AC Milan 2-4 Bologna: Bologna delivered a stunning away performance at San Siro, defeating AC Milan 4-2 in a six-goal encounter that defied the run of play. Despite the Rossoneri controlling 66 percent of possession and registering 671 passes, the visitors made their chances count with ruthless efficiency, scoring four goals from just five shots on target.
The scoring opened early in a frantic first half. The deadlock was broken in the 8th minute, followed by a second goal on 14 minutes as the visitors stunned the home crowd. AC Milan responded through a goal on 27 minutes to halve the deficit before the interval. The second half exploded into life just before the hour mark when an own goal on 60 minutes restored Bologna's cushion. The Rossoneri struck back almost immediately through a goal on 62 minutes, setting up a tense finale. However, Bologna sealed the result with a sixth goal of the match on 86 minutes, leaving Milan's defense exposed once again.
The match was a tale of contrasting styles and efficiency. AC Milan created four big chances and accumulated 1.71 expected goals, but managed only three shots on target from seven attempts, with a shot accuracy of just 38 percent. Bologna, by contrast, registered 1.88 expected goals and converted five of their shots on target, boasting a 56 percent shot accuracy. The visitors also made nine key passes compared to Milan's five, and their expected assists figure of 0.83 highlighted their creative edge in the final third.
Discipline played its part in the contest's rhythm. Bologna picked up two yellow cards, one on 76 minutes and another on 84 minutes, as they fought to protect their advantage. AC Milan, notably, finished the match without a single card despite committing 10 fouls. Both sides made extensive use of their benches, with substitutions on 45, 58, 59, 63, 70, 79, and 87 minutes reshaping the tactical landscape as the game wore on. The AC Milan vs Bologna lineups saw key players rotated heavily in the second half, and the tactical adjustments ultimately favored the visitors, who defended deep with 18 clearances and 12 interceptions.
The game flow told a story of Milan dominance without reward. The hosts completed 591 successful passes, won 15 aerial duels, and delivered 14 crosses, yet found themselves chasing the game for long stretches. Bologna's low-block approach, combined with clinical finishing, proved decisive. The own goal on 60 minutes was a cruel blow for Milan, arriving just as they seemed poised to build momentum after their first-half response. Bologna's ability to score at critical junctures, particularly the 86th-minute clincher, underscored the difference in conversion quality between the two sides on the night.
