Serie A: Before the Italian Cup final, AC Milan overturns Bologna

AC Milan impressed Bologna's players with a resounding 3-1 victory at San Siro to open Matchday 36 of the Italian Championship on Friday, five days before their reunion in the Coppa Italia final. Bologna took the lead in the 49th minute thanks to Riccardo Orsolini, who surprised Mike Maignan with a superb curling shot. But Milan have mental resources and have rarely admitted defeat since being coached by Sergio Conceiçao. Santiago Gimenez equalized in the 73rd minute, before the indispensable Christian Pulisic gave Milan the lead six minutes later. In added time, Gimenez added a third goal.

This victory allows the Rossoneri to move up a placein the standings , from 9th to 8th place (60 pts), and above all to regain hope in the race for Europe. They are provisionally only three points behind 6th place, qualifying for the Europa Conference League. Bologna remains 7th (62 pts), one length from 4th place, qualifying for the next Champions League, occupied by Juventus Turin.

By coincidence, after this Serie A duel, AC Milan and Bologna have a meeting at the Olympic Stadium in Rome, this time with a title at stake. AC Milan has certainly already won the Italian Super Cup , but this Italian Cup, which it has not won for twenty-two years, can save its season and perhaps even Conceiçao's job. A surprise team this season, as in the previous season despite a change of coach, Bologna is aiming for its first trophy since 1974.