At the Meazza Milan-Bologna 2-2.
A Milan betrayed by penalties did not go beyond a 2-2 home draw against an excellent Bologna. For Pioli’s men, who missed two spot kicks, Loftus-Cheek’s brace was not enough. The Rossoneri are unable to take advantage of Juventus’ misstep when they were stopped at home by Empoli and remain -7 behind the Bianconeri and -5 behind Inter who however have two games in hand. Bologna instead rises to 33, momentarily reaching Lazio in sixth position
First half of the game exciting and very open, with the hosts taking the reins of the match from the first minutes, but Bologna responds blow for blow and takes the lead in the 29th minute with Zirkzee who, at the end of an insistent action, collects from a tight angle beats Maignan with a precise right cross. Milan reacted by winning a penalty for a foul by Ferguson on Kajer in the 39th minute: on this occasion the Emilian coach Thiago Motta was sent off for protests. From the spot, however, Giroud had his shot saved by Skorupski. The Rossoneri equalizer, however, still came at the end of the half, with Loftus-Cheek, able to send Calabria’s assist from the right into the net.
Second part of the race with a sensational opportunity starting for Bologna in the 49th minute. Cross from the right to Zirkzee who controls, Kajer jumps, but shoots high from two steps. The hosts hit the woodwork in the 64th minute with Reijnders and missed a second penalty awarded by the referee in the 75th minute. This time it’s Theo Hernández who misses the penalty by kicking the post. In the last 15′ Milan poured into the Bologna area and took the lead in the 84th minute. Cross from the right by Florenzi: Loftus-Cheek jumps higher than anyone and beats Skorupski. Milan-Bologna 2-1. In the ninetieth minute, Terracciano commits a foul on Kristiansen in the area and the referee allows the shot from 11 meters after consulting the VAR. Newly substitute Orsolini takes charge of the serve and makes no mistake for the final 2-2 in the 90’+3′ minute.
The home team didn’t just want to consolidate third place in the standings, they were trying to get back into the running for the championship. The people from Bologna, on the other hand, continue to dream of the Champions League zone. In the first leg, played at the Dall’Ara, the Rossoneri prevailed 0-2.
Pioli’s team had won their last four games in Serie A and were coming off six consecutive useful results. In the last round there was a 2-3 success at Udinese.
The rossoblù, after a certainly positive start and a temporary decline, are trying to resume their Champions League path. Thiago Motta, already courted by several top Italian clubs and beyond, dreams big even if in the last championship match there was a 2-1 defeat at Cagliari.
The official lineups
MILAN (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Calabria, Kjær, Gabbia, Theo Hernández, Adli, Reijnders; Pulisic, Loftus-Cheek, R. Leão, Giroud. Allenatore: Pioli.
BOLOGNA (4-3-2-1): Skorupski; De Silvestri, Beukema, Calafiori, Kristiansen, Freuler, Aebischer, Fabbian, Urbanski, Ferguson; Zirkzee. Coach: Motta.
lapresse
Milan Vs Bologna – Loftus-Cheek celebrates
The match
The home team started aggressively straight away: in the 4th minute Leao Leão tries a shot from outside the area, which is blocked by the rossoblù defence. Two minutes later Bologna responds: Zirkzee opens on the right for De Silvestri who crosses cutting across the entire penalty area, but Milan’s defense clears.
For the first 15 minutes, a lively game with Pioli’s team dominating, although Motta’s team tried to repel the home team’s attacks with quick counterattacks.
In the 18th minute Leão was again very dangerous: the Rossoneri striker skips the man on the left and kicks hard towards goal, Skorupski responds with his fist.
The Bolognese, after having suffered a couple of attacks from Milan, showed up again in the 24th minute. On a throw from Calafiori, Fabbian attempts a lob but Gabbia puts it in the corner.
The guests persisted and found the goal in the 29th minute of the advantage. Drumming action by the rossoblù which the Milan defense saves twice, but the ball reaches Zirkzee who beats Maignan from a tight angle.
