Bologna v Milan Live Commentary & Result, 4/15/23, Serie A

Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	+/-	PTS	Form
1	NAP Napoli	38	28	6	4	77	28	+49	90	W D W L W
2	LAZ Lazio	38	22	8	8	60	30	+30	74	W W W D L
3	INT Internazionale	38	23	3	12	71	42	+29	72	W W L W W
4	MIL Milan	38	20	10	8	64	43	+21	70	W W W L W
5	ATA Atalanta	38	19	7	12	66	48	+18	64	W L W L L
6	ROM Roma	38	18	9	11	50	38	+12	63	W L D D L
7	JUV Juventus	38	22	6	10	56	33	+23	62	W L L W W
8	FIO Fiorentina	38	15	11	12	53	43	+10	56	W W D W L
9	BOL Bologna	38	14	12	12	53	49	+4	54	W D W D D
10	TOR Torino	38	14	11	13	42	41	+1	53	L W D W D
11	MON Monza	38	14	10	14	48	52	-4	52	L L W W D
12	UDI Udinese	38	11	13	14	47	48	-1	46	L L L L W
13	SAS Sassuolo	38	12	9	17	47	61	-14	45	L D L L D
14	EMP Empoli	38	10	13	15	37	49	-12	43	L D W D W
15	SAL Salernitana	38	9	15	14	48	62	-14	42	L W D W L
16	LEC Lecce	38	8	12	18	33	46	-13	36	L W D D L
17	SPE Spezia	38	6	13	19	31	62	-31	31	L L D W L
18	VER Hellas Verona	38	7	10	21	31	59	-28	31	L D L L W
19	CRE Cremonese	38	5	12	21	36	69	-33	27	W L L L W
20	SAM Sampdoria	38	3	10	25	24	71	-47	19	L D L D L

That is all for today - thanks for tuning in!

Bologna travel to face 18th-placed Verona next Friday in Serie A while Milan face a mammoth away game against Napoli in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie on Tuesday.

No goals in the second half and the game ends 1-1 between Bologna and Milan. Bologna opened the scoring with Sansone's opener after just 33 seconds but their lead was cancelled out late in the first half after a fine effort from Pobega. The second half saw few chances for either side with Rebic and Diaz's tough chances perhaps the best opportunities of note from either side. Bologna's impressive run continues and they move to within four points of the top six while Milan temporarily move two points clear of Inter but could drop to fifth if I Nerazzurri win their game against Monza later on Saturday.

90' + 3' FULL-TIME: BOLOGNA 1-1 MILAN

90' There will be three minutes of added time to end this game.

G. Kiriakopoulos

Yellow Card

90' A yellow for Kiriakopoulos for a late challenge.

90' LATE CHANCE! Leao does well to get cut a low cross into the box and Diaz should do better. The Spaniard is marked but is unable to make contact with the ball. Perhaps it is a bit behind him but you would expect a player of his quality to do better with that.

89' Vranckx bursts into the box and there are cries of handball by the Milan players. The referee is unmoved.

A. Vranckx

Yellow Card

87' Vranckx gives away the ball in the middle of the park and it's a cynical challenge to haul Dominguez to the floor as he looks to stop the counter attack. A yellow card for the Milan midfielder.

87' Calabria tries to cut back onto his left foot to create room for the cross but his attempt is blocked.

G. Medel

J. Schouten

85' Bologna turn to their bench again as Schouten makes way for Medel.

82' Bologna win a free-kick wide on the edge of the box which Lykogiannis will take. It's a low defensive line from Milan and the Lykogiannis opts to shoot but fires well over the bar.

M. Gabbia

M. Thiaw

81' Milan make another change. This time, Thiaw comes off for Gabbia.

T. Pobega

Yellow Card

81' Another Milan yellow as Pobega is booked a late challenge on Posch.

D. Calabria

Yellow Card

80' Lykogiannis gets in behind Calabria and the Italian right-back brings him down with a poor challenge. He's shown a yellow card.

78' Dominguez tries his luck from long range but it is straight down the throat of Maignan and it's a comfortable save for the Frenchman.

74' CHANCES! That's the best chance of the second half. Messias shows all his pace to get to the byline as he cuts it back for Rebic but the forward can't turn the cross on target. Milan win the ball back soon after and Leao and Pobega combine neatly before the latter's effort is deflected wide from close range.

N. Moro

M. Aebischer

73' Aebischer is also subbed with Moro replacing him.

C. Lykogiannis

M. Barrow

73' Bologna respond with a double change of their own. First off is Barrow with Lykogiannis coming on in his place.

Brahim Díaz

C. De Ketelaere

70' Diaz is also introduced to the action with De Ketelaere making way.

