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Milan logo
Serie A | Gameweek 36
May 9, 2025 at 7.45pm UK
Stadio Giuseppe Meazza
Bologna logo

AC Milan
vs.
Bologna

Preview: AC Milan vs. Bologna - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Friday's Serie A clash between AC Milan and Bologna, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

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

AC Milan duo Christian Pulisic and Rafael Leao in September 2024.© Imago

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.

Bologna coach Vincenzo Italiano on December 15, 2025© Imago

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.

AC Milan Serie A form:


AC Milan form (all competitions):


Bologna Serie A form:


Bologna form (all competitions):



Team News

Tammy Abraham celebrates scoring for Milan on April 2, 2025© Imago

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


SM words green background

We say: AC Milan 2-1 Bologna

Italy's top comeback kings lock horns, just ahead of their Coppa Italia contest in Rome: Milan have earned 19 points from losing positions this season - including three last time out - while Bologna have battled back to gain 18.

So, there could be several twists and turns before the home side prevail, continuing their revival and serving a blow to the visitors' Champions League dreams.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


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Written by
Jonathan O'Shea

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Data Failed

Who will win Friday's Serie A clash between AC Milan and Bologna?

AC Milan
Draw
Bologna
AC Milan
66.7%
Draw
22.2%
Bologna
11.1%
9
Collect / Create New Data
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rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Napoli35238455253077
2Inter Milan35228573334074
3Atalanta BCAtalanta35208771314068
4Juventus351615452322063
5Roma35189850321863
6Lazio35189858451363
7Bologna351614553381562
8Fiorentina351781053351859
9AC Milan351691055391657
10Como35129144548-345
11Torino351014113940-144
12Udinese35128153849-1144
13Genoa35912143043-1339
14CagliariCagliari3589183651-1533
15Parma35614154054-1432
16Hellas VeronaHellas Verona3595213063-3332
17Lecce3569202457-3327
18VeneziaVenezia35414172849-2126
19Empoli35413182755-2825
20Monza3529242563-3815


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