Serie A preview: AC Milan vs. Bologna

The worldwide break is over and AC Milan are again in motion this weekend, hoping to clinch three factors in opposition to Bologna at San Siro.

After the fiasco within the opener, Milan managed to get issues again on monitor with a 2-0 win in opposition to Lecce final day trip. Then got here the worldwide break, in addition to the ultimate days of the mercato, so some issues have modified in a brief time frame.

Throughout his pre-match press convention, Max Allegri made it clear that Bologna can now not be seen as underdogs. He additionally acknowledged that he’s very proud of how the group has labored recently, whereas Adrien Rabiot may very well be an essential addition.

Recreation date: Sunday, September 13Kick-off time: 20:45 (CEST)Venue: San SiroReferee: Matteo Marcenaro (VAR: Fabbri)

Group information

Beginning with the harm record, you would positively say that it appears to be like good numerically with two accidents. Nevertheless, with Milan having a thinner squad this season, that may make a giant distinction. Particularly when the names are Ardon Jashari and Rafael Leao.

The Portuguese winger was initially anticipated to be again for this one however as defined by Allegri, the muscle he injured is an advanced one. As such, he shouldn’t make it again in time for Udinese both, however somewhat the large conflict in opposition to Napoli.

In any case, Allegri has fairly a superb squad at his disposal. There are a lot of query marks as a result of worldwide break, although, with some gamers travelling lengthy distances and arriving late. To not point out that the late mercato signings might now be given an opportunity too.

The newest experiences recommend that Rabiot will certainly play from begin instantly, whereas Allegri acknowledged that Christopher Nkunku has about half-hour in his legs. Koni De Winter, one other new signing, has additionally been named as a possible alternative for Strahinja Pavlovic in defence.

As for the certainties, Mike Maignan, Fikayo Tomori and Matteo Gabbia ought to retain their spots on the again. In midfield, Luka Modric will certainly begin and the identical might be stated for Alexis Saelemaekers and Pervis Estupinan on the flanks.

Santiago Gimenez can also be nailed on to play up entrance, however whether or not it will likely be alongside Ruben Loftus-Cheek or Christian Pulisic is a distinct query. If the latter, then RLC might doubtlessly begin as an alternative of Youssouf Fofana in midfield, with Samuele Ricci nonetheless anticipated to be benched both manner.

Predicted Milan XI (3-5-2): Maignan; Tomori, cage, de winter; Saelemaekers, Loftus-Cheek, Modric, Rabiot/Fofana, Estupinan; Pulisic, Gimenez.

The opponents

Most of us will know so much about Bologna already, contemplating they beat Milan within the Coppa Italia remaining final season (the much less stated about that, the higher!). Simply to provide a bit of little bit of a recap, although, they managed to retain Vincenzo Italiana as their head coach over the summer time.

This implies {that a} long-term undertaking is in place for the supervisor and the Rossoblu, which is definitely commendable. Then again, some large gross sales had been made within the form of Dan Ndoye to Nottingham Forest and Sam Beukema to Napoli.

The query is whether or not they have performed a adequate job with the replacements, bringing in Martin Vitik and Torbjørn Heggem for the defence, in addition to Jonathan Rowe for the left wing. All issues thought of, it doesn’t really feel just like the group’s high quality has dropped massively in these positions.

Having a look on the outcomes to this point, Bologna have one win and one defeat similar to Milan. They misplaced the primary sport 1-0 to Roma and received the second in opposition to Como with the identical scoreline. There haven’t been many targets to this point, in different phrases, however it’s too early to say if this will probably be a sample.

Riccardo Orsolini obtained off the mark within the win, discovering the again of the online with a deflected effort. For the Rossoblu, it’s tremendous essential that he has a superb begin to the season, given simply how good he might be (and we noticed that within the video games in opposition to Milan final season).

As for the beginning XI, it’s definitely a powerful one. Bernardeschi will definitely be very fascinating to see again in Serie A after his stint in Toronto. It must be famous that Ciro Motionless (one other new signing) and Tommaso Pobega, the previous Milan man, will miss the sport as a consequence of harm.

