AC Milan vs Bologna

In an intriguing lead-up to next week's cup final, AC Milan and Bologna face off in Serie A’s Friday night opener, with the visitors desperate for a full three points at San Siro.

Milan’s league campaign has fizzled out, sitting ninth in the standings, but Bologna remain in the hunt for a coveted top-four spot.

Riding a new tactical setup that delivered four victories in five games, Milan are determined to end their turbulent season on a high note.

The Rossoneri parted ways with Paulo Fonseca mid-season, and while Sergio Conceicao steered them to a Supercoppa Italiana triumph, they stumbled in Europe and struggled in Serie A.

Still, the Lombardy side recently outplayed rivals Inter Milan to secure a Coppa Italia final berth, sparking consecutive league wins on the road.

On Monday, Rafael Leao, now with fewer defensive duties in Milan’s 3-4-2-1 system, scored in a 2-1 win against Genoa, signaling the team’s resurgence under Conceicao.

They now aim to string together three straight league victories for only the second time this season—and the first since September—when they meet Bologna on Friday.

Though their hopes of European qualification via Serie A are slim, defeating Bologna in next week’s Rome final could clinch Milan’s first Coppa Italia in 22 years and a European spot.

Bologna, after 13 losses and four draws against Milan in league play, finally broke through with a 2-1 comeback win at Stadio Dall’Ara in February, overcoming Leao’s early strike.

Having not swept Milan in the league since 1940, Bologna are eager to repeat the feat for two key reasons.

First, Vincenzo Italiano’s squad could gain a mental edge before the cup final; second, they need points to keep their Champions League dreams alive.

The Rossoblu are now in seventh place in the standings after their 1-1 home tie with Juventus last week. They are one of four clubs vying for fourth place, all separated by a single point.

After defeating Milan in the league and cup, they now have to play their old rivals, Fiorentina, in the Derby dell'Appennino, which will be a defining ten days.

Italiano and company have 62 points with three games remaining, which could allow them to still beat the 68-point club record achieved during the three-points-for-a-win era last season.

Bologna, however, has lost both of their previous away games (against Atalanta BC 2-0 and to Udinese 0-0) and has failed to score. Now, they travel to a sleeping giant that seems to be waking up from its slumber.