AC Milan head coach Sergio Conceicao has made two changes to the team that beat Bologna on Friday night for the Coppa Italia Final.
It always seemed like Milan were more likely to attack the games with the same XI, or at least near enough, and this much have proved true, with Conceicao being forced into a change on Friday night.
Read SempreMilan ad-free and get access to exclusive news. Click here for a free trial!
The gamble paid off in Serie A, with the Rossoneri picking up a vital three points, which could help them get into Europe via the league, which has seemed like a difficulty for some time. Whether it will have an impact here though will be seen this evening.
AC Milan vs. Bologna: Official starting XIs
We have seen a more consistent team in place now in the past few weeks, and Conceicao has not strayed from his ways, keeping the system and almost all of his personnel the same. At the back, Mike Maignan, Fikayo Tomori, Matteo Gabbia and Strahinja Pavlovic retain their places, with Alex Jimenez and Theo Hernandez on the flank.
The questioned Youssouf Fofana returns to the starting XI after getting back to full fitness and he will partner Tijjani Reijnders. Leading the line will be the same trio as Conceicao has normally relied; Christian Pulisic, Rafael Leao (who returns) and Luka Jovic.
Other big news comes from the bench with Emerson Royal chosen in a match day squad for the first time since January.
Official Milan XI (3-4-3): Maignan; Tomori, Gabbia, Pavlovic; Jimenez, Fofana, Reijnders, Theo; Pulisic, Jovic, Leao.
Bench:Torriani, Sportiello, Thiaw, Walker, Emerson Royal, Bartesaghi, Florenzi, Terracciano, Musah, Loftus-Cheek, Chukwueze, Joao Felix, Abraham, Gimenez, Camarda.
Official Bologna XI (4-2-3-1):Skorupski; Holm, Lucumi, Beukema, Miranda; Ferguson, Freuler; Orsolini, Fabbian, Ndoye; Castro.
Bench: Bagnolini, Ravaglia, Erlic, Moro, Calabria, Casale, El Azzouzi, Pobega, Aebischer, Odgaard, Lykogiannis, Dalling, Cambiaghi, De Silversti, Dominguez.
Wow Felix is so good he is on the bench and playing at the same time
Mistyped there buddy
Wth happen with Leao???
Felix is mentioned both in the XI and on the bench so something clearly is wrong here but hopefully it means Leao starts in stead.
On paper we should be able to win this one so hopefully the players shows up with the right mindset and attitude throughout the match.
Damn, Calabria isn’t starting for Bologna.
I was hoping they’ll start him.
Let’s go boys! LETS GOOOOOO!!!!!
We need a good start!
Forza Milan
Leao’s in the mood thank god..
Good start.
Looking dangerous.
But so are they.
I can see Tomori getting turned inside out by Ndoye for a goal…
I can see Tomori getting sent off in this game. He’s committed about 5 fouls already and screams at the ref after every one, when they are clearly fouls.
Just got his first yellow 😅 We need a whole new back line for next season sheesh..
He better come off at halftime or we know how this ends. We’ve seen that movie before.
Our players like to run with the ball for too long especially the non creators. I get when Puli, Leao and Deers does it because they’ll create or get fouled but Jiminez shouldn’t be holding on to the ball so long. Pass off esp as the defence collapses on you aka basic football
How is it possible to get your tactics wrong to start every single match? It’s really quite remarkable.
This team is so frustrating to watch. Nobody can pass. Everyone wants to dribble too much.
Well he just got his first yellow. He has to come off. He is not capable of playing on a yellow. We all know this. Bring in Walker.
Getting roasted here. All part of the plan I’m sure
Pavlovic looking very shaky.
Jovic doing well though
They should sack this guy tonight absolutely he is useless
Bologna have possession but they aren’t doing a whole lot with it so far. Milan smart to defend and counter here.
Ref is losing control here though …
Bad refereeing on that Pulisic yellow card
That free against and then dissent yellow on Pulisic was a shocker from referee.
Good, maybe now we’ll start to actually play.
Welp! Time to pull a…. Milan I guess haha
Calabria cross to Slowbega goal would be interesting haha 😅
3-4-3 and our defense is a shambles. Down 1-0 now. But hey, that’s when we start playing right?
How was that not offside?
Is Ndoye back on the pitch yet after that celebration? Anyone would’ve thought they’d just won the game…
Given that this is the only trophy they have a chance to win in the next 100 years, they celebrated like it.
Milan playing like they are winning 5:0! Wtf is wrong with this team!
Why felix?!
Every one of our players is trying to win the game on their own. This is not a team.
Well, another 2 hours I’ll never have back. This team is a disgrace.
Wish we lost the last game and win this cup this is the only meaningful game left this season
Can’t understand bringing on Gimenez when we are counter attacking. He is useless in build up. Jovic was playing well and Abraham is a better counter attacker
Add Felix and we are minus 2
Agree
There are 8 min left and we are passing it around the back like we have all the time in the world. No answer to the press.
Here comes Tammy. About time we have a CF who can be a link on a game like this.
And Chuk.
Pretty sure I am reading the score wrong. Clearly we are parking the bus and defending a lead.
I was begining to like the coach or have a change of mind we retain him once we win but as it stands if we lose this game he should be sacked and we need a total rebuild it’s so painful to watch. Not watching it seeing the scores am angry talkless of you guys watching it I can imagine
Why judge the coach on one game. Why not judge on all the games because clearly if one loss make you think like this, then he wasn’t good in the first place.
He is an average coach trust me but I always give room for improvement but I can’t stomach this season so I feel there should do total overhaul
Very useless team!
Delighted for Bologna. They deserve it. Bravo to them!
Darkest of darkest of seasons
You’re forgetting the Pippo season? That’s prime banter era.
As much as I adored Pippo as a player his coaching was basically 4-2-4 with a bunch of crap players which quite infuriated me for the most parts of his tenure. Seedorf back then actually gave me some hope but he was too open mouthed for Silvio or Galliani to accept that he wanted according to the curva to sell off 75% of the overpaid over their fall of their career type of players to move forward.
Well we at least did that with Maldini and now we are here again.
“Winning is boring”…right mr Gerry Clowndinale ? 😆😆
Vatteneeeee pagliaccioooo !!! Looser…
Yankees go home !
Can’t even beat a simple man-to-man press…. Pass back, long pass forward, turnover… Story of the entire game.
Kudos to Bologna. Well done. Good Luck in Europe.
Milan’s management absolutely deserves this embarrassment. Not that this cup would have been vindication of any sort. The fact that we needed this useless trophy to get into Europe already speaks volumes. But now that there’s no Europe altogether next season…
Well done Elliott/RedBird. Well done.
Conceicao. LMAO!! This man is the worst. Back passes when losing ? Maignan had more touches than Jovic,Puli, Leao and the midfield. Smh.
Very disappointing.
But on the bright side, this would have only served to be cosmetic success , while the deep trenching problems linger on. Loss can be good for a thorough reset.
Those Poor B@stards – The Bright Side
Things are bound to get better
Someday you’ll be happy
You’re gonna find true love
And start up a family
Bullsh1t! Fockin’ bullsh1t!
Nothin’ ain’t never gonna
Get no better no how
You gotta look on the bright side
Take a walk in the sunshine
The Lord is on your side
And people are good
Bullsh1t! Fockin’ bullsh1t!
Nothin’ ain’t never gonna
Get no better no how ………