Rafael Leão

D. Origi

70' Milan look to their bench for some attacking inspiration. First off is Origi with Leao replacing him.

N. Domínguez

Yellow Card

70' Rebic goes on a mazy run up the pitch as he jinxes out of several tight spaces. Eventually, Dominguez has seen enough and hauls down the Croatian - he receives a yellow card.

66' The ball falls to Vranckx on the edge of the box but the midfielder slips as he goes to strike it and the effort squirms well-wide of the goal.

65' Bologna win their first corner of the game but Maignan shows a good command of his box as he claims the incoming cross.

63' Pobega attempts to slide Origi in down the left channel but the final pass is poor and the Bologna defence can sweep up and clear the danger.

62' Zirkzee has had a lively introduction and is working hard to cause problems for the Milan defence. He recovers a loose ball before finding Barrow but the winger is closed down and challenged before he can shoot on goal.

S. Posch

Yellow Card

58' Posch is the first Bologna player in the book after he commits a handball.

J. Zirkzee

N. Sansone

57' Bologna also make a change as goalscorer Sansone is replaced by Zirkzee up front.

D. Calabria

A. Florenzi

57' And just after that yellow card, Florenzi is substituted for Calabria.

Junior Messias

A. Saelemaekers

57' It's a double change for Milan as Saelemaekers comes off for Messias.

56' Origi does well down the right with little support. He then plays a one-two with Saelemaekers before crossing it into the back post. Ballo-Toure rises to get a header goal but it's a comfortable save for Skorupski.

A. Florenzi

Yellow Card

54' Florenzi tugs back the shirt of Schouten as the Bologna midfielder looks to break and is given a yellow card.

54' Saelemaekers does well down the Milan right with a superb touch to bring down a high ball. His cut back finds Rebic but the Croatian can't quite control the ball to create an opening for a shot on goal.

51' Ballo-Toure does very well to get past his opposite number but his cross from the left is poor and it sails out for a goal kick.

49' Certainly a more positive start by Bologna compared to how they ended the first but the final pass letting them down in the early minutes of the second half.

46' Milan get this second half underway.

Bologna had the perfect start but Motta should be disappointed with their performance for the rest of the half. This Milan team is heavily rotated and yet they failed to register another shot on target for the remaining 44 minutes. They will need to be much-improved if they are to wrestle back this game's momentum and continue their impressive recent form

Goals at each end of the half mean Bologna and Milan head into break even at 1-1. The home side flew out of the traps and were ahead after just 33 seconds when Sansone swept home Posch's cross inside the first minute. However, since then, Motta's side have struggled to push home their advantage and Milan grew back into the game. There were chances for Rebic and Florenzi but it would be Pobega who found the equaliser with a well-hit effort from outside the box in the 40th minute. A crucial goal for this heavily-rotated Milan side and a big second half coming up.

45' HALF-TIME: BOLOGNA 1-1 MILAN

43' Milan's goalscorer gives away an opportunity after fouling Barrow but the Bologna winger can only fire into the wall from the resulting free-kick.

T. Pobega

Goal

40' GOOOOAAAALLLL!!! MILAN EQUALISE!! 1-1!! They've had more of the ball and the chances and Milan now draw level through Pobega. Ballo-Toure's initial cross is not cleared well enough by Bologna and Milan are able to recycle the ball on the edge of the box. Rebic creates room for a shot which is blocked but the loose ball lands at the feet of Pobega and the midfielder's left-footed effort flies into the back of the net with Skorupski well-beaten.

39' Ballo-Toure does well to whip in a cross before the ball goes out on the left-hand side. It's a looping cross and has the interest of Origi but Skorupski does well to get up with the Belgian and does enough to claim the ball at the second attempt and deny the headed opportunity.

36' Bologna finally fashion their second shooting opportunity of the game as a loose ball breaks to Aebischer. His curling effort from outside the box has Maignan diving but it goes comfortably over the bar.

33' Pobega frees Origi down the left. Rebic is unable to connect with his low cross but it doesn't matter as the linesman flags for offside on Origi.

32' With just under 15 minutes remaining in this first half, Bologna yet to have another shot since their goal in the first minute. Milan have had 60% possession and looking to find their way back into the game with an equaliser.

29' Since the beginning of February, Bologna have gained 17 points in Serie A, thanks to five wins and two draws (L2): in that time, only Napoli, Juventus (both 21) and Lazio (20) have gained more.

25' Rebic does well down the left but his floated cross into the box evades Origi and Saelemaekers and Bologna are able to clear.

22' Another chance straight after for Milan. Florenzi, who provided the cross for Rebic minutes ago, takes a free-kick in a central area. His effort beats the wall but Skorupski covers the ground well to parry the effort around the post. From the corner, Saelemaekers sees his long-range effort dribble wide of the mark.

