Bologna came from behind to secure a dramatic 2-1 victory over AC Milan, climbing to sixth in Serie A and ending a 17-match winless streak against the Rossoneri that dated back to January 2016.
The match, a crucial battle for European qualification, started with high intensity as both teams had early chances. Milan nearly took the lead within the first minute when Santiago Giménez fired a close-range shot over the bar after a pass from Yunas Musah. Malick Thiaw then narrowly avoided an own goal, diverting a dangerous cross from Benja Domínguez just wide of the far post, echoing his own goal in last Saturday’s 2-1 loss to Torino.
Sérgio Conceição’s side struggled to match Bologna’s pace, with Dan Ndoye shooting wide after a lovely long-range pass from Lewis Ferguson. Mike Maignan was also called into action to deny Benja Domínguez. Despite Bologna’s dominance, Milan struck first through Rafael Leão. After Giménez controlled Maignan’s long ball, he set up Leão, who calmly rounded goalkeeper Łukasz Skorupski and slotted the ball into an empty net.
Bologna would have felt unfortunate to be trailing at halftime, but they equalized just three minutes into the second half. A free-kick from Ferguson created chaos in Milan’s defense, with Lorenzo De Silvestri’s header falling to Giovanni Fabbian, who directed it to Santiago Castro, allowing him to fire home. Milan’s Musah almost put his team ahead again with a dazzling individual run from the right, but Skorupski saved his shot. Meanwhile, Juan Miranda came close to giving Bologna the lead with a powerful left-footed strike that just went over the bar.
Conceição made an attacking change, bringing on Luka Jović for Giménez, and the Serbian had an immediate chance, heading Youssouf Fofana’s cross straight at Skorupski. However, after Nicolò Casale’s header hit the post, Bologna took the lead in the 82nd minute. The Stadio Renato Dall’Ara erupted as Ndoye expertly finished Nicolò Cambiaghi’s perfect pass from the left.
This victory marked Bologna’s seventh win in their last nine Serie A home games, while Milan’s struggles continued, with just one win in their last five matches across all competitions, leaving them in eighth place.
