AC Milan and Bologna face off again just days after their league meeting wheres the Rossoneri came out on top. The trophy and a spot in next season’s Europa League are at stake
90 minutes to write a piece of history: AC Milan and Bologna are ready to compete for the Coppa Italia Frecciarossa trophy at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.
After Friday’s clash on matchday 36 in Serie A Enilive, which saw the Rossoneri come from behind to win at San Siro (a Gimenez brace and a goal from Pulisic after Orsolini’s opener), the two teams are – thanks to a quirk of the calendar – set to meet again. If the match ends in a draw, extra time and penalties will decide who lifts the trophy in the Italian capital. The team that emerges victorious will wear the Coppa Italia Frecciarossa winners’ badge (la coccarda tricolore) and be guaranteed Europa League football next season. Having progressed to the final, both sides have already booked their place in the Final Four of the next EA SPORT FC SUPERCUP.
Both AC Milan and Bologna entered the tournament in the round of 16. The Rossoneri triumphed 6-1 over Sassuolo, while the Rossoblù eliminated Monza with a dominant 4-0 win. In the quarter-finals, Vincenzo Italiano’s men narrowly overcame Atalanta in Bergamo thanks to a goal from Castro. Meanwhile, Conceição’s side beat Roma 3-1, with Abraham bagging a brace and João Félix also getting on the scoresheet.
In the semi-finals, AC Milan eliminated Inter over two legs: after a 1-1 draw in the first match, Jovic took centre stage in the second leg, bagging a brace in a 3-0 victory for the Rossoneri. Bologna, meanwhile, secured their place in final by beating Empoli twice: 3-0 in the first leg (a goal from Orsolini and a Dallinga brace) and 2-1 in the return fixture (Fabbian and Dallinga on the scoresheet).
Dallinga is just one goal behind the current top scorer in this season’s Coppa Italia Frecciarossa, Tammy Abraham, who has found the net four times.
HEAD TO HEAD
Milan and Bologna will face each other in a single leg final for the first time in history across all competitions (since 1929-30). The two teams had previously met eight times in the final group stage of the Coppa Italia between 1968 and 1977, with four wins for the Lombards, two victories for the Emilians, and two draws.
This will be the 15th meeting between Milan and Bologna in the Coppa Italia. The Rossoneri lead with six wins to Bologna’s four, while four matches have ended in a draw. The most recent encounter in the competition dates back to 13th December 1995 in the quarter-finals; the Emilian side advanced after a penalty shootout after 1-1 draws in both the first and second legs.
