Bologna welcome AC Milan in their rescheduled Serie A clash on Thursday night.
Bologna and AC Milan will finally face off in a long-awaited rescheduled Serie A fixture on Thursday, with both teams level on points and eager to strengthen their top-four ambitions. Originally scheduled for October 2024, the match was postponed due to adverse weather conditions, and now both sides will fight to gain ground after weekend setbacks.
Milan’s season has taken a downward turn, with back-to-back defeats compounding a frustrating European exit. After throwing away a victory against injury-hit Feyenoord in the UEFA Champions League playoffs, they suffered a painful 2-1 Serie A loss to Torino last Saturday.
That match saw Malick Thiaw score an own goal for the second time against Torino this season, joining club legend Franco Baresi as the only Milan player to achieve such an unwanted record. Meanwhile, Christian Pulisic saw his penalty saved, as Vanja Milinkovic-Savic repeatedly denied Milan a way back into the game.
Since lifting the Supercoppa Italiana, Milan have been inconsistent, and their recent away form has been poor, losing four of their last five matches across all competitions. With an eight-point gap to fourth-placed Juventus, Sergio Conceicao’s men desperately need a win to stay in the UEFA Champions League race.
The good news for Milan is that they will meet their favourite opponent in Bologna. The Rossoneri are unbeaten in their last 17 Serie A meetings with Bologna, winning 13 times since their last defeat in 2016. Even more impressively, Bologna have not beaten AC Milan at Stadio Dall’Ara in 18 games, a streak dating back to 2002.
Much like their visitors, Bologna have European ambitions and remain in the hunt for a top-four finish. However, their momentum took a hit on Saturday when they suffered a shock 2-0 loss to local rivals Parma, ending their unbeaten start to 2025.
Before that defeat, Vincenzo Italiano’s side had been one of just three unbeaten teams since the turn of the year, and they remain eighth in the standings, just behind the clubs fighting for UEFA Champions League qualification.
Bologna are eager to surpass Fiorentina and challenge Lazio and Juventus, but to do so, they must overcome their long-standing struggles against Milan. Encouragingly, they have been strong at home this season, suffering just one league defeat at Stadio Dall’Ara.
A victory over Milan would be a massive statement, breaking a 22-year winless run at home against the Rossoneri, while boosting their top-four hopes. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how both sides could line up and what tactics they might employ on the day.
Team News & Tactics
Bologna FC 1909
Bologna head into this rescheduled clash with minimal injury concerns, with only Emil Holm unavailable for selection. Jens Odgaard has returned to training earlier than expected and could be included on the bench, giving Vincenzo Italiano an extra attacking option.
Following their disappointing 2-0 defeat to Parma, Italiano is expected to make several changes as Bologna look to bounce back while also keeping one eye on their weekend fixture against Cagliari. Lukasz Skorupski is set to return as the first-choice goalkeeper, while Riccardo Orsolini, Bologna’s top scorer, is expected to be reinstated to the starting XI to provide an additional attacking threat.
Meanwhile, former Milan duo Tommaso Pobega and Davide Calabria could keep their places in the side, adding a familiar element to this high-stakes fixture. Calabria, who was Milan’s club captain until last month, will be particularly motivated to make an impact against his former club.
Bologna are likely to set up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, a system that gives them defensive stability while allowing their attacking players to break forward in transition. In goal, Lukasz Skorupski will take his place between the posts, bringing experience and reliability to the side.
The back four will consist of Davide Calabria at right-back, with Sam Beukema and Jhon Lucumi forming the central defensive partnership. Juan Miranda will slot in at left-back, offering both defensive coverage and attacking support when needed.
In midfield, Remo Freuler and Nikola Moro will operate as a double pivot, with Freuler sitting deeper to dictate play while Moro links defence to attack. Further forward, Riccardo Orsolini will take up his usual position on the right wing, using his dribbling and goalscoring ability to trouble Milan’s defence.
Tommaso Pobega, deployed in an advanced central role, will provide attacking support and physicality, while Dan Ndoye will add pace and directness on the left flank. Leading the line will be Santiago Castro, tasked with holding up play and capitalizing on any goalscoring opportunities against a Milan defence that has looked vulnerable in recent weeks.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Skorupski; Calabria, Beukema, Lucumi, Miranda; Freuler, Moro; Orsolini, Pobega, Ndoye; Castro
AC Milan
AC Milan will remain without Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Kyle Walker, as both players are still recovering from injuries and following personalized training programs. While their return is approaching, neither will be available for this midweek clash against Bologna.
