In a Serie A clash that was anything but routine, AC Milan secured a vital 1-0 victory over Bologna, largely thanks to the enduring brilliance of veteran midfielder Luka Modric. The match, a contentious affair from start to finish, saw everything from early dominance and squandered chances to a controversial VAR decision and a coaching expulsion, leaving fans both thrilled and bewildered.
The Maestro`s Masterpiece in Rossonero
While one might hesitate to call it “revenge” for a cup final, Milan certainly savored putting Bologna in a difficult position, leaving them with a meager three points from three matches. But the true spectacle of the evening was the unveiling of Luka Modric`s first masterpiece in the Rossonero jersey. His goal, a sublime finish, earned him a standing ovation at the Meazza, proving that even at a seasoned age, class is permanent. It was a narrative flip: the king serving his people, especially after a stuttering first half gave way to a second period where, quite frankly, everything that could happen, did—and mostly in Milan`s favor.
The match was a rollercoaster. A single goal, three posts rattled, glorious scoring opportunities squandered, a penalty initially awarded then controversially rescinded after a VAR review, and the subsequent expulsion of Milan`s manager, Allegri. Seeing him shed his jacket in a fit of rage was a sight that might evoke a certain “Juventus déjà vu” for long-time Serie A observers. His neck veins, reportedly, were quite the spectacle. Despite the widespread chaos, the scoreline stubbornly remained 1-0, pushing the tension to its absolute limit. Ultimately, Milan’s victory was well-deserved. They struck the woodwork three times and wasted a shocking number of chances in front of a Bologna side that appeared devoid of sparkle and, more notably, lacking in attacking intent. For Bologna`s coach Italiano, this subdued performance was an unwelcome novelty, a stark contrast to their usual spirited displays.
Tactical Nuances and Early Dominance
Milan’s coach Allegri, deploying a 3-5-1-1 formation, placed Loftus-Cheek just behind striker Gimenez, opting to keep Pulisic on the bench. The midfield was a veritable deluxe affair, with Modric orchestrating from the center, flanked by Rabiot as a left mezzala. Bologna, hampered by several key absences, countered with Fabbian tasked with shadowing Modric, positioned behind Castro, and a central defensive pairing of Lucumi and Heggem.
From the outset, Fabbian`s primary objective was crystal clear: to stick to Modric like glue, attempting to disrupt every passing lane. A challenging assignment, given Modric’s tendency to drift several meters higher than usual, pushing into the attacking third to open up new offensive avenues. For the first half-hour, Milan proved indecipherable to the Rossoblu. They concluded attacks with a variety of players, constantly changing their script and offering no fixed points of reference. The ball movement, though not lightning-fast, was clean and effective, with every player occupying the correct spaces. The result was a flurry of chances within the first 24 minutes: Rabiot’s shot deflected, Modric’s effort likewise, Gimenez testing Skorupski with a reactive save, Loftus-Cheek`s individual run of sheer physical dominance, and the newly lucid Estupinan hitting the post. Five different players, all placed in positions to threaten. What stood out most was Milan`s offensive phase, primarily developed and managed through central channels, where they truly made the difference. Modric weaved his magic, Rabiot surged into openings, and Fofana diligently covered potential counter-attacks. Bologna struggled immensely to escape Milan`s midfield stranglehold, their build-up play too slow, Fabbian sacrificed on Modric, and Ferguson and Freuler easily contained by Rabiot and Fofana. The visitors predominantly sought to break through wide areas, and on a couple of occasions, managed to disorganize Milan`s box, but without ever finding the decisive finish. An early goal by Cambiaghi was correctly disallowed for offside.
Second Half Drama: Injury, Breakthrough, and Controversy
Milan`s early propulsion, however, began to wane around the thirty-minute mark, deflating like a collapsed soufflé. A critical warning sign that Bologna failed to heed, resulting in a rather dull end to the first half. The second half began with De Winter replacing Pavlovic, and Bologna attempting to push their defensive line higher, albeit without much conviction, almost as if fulfilling a contractual obligation.
Ten minutes into the half, concerning news emerged from Milan`s penalty area: goalkeeper Maignan sat down, raising the white flag. A right calf issue forced him off, replaced by Terracciano – a setback that cast a brief shadow over the proceedings. However, any lingering bad feelings vanished on the hour mark when His Majesty Modric ascended to his Rossonero throne. Loftus-Cheek sagely managed a counter-attack, laying the ball off to Saelemaekers, who then threaded a perfect pass for Luka running into the center of the box (with Fabbian left to merely observe). A precise right-footed shot found the net, and the entire Meazza rose to its feet in thunderous applause. The goal effectively uncorked the match, and Bologna, in their desperate pursuit of an equalizer, left gaping highways that Milan, frustratingly, failed to exploit fully. First, Ricci struck the post in the 68th minute, then Gimenez inexplicably squandered a one-on-one opportunity with Skorupski in the 71st, only to compound his error moments later by hitting the post again after misjudging his timing.
The final five minutes were an absolute maelstrom. Substitute Nkunku earned a penalty (a foul by Freuler), which referee Marcenaro, after being called to the monitor by VAR, controversially rescinded. This incident completely frayed Allegri`s nerves. Off came the jacket, followed by a furious outburst directed at the referee and fourth official. A red card was inevitable, yet, with three points secured and Milan showing clear improvement, it was perhaps a price Allegri was willing to pay. In the grand scheme of things, the expulsion was a rather acceptable tariff for a hard-fought, chaotic victory, sealing a significant three points for AC Milan.