They started brightly in the wake of the dismissal of coach Sinisa Mihajlovic, winning newly promoted Cristian Brocchi's first game 1-0 over Sampdoria. But since then they've played three relegation strugglers and only picked up two points. They followed that with a limp scoreless draw against Carpi that cost them more than just two points. Giacomo Bonaventura suffered leg and hip injuries during the match, depriving the Rossoneri of their only real creative outlet. That's had the effect you would expect. Milan only managed a penalty in their embarrassing 2-1 loss to Verona two weeks ago, and it took a spectacular overhead kick from Luca Antonelli and a controversial late spot-kick to draw level with Frosinone.
When is kick off? Â Wednesday 27 April, 19:15 (BST)Where is the match being played? Â Stadio Renato Dall'AraTV channel/live stream? Â BT Sport 3 (UK), Paramount+ (US)Highlights? Â BT Sport YouTube channelReferee? Â Daniele DoveriVAR? Â Michael FabbriMarko Arnautovic and Adama Soumaoro are both eligible again after serving one-match bans. However, Jerdy Schouten, Lukas Skorupski and Emanuel Vignato are battling illness and are all major doubts. Robin Gosens had a problem with muscle fatigue in training and might not be fit enough to start, although reports suggest he could make it back to the bench.
Brocchi said in his post-match press conference (h/t Football Italia) that he didn't consider the 4-3-1-2 system he switched the team to upon his promotion from the primavera team viable while Bonaventura is out, so he may return to the 4-4-2 that was the fixture under Mihajlovic. That would require tweaks itself, but his statements indicate he's leaning in that direction. Whatever he does, he needs to claim all three points. With red-hot AS Roma looming and Sassuolo facing a run-in of Verona and Inter Milan, the possibility of losing out on that sixth position is very real. Form LinesLast 5 results, most recent firstBolognaAC MilanD 0-0 @ EmpoliD 3-3 vs.
Bologna vs. AC Milan: Team News, Preview, Live Stream, TV InfoBologna beat Milan 1-0 in January on a late goal. Marco Luzzani/Getty ImagesAC Milan scrambles to recover after losing their hold on a European position in the table as they travel to Bologna for their penultimate game of the Serie A season. Date: Saturday, May 7Time: 8:45 p. m. local time, 7:45 p. BST, 2:45 p. EDTVenue: Stadio Renato Dall'Ara, BolognaTV Info: beIN Sports Spanish feed (US)Live Stream: BT Sport Connect (UK), beIN Sports Connect (US)The nightmare scenario has come to pass for Milan. The team has been fighting to qualify for European competition for the first time in three years, and they have two ways to get there. Beating Juventus in the Coppa Italia final will see them enter the UEFA Europa League.
Much of their struggles come from a lack of punch in attack. Bologna are tied with Udinese with the second-worst scoring record in the league. They've only managed to score 33 times this season. During that February-to-May period, they were shut out nine times in 14 games and only scored multiple goals once.
Marco Luzzani/Getty ImagesFor Milan, they key will be Jeremy Menez—in a different position than you might think. If Brocchi's statements from the Frosinone game are truly an indication that he's going to abandon the trequartista, Mihajlovic's 4-4-2 is the obvious alternative. But Bonaventura's absence will require a tweak to that formation as well. He manned the left side of the midfield in that system and there aren't many players on the roster who can replace him there.
Only 10 players have netted this year for the Rossoblu, and only two have scored more than four. Without leading scorer Destro, much of their effort to get to goal will hinge on Emanuele Giaccherini. The former Juventus man is on loan at Bologna from Sunderland, and he's been a huge part of their season. He's scored seven times, and, according to WhoScored. com he's completed 80 percent of his passes and made 1. 4 key passes per match. The Italy international played a decisive role in the first meeting between Bologna and Milan in the first game back from the winter break in January. In the 82nd minute, Giaccherini controlled a cross and fired the ball through the legs of Gianluigi Donnarumma to score the only goal of the game.
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Indeed, Menez may be the only one. He started last year as a false nine in Filippo Inzaghi's 4-3-3, but after Destro was acquired on loan from Roma to be a more traditional striker, he was moved to the wing, where he remained for the rest of the season. Menez's ability to play wide could be a key for Brocchi. He would essentially be adding a third attacker to his lineup and covering Bonaventura's absence at the same time. It's a move Brocchi can afford to make because Luiz Adriano gives him the tactical flexibility to change things up up front later in the game. It remains to be seen just how Brocchi will deploy his team on Saturday, and who he will play where if he does. Even though Menez usually plays far further forward, he would be an able deputy in a 4-4-2.
If he ends up there and does well, Milan could be primed for a high-scoring day. Key MatchupRomagnoli (left) tangled with Floccari when the latter was on Sassuolo. Giuseppe Bellini/Getty ImagesAlessio Romagnoli had a bad day against Frosinone, and he'll look to bounce back here against Frosinone. He'll have to show a short memory when he deals with wily veteran striker Floccari. The 34-year-old started the year at Sassuolo, where he scored four goals in seven matches. He was caught behind several younger players, though, and he made the move to Bologna in January. He has since started eight games and come on as a sub for eight more.
With a defense that is actually in the top half of the league—they're ninth, having conceded 44 times—a bigger scoring punch would make this a dangerous team. As they are, without striker Mattia Destro, scoring will be their biggest problem. The question in this match is whether Milan will be able to take advantage of that.
It was a jarring opening to 2016 for Milan, who were left scrambling for answers after a negative result right out of the holidays. With Destro sidelined and replaced by Sergio Floccari, Giaccherini will be a major part of their efforts to get the ball past Donnarumma. If he can win his battle with Ignazio Abate on the attacking left, he could prove to be decisive. Menez's late penalty gave Milan a draw late against Frosinone.
Bologna vs Inter: TV channel, live stream, team news & predictionInter will hope to return to the top of the Serie A table when they travel to face Bologna on Wednesday. Simone Inzaghi's men thumped Roma at the weekend, in what looked like their toughest test for the remainder of the season, but they gave up top spot as AC Milan, who have played one game extra, beat Lazio to go two points clear. Inter cannot let that worry them, however. This fixture will tie the teams up in the games played column and they'll return to the top with a win, although getting three points against a Bologna side that have held both Milan and Juventus to draws in recent weeks won't be easy. Here's all you need to know about this one.
Bologna game today - Live Sport on TV