Bologna host AC Milan in their season opener on Monday night and they will look to pull off a morale-boosting win at home.
The home side finished 9th in the league table last season and they will be looking to push for European qualification this time around. In addition to that, Bologna they have a poor head-to-head record against AC Milan and they will look to make amends.
The visitors finished 4th in the league table last season and they will look to challenge for the league title once again. AC Milan will look to extend their impressive run of form against Bologna with a win away from home.
A victory here will boost their confidence at the start of the season and it remains to be seen whether they can emerge victorious here.
Coach Pioli's presser ahead of our season opener 🎙️#SerieATIM debut 🔜
Our goals 🎯
New players in the squad 🆕Le riflessioni del Mister alla vigilia di #BolognaMilan 🎥#SempreMilan pic.twitter.com/rSP0s2cDBH
— AC Milan (@acmilan) August 20, 2023
Team News and Tactics
Bologna
The home side will be without the services of Musa Barrow and Adama Soumaoro because of injuries.
The home side are likely to shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Lukasz Skorupski in goal.
Stefan Posch and Charalampos Lykogiannis will be deployed as the full-backs. The two players will look to protect the central defenders and keep the defensive shape intact. In the heart of the defence, Sam Beukema will partner Jhon Lucumi.
In the midfield pivot Nikola Moro and Nicolas Dominguez will look to shield the central defenders and break up the opposition play.
Riccardo Orsolini and Michel Aebischer will add width and flair to the side while Lewis Ferguson creates goal-scoring opportunities from the central areas. Joshua Zirkzee will lead the line for the home side.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Skorupski; Posch, Beukema, Lucumi, Lykogiannis; Moro, Dominguez; Orsolini, Ferguson, Aebischer; Zirkzee
AC Milan
The visitors will be without the services of Ismael Bennacer because of an injury.
Stefano Pioli is likely to line up his side in a 4-3-3 formation with Mike Maignan in goal.
Pierre Kalulu and Theo Hernandez will be the full-backs and the two players will look to contribute offensively apart from their defensive responsibilities. Malick Thiaw will partner Fikayo Tomori at the heart of the defence.
In the midfield, Rade Krunic will be the defensive midfielder with Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Tijjani Reijnders adding drive and work rate to the side.
Olivier Giroud will lead the line for AC Milan with Christian Pulisic and Rafael Leao on either side of him.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Maignan; Kalulu, Tomori, Thiaw, Hernandez; Loftus-Cheek, Krunic, Reijnders; Pulisic, Giroud, Leao
Key Stats
- AC Milan are undefeated in their last 17 away matches against Bologna in all competitions.
- AC Milan have won their last 3 matches (Serie A).
- 15 goals have been scored in the last six matches between these two sides.
- AC Milan have kept two clean sheets in their last three meetings against Bologna.
Key Player
Rafael Leao
Rafael Leao 🇵🇹 avec le maillot Third de l’AC Milan 💜💙#ACMilan #Leao pic.twitter.com/9vKdWXBISQ
— FOOT CORNER (@Foot_Corner_Off) August 17, 2023
The Portuguese international is undoubtedly the best attacker at the club and AC Milan will need him to be in top form if they want to break through the home defence.
The 24-year-old will add pace, flair and creativity to the side from the wide areas and Milan will need him to chip in with goals as well.
Leao is undoubtedly one of the best players in the Italian league and he is our key man to watch out for.
Prediction
Bologna 1-2 AC Milan
The visitors are undoubtedly the better team here and they are unbeaten in their last 17 away matches against tomorrow’s opposition. They will be desperate to start the season on a winning note and Bologna might find it difficult to contain them.
The front three of Giroud, Leao and Pulisic have enough quality to dismantle the home defence and the visitors should be able to grind out a narrow victory on the road.