Miranda; Freuler, Moro, Pobega; Ndoye, Castro, Cambiaghi
Head-to-Head:
Historically, Milan has dominated this fixture, losing only twice to Bologna this millennium. The last encounter ended in a thrilling 2-2 draw, with Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s brace nearly securing a win for Milan before a late penalty leveled the score.
Key Stats:
- Milan is unbeaten in their last 17 Serie A matches against Bologna.
- Bologna has not beaten Milan at home since March 2002.
- Both teams enter this match with 41 points, making it a crucial clash for European aspirations.
Players to Watch:
- Dan Ndoye (Bologna): The Swiss winger could exploit Milan’s defensive vulnerabilities, especially if Theo Hernandez is caught out of position.
- Davide Calabria (Bologna): Facing his former club, Calabria will be eager to prove a point.
- Fikayo Tomori (Milan): After a shaky performance, Tomori needs a solid game to retain his starting spot.
- Joao Felix (Milan): The Portuguese forward has yet to fully justify his loan move and must step up in this crucial match.
Prediction:
With both teams fighting for European spots and fine margins separating them, this encounter is likely to be tightly contested. Expect a cagey affair with both sides cautious not to make costly mistakes.
Final Score: Bologna 1-1 AC Milan
