AC MILAN HELD BY BOLOGNA
Serie A
A tough evening. AC Milan tried everything to win but fortune favoured Bologna tonight. The goalless draw at San Siro was a mix of unfavourable events, spurned chances and regret. The Rossoneri both created chances and afforded them to the guests in the first half, but they controlled the game after the break and had numerous opportunities to take the lead. The ball, however, just didn't want to go in - both due to poor accuracy and Skorupski between the sticks.
It was a shame, then, that the boys reaped no rewards for what was a colossal effort - in which they kept their fifth consecutive clean sheet in all competitions - and the electric atmosphere in the ground. This draw (the Rossoneri's first in Serie A since Udinese at home) is sure to leave a bitter taste in the mouth given the two points dropped in a crucial period of the season. After matchday 31, the Rossoneri move to 67 points and are still in first place, but their lead has been cut following wins for Napoli (-1) and Inter (-4 with a game in hand). Next weekend, on Sunday 10 April at 20:45 CEST, AC Milan travel to Torino for a key away day. Just keep calm, it's still all in our hands.
CHECK OUT THE GALLERY FROM AC MILAN v BOLOGNA
MATCH REPORT
Pioli made one change to the team that started against Cagliari, with Tonali coming in to replace Kessie. AC Milan tried to start strongly, but Bologna threatened early on through Dijks (4’) and then Aebischer moments later. Just before the 15-minute mark, Skorupski smothered Hernández’s strike from distance, while, shortly afterwards, Leão lashed over from a promising position after the visitors had failed to clear their lines. At the other end, Arnautović shot over (21’), Aebischer fired into Maignan’s arms (22’) and Barrow forced the Rossoneri goalkeeper into a great fingertip stop (26’). AC Milan went on the attack again and started to look really dangerous: in the 29th minute, Giroud knocked the ball down for Calabria, who failed to control his finish. Four minutes later, Hernández let fly with a thunderous effort from distance. It went wide. A Giroud header was kept out by Skorupski (42’), who then produced an exceptional stop to deny the Frenchman on the stroke of half-time.
There was a switch at the break for the Rossoneri as Rebić came on for Messias. Now operating in a new position, Leão tested Skorupski shortly after the restart, with the Polish shot-stopper saving with his trailing leg. The game continued to be a lively affair as Barrow (49’) and Bennacer (54’) failed to hit the target. Calabria had a great chance just after the hour mark: after being picked out by Leão, his angled drive ended just wide via a deflection. The Diavolo continued to push in the hope of scoring. Rebić fired over (68’), Bennacer forced Skorupski into action (69’) and then Leão failed to convert (72’). The substitutions didn’t bring about a change in scoreline, with Tomori (86’), Ibrahimović (92’) and Rebić (95’, another fantastic Skorupski stop) all unable to find the net with their heads. Full-time.
MATCH DETAILS
AC MILAN 0-0 BOLOGNA
AC MILAN (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Calabria (75' Florenzi), Kalulu, Tomori, Hernández; Bennacer (70' Kessie), Tonali; Messias, Díaz, Leão (46' Rebić); Giroud (70' Ibrahimović). Subs: Mirante, Tătăruşanu; Ballo-Touré, Gabbia; Bakayoko, Castillejo, Krunić, Saelemaekers. Coach: Pioli.
BOLOGNA (3-5-2): Skorupski; Soumaoro, Medel (82' Bonifazi), Theate; Hickey (71' Kasius), Aebischer, Schouten, Svanberg (71' Soriano), Dijks (82' Mbaye); Barrow (60' Orsolini), Arnautović. Subs: Bardi; Binks; Vignato, Viola; Falcinelli, Sansone, Santander. Coach: Tanjga.
Referee: Marinelli from Tivoli.
Booked: 40' Dijks (B), 80' Medel (B), 98' Orsolini (B).
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