In the 31st minute the home team came close to equalising: cross from the midfield, Kjaer headed just over.
But Bologna is still dangerous in the 33rd minute on the counterattack: a quick restart with the ball for Fabbian who shoots, but is blocked by the Rossoneri rearguard.
Milan tries to push and close Motta’s team in their frontcourt, but the Emilians are very quick on the counterattack.
In the 39th minute Ferguson intervenes by hitting Kjaer in the face: referee Massa immediately points to the spot.
The last minutes of the first half are very excited. In the 41st minute, Bologna coach Thiago Motta was sent off for excessive protests during the penalty kick.
At 42′ Giroud takes the penalty, but his shot is weak, Skorupski senses it and blocks.
The match becomes nervous, with yellow cards especially for AC Milan.
At the end of natural time, Milan equalized in the 45th minute. Calabria breaks through to the right and crosses back for the perfect insertion of Loftus-Cheek who makes no mistake from a few steps. Milan-Bologna 1-1.
After three minutes of injury time the referee sends the teams to half-time.
In the second half a sensational opportunity for Bologna in the 49th minute. Cross from the right to Zirkzee who controls, Kajer jumps, but shoots high from two steps.
In the 51st minute Bologna shoots again: Aebischer shoots forcefully from the edge, but his shot is high.
Bologna insists that they are having an excellent phase and in the 53rd minute the usual Zirkzee shoots from inside the area, but the shot is central and Maignan blocks.
Triple substitution by Pioli in the 60th minute: Florenzi comes on in place of Calabria, Musah also comes on in midfield to replace Adli, while Jović replaces Giroud as center forward
In the 64th minute Milan came very close to scoring: from the corner, he collects Reijnders from the edge and shoots right into the top corner.
Three minutes later Motta’s counter move arrives with a double substitution: Urbanski comes out and Saelemaekers comes in as an attacking winger, while Moro replaces Aebischer in midfield.
Another opportunity for Milan in the 69th minute: Pulisic crosses from the right, the ball reaches Leão who, almost taken by surprise, hits it badly and sends it out.
Two minutes later Bologna responds but the action is neutralized by the Rossoneri defense.
In the 73rd minute the referee decreed the second penalty for Milan. Disruptive descent by Leão who enters the area and is hit by Beukema’s wide arm.
Another mistake from the spot for the hosts. This time Theo kicks from the spot Hernández hitting the poston the rebound he reiterates the goal, but the goal comes from the direct rebound from the woodwork and is therefore annulled.
In the last 15′ Milan poured into the Bologna area and took the lead in the 84th minute. Cross from the right by Florenzi: Loftus-Cheek jumps higher than anyone and beats Skorupski. Milan-Bologna 2-1.
It seems over, but it’s not. In the ninetieth minute, Terracciano commits a foul on Kristiansen in the area and the referee allows the shot from 11 meters after consulting the VAR. Newly substitute Orsolini takes charge of the serve and makes no mistake for the final 2-2 in the 90’+3′ minute
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Milan vs Bologna – goal from Loftus-Cheek
A banner against racism at the Meazza
In the sixteenth minute of the Serie A match between AC Milan and Bologna, the match stopped momentarily – a powerful pause that echoes the Rossoneri’s strong stance against discrimination, promoting a call for change. An active part of the moment were the over 71,000 spectators present, who transformed the stadium into a sea of lights with the flashlights of their smartphones. This collective act was accompanied by the projection of a Martin Luther King quote on the big screen: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.” In addition to the spectators in the stands and the 165 accredited journalists in the stadium, who directly experienced and actively participated in the initiative, the strong message conveyed by the Club today resonated globally. It resonated in over 150 countries and territories, reaching viewers around the world who tuned in to watch the match. This has broadened the scope of the message of which AC Milan has become the spokesperson, but has also contributed to reaching over 550 million Rossoneri fans around the world and all football fans, helping to maintain high attention on the topic of discrimination.
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Poster in San Siro against racism during the Milan vs Bologna match