DEFEAT AT THE DALL'ARA

The Rossoneri fell to a 2-1 defeat to Bologna in their rearranged Serie A matchday 9 fixture at the Dall'Ara. Tonight's hosts, therefore, overtook us in the table as we remain in eighth position. It's not the result we wanted following what was an intense and hard-fought game. We took the lead through a brilliant Rafa Leão goal at the end of the first half; the Rossoblù then turned it around in the second half with Castro's equaliser and the winner from Ndoye. There were plenty of chances for both sides as neither team held back.

February ends in defeat, though maybe that didn't reflect the performance. However, the Rossoneri need an upturn and not just because there is a lot of football still to be played. Their current standings are not irreversible and the near future offers the team a big chance to claw some ground back. On Sunday night, AC Milan host Lazio in a must-win game if they're to escape this run of form. Forza ragazzi!

CHECK OUT THE GALLERY FROM BOLOGNA v AC MILAN

MATCH REPORT
It was a lively start to the game. After just 21 seconds, Gimenez hit the bar and then, in the second minute, Thiaw almost turned Domínguez's cross into his own net. Following those two opening opportunities, the hosts began to control the game but the Rossoneri looked dangerous on the counter. Musah had a go in the 16th minute, saved by Skorupski. In the 25th minute, Ndoye led the break but the ball went behind. Maignan then dealt with Domínguez's low effort (33') and again denied the Argentinian, getting his knee on the ball. Just when the first half looked destined to finish level, the Rossoneri got their goal. In the 43rd minute, Maignan's long ball was flicked on by Gimenez for Leão, who took it round Skorupski and made it 1-0.

While the first half finished in the best way possible, the second began in the worst way possible because Bologna equalised through Castro (48'). The goal galvanised the Rossoblù, who came flooding forward, though there were no chances in the following quarter of an hour. In the 64th minute, Musah broke forward and, after a couple of body feints, saw his effort saved by Skorupski. The Rossoneri were growing into it and began to build pressure. After Pulisic's introduction, Jović came on too, and his header was saved by the keeper (78'). Cambiaghi then hit the post (81') before, a minute later, he set up Ndoye as the hosts took the lead. The Rossoneri then pushed hard but couldn't carve out any chances with which to bring themselves level.

MATCH DETAILS

BOLOGNA 2-1 AC MILAN

BOLOGNA (4-2-3-1): Skorupski; De Silvestri (84' Calabria), Beukema, Casale, Miranda; Freuler, Ferguson (72' Pobega); Ndoye, Fabbian (72' Odgaard), Domínguez (80' Cambiaghi); Castro (80' Dallinga). Subs: Bagnolini, Ravaglia; Erlić, Lucumí, Lykogiannīs; Aebischer, El Azzouzi, Moro; Orsolini. Coach: Italiano.

AC MILAN (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Jiménez (84' Abraham), Thiaw, Pavlović, Hernández; Reijnders, Fofana; Musah, João Félix (61' Pulisic), Leão; Gimenez (76' Jović). Subs: Sportiello, Torriani; Bartesaghi, Gabbia, Terracciano, Tomori; Bondo; Camarda, Chukwueze, Sottil. Coach: Conceição.

Referee: Mariani from Aprilia.
Goals: 43' Leão (M), 48' Castro (B), 82' Ndoye (B).
Booked: 47' Hernández (M), 53' Casale (B), 54' Thiaw (M).

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