AC Milan came from behind to defeat Bologna 3-1 at San Siro on Friday evening, securing a vital win in their push for European football and gaining a psychological edge ahead of Wednesday’s Coppa Italia final, where the two sides will meet once again.
The match, part of the 36th round of Serie A, was seen as a preview of the upcoming cup final in Rome. Milan’s victory marked their third consecutive league win and kept them firmly in contention for a top-six finish, while Bologna suffered a damaging blow in their pursuit of Champions League qualification.
The opening half was cagey, with both teams showing signs of caution. Bologna, who rotated several players in anticipation of the cup final, began on the front foot and looked to press Milan deep. However, it was the Rossoneri who created the clearer opportunities.
Joao Felix slipped a precise through ball to Christian Pulisic on 16 minutes, but the American’s effort was blocked at full stretch by Lykogiannis. Shortly afterwards, Luka Jovic rose well from a corner and powered a header towards goal, only for Skorupski to recover and smother the ball on the line following a botched aerial clearance.
Bologna responded at the other end with a sharp curling effort from Dominguez, forcing Maignan into a fingertip save. The best chance of the half, however, fell to Riccardo Orsolini, who volleyed over the bar from close range following a fine cross from Pobega.
The game came to life early in the second half. In the 49th minute, Orsolini redeemed himself with a moment of brilliance. Picking up the ball on the right, he cut inside past Pavlovic and curled a left-footed shot into the far corner, leaving Maignan with no chance. It was his 13th goal of an outstanding campaign.
At that stage, Milan looked laboured and short of ideas, struggling to respond. Manager Sérgio Conceição reacted decisively, introducing Samuel Chukwueze and Santiago Giménez to inject energy into a flat attacking line.
The substitutions quickly paid dividends. In the 73rd minute, Milan levelled when Pulisic exploited a gap in Bologna’s backline and squared a pass across the area for Giménez, who calmly slotted home past Skorupski.
The equaliser turned the tide. Milan pushed forward with renewed belief and took the lead six minutes later. Chukwueze drove down the left and picked out Joao Felix, whose shot was deflected by Beukema. The loose ball fell to Pulisic, who made no mistake from close range to make it 2-1.
As Bologna pushed forward in search of an equaliser, they left themselves exposed at the back. In added time, Milan broke on the counter and Giménez was sent through one-on-one. The Mexican forward kept his composure and slotted in his second of the evening to complete the turnaround.
The result leaves Milan eighth in the standings, just three points off the Champions League qualification spots, with two games remaining. Bologna, meanwhile, face mounting pressure from Roma and Lazio, both of whom can take advantage of their slip over the weekend.
The victory provides Milan not just with crucial league points, but also a morale boost ahead of the Coppa Italia final. For Bologna, manager Vincenzo Italiano admitted that his side lost focus in a key phase of the game. “We had control for long stretches, but a 15-minute lapse cost us dearly,” he said.
Sérgio Conceição, while pleased with the resilience his team showed, urged caution. “There were positives, but also areas we need to improve. The final will be a completely different match.”
Both sides now have just a few days to recover and prepare before meeting again at the Stadio Olimpico. Milan will hope to build on this momentum, while Bologna must regroup quickly if they are to lift silverware and secure European football through the domestic cup.