Predicts of Bologna XI (4-2-3-1): Scorupski; Zortha, Vitic, Heggem, Lykogiannis; Ferguson, Freuler; Bernard, Bernard, Cambing; Fortress.

Face to face

Milan and Bologna have been up in opposition to one another 189 instances, with the Rossoneri prevailing in 88 of those, whereas the Rossoblu have 54 wins to their identify. 44 video games have thus led to attracts, making it a reasonably even fixture even when there’s a favorite.

The final encounter between the 2, as stated, befell within the Coppa Italia and it’s one which Bologna received by the odd objective. Dan Ndoye discovered the again of the online firstly of the second half and Milan couldn’t discover a manner again after that.

Within the league conflict, nevertheless, Milan did handle to discover a manner again after additionally conceding the primary objective of the sport. Orsolini was the goalscorer for the away facet, however then Gimenez (a brace) and Pulisic turned the sport round.

Key stats and info

➤ There have been 87 official head-to-head conferences between the perimeters at San Siro: 51Rossoneri wins, 22 attracts and 14 victories for the Emilian facet.

➤ There have been eight encounters between Massimiliano Allegri and Vincenzo Italiano’steams, with six wins for the Rossoneri boss, one for the Bologna coach and one draw. 5 of Allegri’s six victories completed 1–0.

➤ Milan’s tenth Scudetto, received on the sixth of Might 1979, was mathematically clinched at San Siroafter a 0–0 draw with the Rossoblù.

➤ Santiago Giménez’s solely Serie A brace got here in opposition to Bologna on the ninth of Might, in Milan 3–1Bologna.

➤ Christian Pulisic is the one participant in Milan’s present squad to succeed in double figures in the2025 calendar 12 months (11). Leão is second on seven, with Giménez and Reijnders joint-third onsix apiece.

➤ In final matchday, away to Lecce, Ruben Loftus-Cheek scored his eleventh objective for Milan. He hadnot discovered the online in Rossoneri colors because the thirtieth of March 2024 in opposition to Fiorentina.

➤ Adrien Rabiot ranks twenty first among the many gamers most utilized by Massimiliano Allegri, with 126appearances. Amongst energetic gamers in Serie A 2025/26 coached by the Livorno-bornmanager, Rabiot sits sixth: main the record are Cuadrado (234 apps), adopted by Dybala (228),Morata (142), Locatelli (137) and Rugani (135).

➤ Bologna haven’t received at San Siro in opposition to Milan because the 2015/16 season: 0–1, withEmanuele Giaccherini scoring the decisive objective within the 82′. Since then the groups have playednine matches in Milan, yielding seven Rossoneri wins and two attracts.

➤ Riccardo Orsolini sits fifteenth on Bologna’s all-time scoring chart with 74 targets. He’s two shyof Marino Perani in 14th and three off Claudio Bellucci in thirteenth.

Ones to observe

For Milan, contemplating he scored throughout worldwide responsibility too, a watch have to be stored on Gimenez. It is a large sport for him as he must show himself in Allegri’s system. The supervisor has praised him, providing a confidence increase, and now the Mexican wants to reply.

In midfield, Modric will probably be seeking to run the present as soon as once more and Milan will want him to, particularly since Bologna wish to press onerous. The Croatian is aware of how you can play underneath stress, however his teammates might want to present themselves so he can decide them out.

The final encounter at San Siro highlighted simply how deadly Orsolini might be when given the time and house. He solely wants that one likelihood, roughly, to seek out the again of the online and he will probably be seeking to do it once more tomorrow.

Lastly, Ferguson is a correct warrior in midfield and his box-to-box skills will probably be essential for the Rossoblu. Milan might want to reply with simply as a lot physicality, whereas additionally retaining monitor of his runs up and down the sphere.

Prediction

With related begins to the season, and each with new signings that also must adapt, we may very well be taking a look at an in depth affair beneath the San Siro floodlights. Curva Sud will probably be quiet once more and the Bologna followers have boycotted the sport, so the ambiance is also a bit unusual.

Both manner, I’ve a sense that Milan will have the ability to construct on the Lecce win with one other one this day trip.

AC Milan 2-1 Bologna