AC Milan vs Bologna Serie A Match Preview and Predictions

Image credits: Imago

AC Milan are set to face Bologna in a rescheduled Serie A match, with the two teams currently tied on 41 points in seventh and eighth place. The match, which was originally scheduled for October, was postponed due to flood warnings in the area around the Stadio Dall’Ara. Milan will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Torino on Saturday, while Bologna will be seeking to recover from a 2-0 loss to local rivals Parma.

Milan coach Sergio Conceicao has been experimenting with different tactics in training, including the so-called "Fantastic Four" of Christian Pulisic, Santiago Gimenez, Rafael Leao, and Joao Felix. However, the team will be without injured players Kyle Walker, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Emerson Royal, and Alessandro Florenzi. Youssouf Fofana is expected to start after two consecutive games on the bench, while Riccardo Sottil is pushing for a place on the left flank. The tactical approach of Milan will be crucial in this match, as they seek to exploit the weaknesses of Bologna's defense.

Bologna, on the other hand, will be looking to capitalize on Milan's recent struggles on the road. The team has not won any of their last 18 contests with Milan at Stadio Dall’Ara, dating back to 2002. However, they have been tough to beat on home soil, with only one defeat in their last 16 home league games. The home advantage will be a significant factor in this match, as Bologna seek to use their familiarity with the stadium to their advantage. The team's strategy will be to use their knowledge of the pitch to outmaneuver Milan and catch them off guard.

The possible starting lineups for the two teams are:

• Bologna: Skorupski; Calabria, Beukema, Lucumi, Lykogiannis; Freuler, Ferguson; Orsolini, Pobega, Ndoye; Castro
• Milan: Maignan; Jimenez, Thiaw, Pavlovic, Theo; Musah, Fofana; Pulisic, Reijnders, Leao; Gimenez

The match is expected to be a closely contested affair, with both teams seeking to make up lost ground in the top-four race. A low-scoring draw is a possible outcome, given the defensive strengths of both teams. However, Milan's recent struggles on the road and Bologna's strong home record make the hosts a slight favorite to win.

Some key stats ahead of the match include:

• AC Milan are unbeaten in their last 17 games against Bologna in Serie A (W13 D4)
• Bologna have not won any of their last 18 contests with Milan at Stadio Dall’Ara, dating back to 2002
• Milan have lost only two away games against Bologna this millennium, and they were the first two games that they played, in 2000-01 and 2001-02
• Bologna have spent the fewest minutes trailing in home Serie A matches this season (only 42), while AC Milan (222) rank ninth for most minutes leading away from home in the competition this term

These stats suggest that the match will be a closely contested affair, with both teams seeking to exploit the weaknesses of their opponents. The outcome of the match will depend on the tactical approach of the two teams, as well as their ability to execute their strategies on the pitch.

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