TIME MACHINE: BOLOGNA v AC MILAN

Some matches live on in memory, far beyond the season they were played in, not because they led to a trophy or a historic achievement, but because of what happened over those 90 minutes. It might have been a single incredible performance, an impressive technical move, or the sheer drama of how the score turned out, often in unpredictable ways, full of twists and turns. The Bologna v AC Milan match on 8 February 2017 is certainly one of those. Let's relive it with this Time Machine as we head into a new league game at the Dall'Ara.

Matchday 18 of Serie A was played in Emilia-Romagna; it was rescheduled to February for a midweek fixture because of the Rossoneri's game in the Supercoppa Italiana. That game against Juventus in Doha was undoubtedly a high point of a difficult season, and Montella's side came into the clash with the Rossoblù in far from the best form. Coming off the back of three consecutive defeats in the league (against Napoli, Udinese, and Sampdoria), four if you count the Coppa Italia rematch lost to Juventus, the Rossoneri had moved away from a short-lived third-place spot that could have led to a long-awaited return to the Champions League after many years. However, Donadoni's Bologna were not in much better form themselves. The rescheduled match against AC Milan came following their heavy 7-1 defeat at home to Napoli in the league, a result that worsened the Rossoblù's already difficult position in the table. It was a crucial showdown with both teams in need of points to regain momentum. 

What went down was a tense, action-packed game. AC Milan found their feet a little quicker, as they came close early on with Deulofeu and Pašalić, until the hosts found their momentum. It was less Bologna's chances that worried the Rossoneri than what happened shortly after, two key moments in quick succession between the 31st and 36th minutes. First came Romagnoli's injury, and then Paletta being sent off with a double yellow card. AC Milan were left with ten men to manage almost an hour of play; it was clear that it would be a difficult night. That proved true in the 59th minute as AC Milan went down to nine men following Kucka's direct red card. Gianluigi Donnarumma kept the Rossoneri in the game, as he made a series of incredible saves, most notably in the 65th minute on Krejci. It was then Gerard Deulofeu's time to shine as he came painfully close in the 78th minute, hitting the crossbar from a corner kick. Then, just a minute away from full time, he burst down the right, beat two defenders, and found Pašalić's run through the middle for the decisive 1-0, finished by the same player who had converted AC Milan's fifth penalty in Doha. It was an unforgettable win, a moment of joy in a difficult season. 

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