Half of the ground were still yet to take their seats when Bologna sent the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara wild, with an immediate foray forward seeing Stefan Posch play in Sansone. Also the opening scorer in Bologna’s win over Atalanta last weekend, he smashed an effort just under the crossbar past Mike Maignan, registering his fifth all-time Serie A goal against the Rossoneri. Milan’s response was well handled in the minutes following that stunning breakthrough, though Ante Rebić felt he should have had a penalty after being felled by a challenge inside the box.
Milan’s growing dominance in possession was well-weathered by Bologna for most of the first period, but the visitors would eventually get a leveller five minutes before HT, thanks to some questionable man-marking. An aerial ball caused confusion inside the Bologna area, and a failed clearance found its way to Pobega, who fired past Skorupski from outside the area at his near post with the outside of his left boot, netting his first away goal since May 2021 and ending any chance of Bologna winning three top-flight games in a row ‘to nil’ for the first time since February 1973.
The hosts themselves had a whole interval to reflect on that, and use their frustration to emerge with renewed purpose. However, Milan had clearly learned from their earlier mistake and continued to control play, albeit without creating many clear opportunities. In turn, both managers rang the changes up front, with Thiago Motta deploying Joshua Zirkzee and his counterpart Stefano Pioli turning to Junior Messias for inspiration just before the hour mark.
Even as the latter stages unfolded, Milan showed no ill effects from a hard-fought UEFA Champions League (UCL) win over Napoli, and should have completed the turnaround 20 minutes from time. A searing charge down the right flank from substitute Messias found Rebić right in front of goal, but the Croatian could only nudge the delivery inches wide of goal under pressure.
Late half-chances came and went for both sides, but it was to be honours even at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara. Milan remain fourth for now, but a much-anticipated victory for Internazionale over Monza later on will see them leapfrogged into the final UCL spot by their bitter rivals. As for Bologna, they remain in contention for European football next term, though they have now played a game more than seventh-placed Juventus.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Tommaso Pobega (AC Milan)
