BOLOGNA v AC MILAN: FUN FACTS

AC Milan are next facing an ambitious and in-form team, who certainly won't be walkovers, at a ground that traditionally has brought about positive results. Sandwiched in-between two massive Champions League games with Napoli sees a league trip to Thiago Motta's Bologna on matchday 30, with vital points up for grabs, as the hunt for a European spot in the table hots up. Stefano Pioli's AC Milan - former boss of the Rossoblù - are getting ready for their first 15:00 CEST kick-off of the season (on a Saturday) and will be hoping to get back to winning ways in Serie A at Dall'Ara. Here are some statistics and fun facts ahead of the game with the Felsinei:

150 TIMES
Previous meetings between Bologna and AC Milan in Serie A will be rounded up this weekend: so far, the Rossoneri have 72 wins - in 149 fixtures - with 39 draws and 38 defeats to the Rossoblù. Away from home, AC Milan haven't lost at Dall'Ara in 16 games, with twelve victories and four draws: this is the Diavolo's current longest unbeaten run after another one with a side from Emilia Romagna, SPAL (19 games).

IN-FORM DEFENCES
Only the two leading teams, Napoli and Lazio, have collected more clean sheets in 2023 than Bologna and AC Milan. They both have five in the league this calendar year, which jumps to eight for the Rossoneri considering Champions League games. In addition, the Rossoblù and Rossoneri come into the game on the back of two consecutive league fixtures without conceding - Udinese and Atalanta, and Napoli and Empoli, respectively, and following on this trend would surely be most welcome by both sides. In fact, Bologna haven't kept the back door shut for three home games on the trot since January 2000. On the other hand, AC Milan have only had a run of three games without letting a goal in Serie A this season once: Torino, Monza, and Atalanta in February.

SHARING THE GOALS AROUND
A common characteristic between Bologna and AC Milan is they have both had many players get on the scoresheet over the course of this season. The Rossoneri currently have 16 (plus Gabbia who only scored in the Champions League), while Bologna have twelve. It's a trend that is further accentuated if we look at the most recent goals scored: seven different scorers in the last seven goals for the side from Emilia-Romagna, and seven in the Rossoneri's last eight goals. It's also worth mentioning the battle between the two most prolific defenders: Theo Hernández is the defender to have been involved in the most number of goals in Serie A since the 2019/20 season (38), while Stefan Posch's five goals this season puts him in third place out of all the defenders in Europe's top-five leagues in 2022/23.

FIRST EXPERIENCES AND REACHABLE GOALS
Two Rossoneri players, who have also been on the scoresheet recently, got their first-ever Serie A goals against Bologna. We are of course speaking about Ismaël Bennacer and Alexis Saelemaekers, who both bagged in the 5-1 win on 18 July 2020. The Algerian also netted in the 4-2 success last season, with his last league goal coming in the away trip to Atalanta last August. The Belgian, meanwhile, re-found the back of the net in the 4-0 drubbing of Napoli, his first in 39 league games. The fixture at Dall'Ara may turn out to be an important landmark and step in Rafael Leão's career: after scoring in the reverse fixture at San Siro, if he were to get another this weekend the Portuguese forward would equal his eleven goals from last season, a personal record in Europe's top-five leagues. Olivier Giroud also got in on the act in the home game this season against Bologna, but has only netted once on the road this league campaign (Sampdoria 1-2 AC Milan), and is only two goals away from reaching double figures for the second season running.

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