Additionally, Emerson Royal is sidelined, further limiting Milan’s right-back options. With Kyle Walker also unavailable, Alex Jimenez could be given the nod to start at right-back, though Davide Bartesaghi and Filippo Terracciano are also under consideration.
Head coach Sergio Conceicao may choose to disband his so-called ‘Fab Four’, a tactic that has failed to deliver the desired balance in recent matches. This could mean that one of Christian Pulisic, Joao Felix, or Rafael Leao starts from the bench in favour of a more stable setup. Meanwhile, Mexican striker Santiago Giménez is expected to retain his place as Milan’s main attacking threat.
Milan are set to stick with a 4-2-3-1 formation, offering attacking fluidity while maintaining defensive discipline. In goal, Mike Maignan will continue as the first-choice goalkeeper, providing a commanding presence between the posts.
The defensive line will feature Alex Jimenez at right-back, with Fikayo Tomori and Strahinja Pavlovic forming the centre-back pairing. On the left, Theo Hernández will continue as the attacking full-back, looking to exploit spaces and support the attack.
In midfield, Youssouf Fofana and Yunus Musah will form the double pivot, with Fofana bringing defensive stability, while Musah will offer energy and drive from central areas.
In the attacking midfield trio, Christian Pulisic will likely start on the right wing, with Tijjani Reijnders operating as the central playmaker, responsible for linking midfield to attack. Rafael Leao is expected to feature on the left flank, providing pace, dribbling, and goalscoring ability.
Leading the line will be Santiago Gimenez, the Mexican forward who has quickly established himself as Milan’s first-choice striker, using his movement and finishing ability to trouble opposition defences.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Jimenez, Tomori, Pavlovic, Hernandez; Fofana, Musah; Pulisic, Reijnders, Leao; Gimenez
Key Stats
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AC Milan are unbeaten in their last 17 Serie A games against Bologna (W13 D4). Bologna’s last victory over Milan came in January 2016 when Emanuele Giaccherini scored the winner at San Siro.
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Bologna haven’t beaten AC Milan at Stadio Dall’Ara since March 2002 (2-0 win), going winless in their last 18 home matches against the Rossoneri (D5 L13). Only Juventus have inflicted a longer home winless run on Bologna in Serie A history.
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After drawing 2-2 with Milan in January 2024, Bologna could avoid defeat in consecutive league meetings against the Rossoneri for the first time since 2011-12, when they earned two straight draws under Stefano Pioli.
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After their 2-0 loss to Parma, Bologna could suffer back-to-back league defeats for the first time in over a year, with their last such occurrence coming in January 2023, when they lost to Roma and Atalanta.
Player to Watch
Tijjani Reijinders
As AC Milan look to reignite their top-four push, Tijjani Reijnders will be a crucial figure in dictating the tempo and controlling the midfield against Bologna. The Dutchman has been one of Milan’s most consistent performers this season, offering a blend of technical quality, work rate, and tactical intelligence.
Reijnders thrives as a deep-lying playmaker, where his ability to progress the ball, break lines with his passing, and recycle possession makes him a key component of Sergio Conceicao’s setup. His composure under pressure and ability to transition play quickly could be decisive in Milan’s bid to break down Bologna’s defensive shape.
With Milan’s attacking trio of Christian Pulisic, Rafael Leão, and Santiago Giménez looking ‘o exploit spaces, Reijnders’ vision and passing range will be essential in creating goal-scoring opportunities. Additionally, his late runs into the box and long-range shooting ability could provide an extra threat in the final third.
If Milan are to overcome Bologna’s resilience and extend their unbeaten run in this fixture, expect Tijjani Reijnders to be at the heart of their midfield dominance, orchestrating play and controlling the game’s rhythm.
Prediction
Bologna FC 1909 1-2 AC Milan
AC Milan’s quality in the final third should be enough to secure a narrow victory, but Bologna will make them work hard for it. With both teams desperate to get back on track, this could be a closely contested battle.
Milan’s dominance over Bologna in recent years suggests they have the psychological edge, but their poor away form and defensive vulnerabilities leave them exposed. Bologna’s home strength and ability to control possession could trouble Milan, but breaking their long winless streak against the Rossoneri will be a tough challenge.
