Bologna 2-1 AC Milan: Late defeat dents guests´ top-four hopes

AC Milan’s Serie A top-four hopes have been dealt a big blow as they misplaced 2-1 at Bologna.
Milan are eighth within the standings with 41 factors, eight behind Juventus in fourth with 12 video games remaining.
Bologna needed to do it the arduous manner on Thursday, coming from behind after Rafael Leao’s objective two minutes earlier than half-time in a contest that was rescheduled after it was known as off in October on account of flooding.
Milan have been pegged again three minutes into the second half when a free-kick into the field was flicked on by Giovanni Fabbian was headed residence by Santiago Castro.
The Rossoneri protested, interesting for handball, however the VAR confirmed the objective.
Yunus Musah almost restored Milan’s lead simply after the hour mark, however Lukasz Skorupski made a vital save.
Nicolo Casale headed in opposition to the put up and Nicolo Cambiaghi despatched the rebound over the bar, however the latter atoned for his miss eight minutes from time.
Cambiaghi despatched in a cross from the byline, with Dan Ndoye available to show residence at full stretch, sealing Bologna’s first Serie A win over Milan since 2016, and their first at residence since 2002.
1 – #Bologna have received a house match in opposition to #ACMilan in #SerieA for the primary time since 10 March 2002 (2-0, scored by Salvatore Fresi and Julio Cruz). Wait.#BolognaMilan
— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) February 27, 2025
Information Debrief: Golden boy Castro strikes once more
Castro has been a standout performer for Bologna this time period, as Vincenzo Italiano’s workforce hunt European soccer.
The Argentine grew to become solely the second non-Italian participant to web not less than seven Serie A targets for Bologna in a single season earlier than turning 21, after Harald Nielsen in 1962-63 (seven) and 1961-62 (eight).
Of gamers in Europe’s prime 5 leagues to have been concerned in not less than 10 targets, solely Barcelona and Spain star Lamine Yamal is youthful than Castro, who has additionally offered 4 assists.
Leao, in the meantime, took his probability when it got here for Milan, scoring together with his one shot, because the guests solely created alternatives value 0.62 anticipated targets, in comparison with Bologna’s 1.98 xG.
After being criticised by coach Sergio Conceicao just lately, Leao netted his sixth league objective of the season, with all of these strikes having come away from residence.