Serie A | Gameweek 9

Feb 27, 2025 at 7.45pm UK

Stadio Renato Dall'Ara

Bologna vs AC Milan

Match preview

After a disastrous exit from Europe - they let victory slip through their fingers against an injured Feyenoord in the Champions League play-offs - Milan's week went from bad to worse with an avoidable 2-1 defeat to Torino on Saturday.

Malick Thiaw became only the second Milan player to score two own goals against the same team in the same season - although he is in good company, as the other was club legend Franco Baresi - and Christian Pulisic had a penalty saved as they left Turin empty-handed.

The Rossoneri were thwarted by several saves from Vanja Milinkovic-Savic, including Pulisic's spot-kick, and endured a frustrating encounter that continued their inconsistent run of form since lifting the Supercoppa Italiana.

Sergio Conceicao started his reign with a bang by winning the competition, but his side now find themselves eight points adrift of fourth-placed Juventus in the race for Champions League qualification.

Worryingly, ahead of their trip to Emilia-Romagna, they have lost four of their last five away games in all competitions - two in Serie A and two in Europe.

Milan may be behind the pace in terms of top-four finishes, but they will now face their favourite opponents: the second city giants are unbeaten in 17 league meetings with Bologna, winning 13 times since their last defeat in 2016 - the club's longest active unbeaten run.

Bologna have also failed to win any of their last 18 encounters with Milan at the Stadio Dall'Ara, a drought that dates back to 2002.

Like their visitors - who were originally due to arrive in October before bad weather forced a last-minute postponement - the Emiliani are locked in a multi-club battle for European football.

They lost some ground on Saturday when they lost 2-0 to local rivals and fellow Serie A strugglers Parma, ending their unbeaten run in the league.

Vincenzo Italiano's men were one of only three teams to go unbeaten since the start of the season, and they remain in eighth place, just behind the main contenders for UEFA's top prize.

After an unexpected top-five finish last season, Italy's recent European results mean that fourth place may be all they need to qualify for the Champions League this year, and Bologna will be determined to leapfrog Fiorentina and close the gap on Lazio and Juventus.

Finally beating Milan at the Dall'Ara would be a big step in the right direction, and they go into Thursday's clash having lost just one league game at home this season.

Recent Performance

Bologna Serie A form:WDWDWL

Bologna form (all competitions):DWWDWL

AC Milan Serie A form:LWDWWL

AC Milan form (all competitions):WWLWDL

Team News

Both Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Kyle Walker have been undergoing personal training programmes as they move closer to returning from injury, but neither will be ready to face Milan in midweek.

With Emerson Royal also sidelined, Walker's absence could see Alex Jimenez come in at right-back, but Davide Bartesaghi and Filippo Terracciano are also in contention.

After a couple of failed experiments, Sergio Conceicao could disband his so-called 'Fab Four' and leave either Christian Pulisic, Joao Felix or Rafael Leao on the bench in search of more stability, with Mexican striker Santiago Gimenez likely to retain his place.

Meanwhile, Bologna will only be without Emil Holm as Jens Odgaard has returned to training ahead of schedule and could come off the bench.

Vincenzo Italiano could make changes after the defeat to Parma - and with Cagliari due to visit the Dall'Ara on Sunday. Lukasz Skorupski is likely to return in goal, while top scorer Riccardo Orsolini could also be recalled to the starting line-up.

Elsewhere, ex-Milan men Tommaso Pobega and Davide Calabria - the latter of whom was the Rossoneri's club captain until last month - could retain their places.

Possible starting lineup

Bologna possible starting lineup:

Skorupski; Calabria, Beukema, Lucumi, Miranda; Freuler, Moro; Orsolini, Pobega, Ndoye; Castro

AC Milan possible starting lineup:

Maignan; Jimenez, Tomori, Pavlovic, Hernandez; Fofana, Musah; Pulisic, Reijnders, Leao; Gimenez