20' CHANCE!! Milan have been slowly growing into the game and they have their best chance so far. Just as with Bologna's goal, the ball is whipped in from the right by Florenzi. This time it's a floated ball but Rebic leaps well and attacks the ball but his headed effort goes straight at Skorupski who saves well.

16' Origi tries to juggle the ball over the Bologna defence and fashion a chance but play is called back as the Belgian striker had strayed offside when the pass to him was made.

13' Lucumi tries to release Aebischer in space down the right flank but his long pass is overhit and sails beyond the winger and out for a throw-in.

11' The game has calmed down somewhat after that manic start. Milan are looking to get on the ball with greater frequency but sloppy passing has let them down on numerous occasions already.

7' Rebic brings down the ball inside the box but he is quickly surrounded by three Bologna defenders and the ball is hacked away.

6' Milan have made a lot of changes to rest players for the Champions League but that is the worst start they could have hoped for. A win in this game is still hugely important for their top-four hopes so they will have to find a way back into this game.

3' Milan get on the ball for the first time this game but Vranckx's long-range effort is not going to trouble Skorupski in the Bologna net.

S. Posch

Assist

1' A lovely low cross from Posch which was slammed home by Sansone.

N. Sansone

Goal

1' GOOOAAAAALLLLL!!!! 33 SECONDS! 1-0 BOLOGNA! Wow - we'd barely had a chance to take our seats and the hosts are already ahead. It's a fast start from Bologna and the ball ends up down the right flank. Posch gets to the byline well and cuts back a low cross which Sansone is first to and slams home past Maignan, who was helpless in the Milan net.

1' Bologna get this first half underway.

Bologna have not won any of their last 14 Serie A matches (D2 L12) against Milan; only against Juventus (D4 L17) do the Rossoblu currently have a longer winless streak in the competition.

As expected, Pioli makes wholesale changes as he looks to rest his side before their crunch Champions League quarter-final second leg against Napoli. Only Maignan in goal retains his place from their midweek clash with Napoli in the first leg. Florenzi, Kalulu, Thiaw and Ballo-Toure replace Calabra, Simon Kjaer, Tomori and Hernandez at the back. In central midfield, Krunic and Tonali are rested with Vranckx and Pobega coming in. Ahead of the midfield two, Saelemaekers, De Ketelaere and Rebic replace Diaz, Bennacer and Leao while Origi comes in for Giroud up top.

Thiago Motta makes two changes from Bologna's 2-0 victory against Atalanta. Roberto Soriano is missing with a knee injury and is replaced by Aebischer while Dominguez replaces Moro in central midfield.

MILAN SUBS: Theo Hernandez, Antonio Mirante, Olivier Giroud, Junior Messias, Ciprian Tatarusanu, Sandro Tonali, Yacine Adli, Rade Krunic, Davide Calabria, Tiemoue Bakayoko, Fikayo Tomori, Ismael Bennacer, Matteo Gabbia, Rafael Leao, Brahim Diaz.

MILAN (4-2-3-1): Mike Maignan; Alessandro Florenzi, Pierre Kalulu, Malick Thiaw, Fode Ballo-Toure; Aster Vranckx, Tommaso Pobega; Alexis Saelemaekers, Charles de Ketelaere, Ante Rebic; Divock Origi.

BOLOGNA SUBS: Kevin Bonifazi, Nikola Moro, Wisdom Amey, Joshua Zirkzee, Lorenzo De Silvestri, Joaquin Sosa, Francesco Bardi, Charalampos Lykogiannis, Niklas Pyyhtia, Federico Ravaglia, Gary Medel.

BOLOGNA (4-2-3-1): Lukasz Skorupski; Stefan Posch, Adama Soumaoro, Jhon Lucumi, Georgios Kyriakopoulos; Jerdy Schouten, Nicolas Dominguez; Michel Aebischer, Lewis Ferguson, Musa Barrow; Nicola Sansone.

Milan, meanwhile, have been hampered by inconsistent form in recent weeks. Fantastic wins against Napoli - 4-0 in the league and 1-0 in the Champions League - have come alongside two draws and a defeat against weaker opposition. Stefano Pioli's side may have one eye on their pivotal Champions League second leg next week but are just one point above fifth-placed Inter and will most likely need a win to maintain their place in the top four.

Both sides come into this fixture with plenty on the line and European qualification still to fight for. Bologna will look to continue their impressive recent run which has seen the eight-placed side lose just two of their last 10 games. They currently sit just five points off the European spots in sixth and come into this fixture after an impressive 2-0 away win against Atalanta.

Hello and welcome to this live commentary for the Serie A fixture between Bologna and Milan from the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara.

Bologna v Milan Live Commentary, 4/15/23

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