AC MILAN V BOLOGNA: MATCH PREVIEW

It’s going to be an important Monday at San Siro. At 20:45 CEST it’s AC Milan v Bologna, in front of more than 70 thousand in attendance, as we look to sure-up our position at the top of the tree. The Rossoneri, now back with their full complement of players after the international break, will wear the new fourth shirt for this particular battle, as they seek their fourth consecutive Serie A victory after the three 1-0 wins in March (Napoli, Empoli and Cagliari). With kick-off fast approaching, it’s time for our customary preview.

LATEST FROM MILANELLO
After time away with their respective national teams for several members of the Rossoneri squad, the team returned to full training on Thursday in preparation for tonight's match at San Siro. The only definite absentee is Simon Kjær, who’s still recovering from his long-term injury, while the rest of the squad is at coach Pioli's disposal. There are however two doubts, Brahim and Romagnoli. The usual decision between Kessie, Bennacer and Tonali for the two central midfield spots will have to be made after all three featured significantly during the break.

"The team is doing well and my decisions will revolve around what I deem are the best tactics to tackle the match. Everyone wants to play, and it’s up to everyone to ensure that these last eight games can lead us to the holy grail."  Coach Pioli declared on the eve of the match, "the fans will certainly provide extra energy, and we must feel their energy, and use it to spur us on during the game so that we can achieve our potential. I expect an intense, aggressive Bologna, and we will have to produce a high-level performance".

LATEST FROM BOLOGNA
There are two significant absences for the Felsinei, who will be without De Silvestri (hamstring injury) and Nico Domínguez, who is recovering from his shoulder operation at the end of January. Michael Kingsley will also be out; sidelined since October due to a fractured fibula. The coach, Siniša Mihajlović, will be unable to lead his team from the bench, after announcing in recent days the need to undergo new treatment to combat myeloid leukaemia, which he also suffered in 2019. No one is suspended, but two of the Rossoblù are cautioned and one booking away from suspension: the captain, Roberto Soriano and Austrian striker, Marko Arnautović.

"It’s been far from an easy week,” said Emilio De Leo, assistant to Siniša Mihajlović at his pre-match conference, “we immediately regrouped and assumed the responsibility, focusing on the task at hand and working hard towards an important performance. We expect a very difficult match, but we will play it with courage, knowing that this is an opportunity. It will take a great effort, with a clear determination, to give the coach something to cheer about."

PRE-MATCH
The Rossoblù last won in the league on 21 February and they have racked up two draws and two defeats in their last four outings. On the other hand, Pioli's line-up has won each of their last three. The Rossoneri’s recent record against Bologna is promising: AC Milan has prevailed in the last 6 Serie A meetings, 11 in the last 12 if you want to look back a little further, and even the 5 previous encounters at San Siro favour the Rossoneri. In the last two fixtures before today, the match was played on Monday and AC Milan ran victorious on both occasions: 2-1 on 6 May 2019 and 2-0 on 21 September 2020.

LATEST FROM SERIE A
Livio Marinelli will be this evening’s referee at San Siro. Born in Tivoli in 1984, this will be his first time officiating the Rossoneri but not a first for him at San Siro, having already refereed Inter v Salernitana exactly a month ago, on March 4, 2022. Marinelli’s last 10 matches have come in this season’s Serie A, with 20 in total in his career. His last three matches officiating Bologna: Sampdoria 1-2 Bologna on 22 November 2020, Bologna 0-2 Napoli on 17 January 2022 and, Bologna 2-1 Spezia on 21 February 2022.

Matchday 31 began on Saturday with three games: Spezia v Venice (1-0), Lazio v Sassuolo (2-1) and Salernitana v Turin (0-1). Sunday began with the Tuscan derby as Fiorentina took on Empoli (1-0) and then moved on to Atalanta v Napoli (1-3) and Udinese v Cagliari (5-1). The last set of games on Sunday, Sampdoria v Roma (0-1) and the big match Juventus v Inter (0-1), while today sees Hellas Verona v Genoa at 18.00 CEST.

The current league standings are as follows: AC Milan 66*, Napoli 66, Inter 60*, Juventus 59, Lazio 52, Atalanta 51*, Roma 51, Fiorentina 50*, Sassuolo 43, Hellas Verona 42, Turin 38*, Udinese**, Bologna and Empoli 33*, Spezia 32, Sampdoria 29, Cagliari 25, Venice* 22, Genoa 22, Salernitana** 16. (* one game less, ** two games less).

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