Milan are five games into Chinese ownership and have not won a match under the new era. Alternating draws with losses, the Rossoneri will be hard pressed towards victory in their final home game of the season.
Bologna will travel to the San Siro in what can be considered a throw away match for them. They sit in 15th place but have no fear of relegation and no possibility of a top ten spot.
For Milan this game puts them on the cusp of a do or die situation. With a very thin chance at moving up the table at all, Milan will hope to hold onto the 6th place spot and secure Europa League for next season. A win on Sunday can see that clinched.
If Fiorentina and Inter both fail to win this weekend and Milan win, then Europa will be secured. With Fiore travelling to Napoli and Inter away at Lazio, this is a very real scenario.
PRE-MATCH STATS AND FACTS
1. AC Milan have scored 212 goals so far against Bologna – the most in top flight football against the Felsinei.
2. The Rossoneri have only lost one of their last 14 Serie A games against Bologna.
3. These teams have met a total of 137 times in Serie A; Milan have 62 wins and Bologna only 38.
THE TEAMS
Milan are so close to touching European competition for the first time since 2014. Knowing what is at stake; Vincenzo Montella is expected to field a powerful line up.
Gabriel Paletta is expected to return from suspension and take the place of Gustavo Gomez, while La Gazzetta dello Sport believes that Bacca will start up front with Lapadula in a 3-5-2, with Deulofeu playing RWB.
Tuttosport on the other hand thinks Calabria could start at wing-back in place of the Spaniard, who will return a place up front, while they also claim Montella could return to a 4-3-3.
AC Milan (3-5-2): Donnarumma; Zapata (Gomez), Paletta, Romagnoli; Deulofeu, Pasalic, Montolivo, Bertolacci, Vangioni; Lapadula, Bacca.
Bologna (4-3-3): Mirante; Torosidis, Gastaldello, Helander, Mbaye; Donsah, Pulgar, Taider; Verdi, Destro, Di Francesco.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
If you’re a fan of classy defending than your player to watch this weekend is Alessio Romagnoli. The former Roma man is easily the best defender in this Rossoneri side.
He returned from injury last time out but was not 100% fit then, but Romagnoli is expected to be in top condition for the match against Bologna. If there ever was a week for a wonderful display in defense it is this one.
For the visiting side, be sure to keep your eyes on both Mattia Destro and Simone Verdi. The two have combined for 17 goals and both have played for Milan in the past. History shows us that the easiest way to score against Milan is to be a former player!
LAST TIME THEY MET
The reverse fixture was not the best display by Milan but, a scrappy win nonetheless. Paletta and Kucka received red cards which saw Milan down to just nine men on the pitch. A very late goal from Mario Pasalic had Montella’s men pull off the 1-0 victory in the dying minutes of the match.
