In a fascinating precursor to next week’s cup final, AC Milan and Bologna will clash in Serie A’s Friday night kickoff, with the visitors needing maximum points at San Siro.
While Milan’s league race is all but run, as they lie only ninth in the table, the Rossoblu are still fighting for a precious top-four finish.
Match preview
Benefiting from a new tactical system that has brought four wins from five matches, Milan are clearly intent on finishing their chaotic campaign with a flourish.
The Rossoneri sacked Paulo Fonseca in mid-season, before Sergio Conceicao immediately led them to victory in the Supercoppa Italiana, but they subsequently limped out of Europe and continued to toil in Serie A.
Yet, the Lombardy giants recently defeated arch-rivals Inter Milan to reach the Coppa Italia final, which sparked back-to-back away wins in the league.
On Monday night, Rafael Leao – required to do less defensive work in Milan’s fresh 3-4-2-1 formation – found the net in a 2-1 victory over Genoa, marking the club’s latest comeback since Conceicao took charge.
So, they will aim to win three consecutive league games for just the second time this season – and the first since September – when kicking off a double-header with Bologna on Friday.
Milan may have all but given up on continental qualification through Serie A, but beating the Rossoblu in Rome next week would secure their first Coppa Italia for 22 years and book a ticket to Europe.
After a run of 13 defeats and four draws against Milan in the top flight, Bologna finally prevailed in their most recent meeting: the Emilian club fought back from Leao’s opening goal to win 2-1 at Stadio Dall’Ara in February.
Having last done the league double over their second-city counterparts way back in 1940, Bologna would love to finally do so again – for at least two reasons.
First, Vincenzo Italiano’s side could strike a psychological blow ahead of Wednesday’s cup final; secondly, they need points to stay in the mix for Champions League qualification.
Following last week’s 1-1 home draw with Juventus, the Rossoblu sit seventh in the standings – one of four teams separated by a single point, all chasing fourth place.
A defining 10 days now await, as after meeting Milan in league and cup they must face old foes Fiorentina in the Derby dell’Appennino.
With three games to go, Italiano and co have 62 points on the board, so they can potentially still surpass their club record during the three-points-for-a-win era: 68, set last term.
However, Bologna have failed to score in either of their last two away games – losing 2-0 to Atalanta BC before drawing 0-0 with Udinese – and they now visit a sleeping giant apparently waking up from its slumber.
Team News
Though Rafael Leao is sidelined by suspension, Tammy Abraham – who missed Milan’s Monday night game due to a thigh problem – has returned to full training and can vie with Luka Jovic and Santiago Gimenez for selection up front.
Recently returned from a long layoff, Emerson Royal could also make the squad, but Youssouf Fofana is still struggling with a foot injury so will be assessed closer to the match. Warren Bondo (ankle) and Riccardo Sottil (thigh) are both set to miss out.
Joao Felix and Kyle Walker only appeared as substitutes at Genoa’s Stadio Ferraris, and they head a queue of contenders pushing for promotion to the hosts’ starting XI.
While Sergio Conceicao can afford to make changes, with little likelihood of making the top seven, his opposite number Italiano must surely go full strength at San Siro.
Having scored Bologna’s opener in the reverse fixture – before Dan Ndoye netted a late winner – Santiago Castro will hope to be recalled. However, Dutch striker Thijs Dallinga has been preferred by Italiano of late.
Joining Ndoye on the treatment table, Emil Holm is set to be ruled out again, so Lorenzo De Silvestri and former Milan captain Davide Calabria will compete to start at right-back.
AC Milan possible starting lineup:
Maignan; Tomori, Gabbia, Pavlovic; Jimenez, Loftus-Cheek, Reijnders, Hernandez; Pulisic, Felix; Jovic
Bologna possible starting lineup:
Skorupski; Calabria, Beukema, Lucumi, Miranda; Freuler, Ferguson; Orsolini, Odgaard, Cambiaghi; Dallinga
