Giaccherini steps up and unleashes a curling strike from the free-kick, but it bounces off the wall of white shirts in front of him and out to Bacca. The Colombian charges into the Bologna half of the pitch, where there is only one defender, and plays a one-two with Adriano before trying to take on Da Costa, but the Brazilian striker's pass into the box is poor and is well cut out by the goalkeeper before it can reach his fellow forward.
90' +4
A. Romagnoli gets yellow.
Giaccherini breaks forward on an excellent run before trying to penetrate the Milan penalty area, but before he's able to do so he's clattered into by a thumping challenge from Romangoli, who not only receives a yellow card but gives away a free-kick in an incredibly dangerous position. Can Bologna make it count and score an equaliser with what will surely be the final kick of the night?
90' +2
It's all Milan at the moment as they try to keep the ball as far away from Bologna as possible, but the hosts smell blood after their ruled out goal and they're putting the visitors under an incredible amount of pressure in an attempt to win back possession. This could be a very nervy final two minutes for the Rossoneri.
90' +1
Bologna have made one last alteration, with Rossettini making way for Ferrari.
90'
A. Ferrari enters the game and replaces L. Rossettini.
Giaccherini isn't at all happy with the offside call and argues vociferously with the referee, resulting in him earning a late yellow card for dissent.
The fourth official has indicated that there will be four minutes of added time.
89'
E. Giaccherini gets yellow.
Bologna score, but it's ruled out for offside! Giaccherini twists and turns on the left-hand side of the Milan penalty area before firing a low cross off De Sciglio and out for a corner. The set-piece is curled into the penalty area and flicked on to the far post, where it finds Masina in acres of space, and the left-back is easily able to tap the ball into the back of an empty net. He reels away to celebrate, but as soon as does the linesman's flag is raised, much to the disbelief of the Bologna players and fans.
87'
Milan push forward down the left flank and win themselves a free-kick, which is flung into the box and clawed out of play for a corner by Da Costa. The resulting set-piece is curled right on to the head of Mexes, but the Frenchman is unable to get enough power behind his effort on goal and it's easily cut out by the goalkeeper in the middle of the goal.
85'
Another opportunity for Adriano! The Brazilian is starting to look far more dangerous in front of goal, and he seems absolutely desperate to add his name to the scoresheet. Once again he tries to test Da Costa from long range, and this time his shot ends up looping just a yard or two over the top of the crossbar before skimming the roof of the net.
84'
K. Boateng enters the game and replaces K. Honda.
That will be Honda's last contribution to the game, as he's replaced by Boateng for the final six minutes of the clash.
83'
Adriano goes close! Honda breaks into the right-hand side of the Bologna penalty area on a great run before cutting a lovely pass across the face of goal. It beats defenders before rolling over to the Brazilian at the far post, but the ball ends up missing his outstretched foot by the narrowest of margins. Any sort of contact surely would have resulted in a second goal for Milan.
Minute
Description
82'
The Bologna defence step off Adriano and leave him available in a pocket of space just outside of the hosts' penalty area, allowing him to control a pass before unleashing a thumping shot. It's poorly hit, however, and Da Costa is able to watch the striker's effort sail comfortably wide of his left post.
81'
Mounier immediately gets involved in the action as he picks up the ball deep down the right flank before cutting inside. He then tries to pick out Giaccherini, who had made a good run into the Milan penalty area, with a deep cross, but the substitute is obviously still rusty as he sends it flying past the on-loan Sunderland man and out to the left wing.
80'
A. Mounier enters the game and replaces C. Zúñiga.
Bologna have made their second alteration of the evening, with Mounier coming on to take the place of Zuniga in another attacking move for the hosts.
78'
Milan patiently work their way down the left wing before earning themselves a corner, which is flung into the middle of the penalty area and towards the head of Bacca. The striker is unable to meet it but the ball ends up bouncing out to Mexes, who unleashes an almightly volley. There's plenty of power behind the shot but, unfortunately for the Frenchman, little direction, so it ends up flying straight into the hands of Da Costa, who does well to hold on to it.
76'
After spending the last few minutes on the back foot, Bologna are finally able to push forward and find some space down the right wing. Taider breaks forward before swinging a cross into the middle of the Milan box, but it's easily thumped away by Mexes. Brighi then picks up the ball in the centre of the pitch, but his lobbed pass forward is poor and sails straight into the hands of Donnarumma.
74'
Honda charges towards the edge of the Bologna penalty area before teeing up Adriano, who had peeled off to the right to find a pocket of space. The Brazilian takes a quick touch before sending a low pass across the face of goal and towards Bacca, but his strike partner isn't quick enough in reaching the ball and is beaten to it by Oikonomou.
72'
S. Taïder enters the game and replaces D. Gastaldello.
Gastaldello seems to be really struggling after picking up what looks to be a thigh strain, and he's forced into gingerly limping off the pitch to be replaced by Taider. Can the Algerian make a positive impact for his side?
70'
A. Poli enters the game and replaces J. Kucka.
Milan have made their second change of the game, with Kucka making way for Poli for the final 20 minutes.
69'
Bertolacci picks up the ball in a pocket of space just outside of the Bologna penalty area and immediately chips a dangerous cross into the middle of the box, where Bacca is waiting. The striker is beaten to the ball by Rossettini, who can only send his attempted headed clearance into the feet of Adriano, but the Brazilian's quick shot fails to find a way past Gastaldello and ends up deflecting off the body of the big centre-back.
67'
Another chance for Floccari! Once again, the striker causes a nuisance inside the Milan penalty area. This time it's Calabria who he beats with ease in the air as he towers above the youngster, but once again his headed effort fails to hit the target and ends up looping over the crossbar.
65'
Bologna almost equalise! The resulting set-piece is flung into the heart of the Milan penalty area, where it finds Floccari, but the striker's towering header ends up flying narrowly wide of the far post. The hosts are getting closer to finding an opening goal!
64'
Ball after ball is flung into the Milan penalty area, but the visitors are just about able to deal with each one. Rossettini is eventually able to curl a cross into the middle of the box that looks set to find Floccari, but Mexes is there to deal with the danger before poking the ball behind for a corner.
63'
D. Calabria gets yellow.
62'
After dealing with a Milan attack, Bologna try to break away on a quick counter through Giaccherini, but the winger is brought crashing to the ground by a reckless sliding challenge from Calabria and the young defender becomes the latest player to receive a yellow card.
60'
Calabria has been enjoying himself down the right wing in the second half, and once again he does well to get himself into an advanced position. He then cuts inside before chipping a cross right on to the head of Bacca, but the Colombian is unable to direct his header towards goal and misses a great opportunity to double Milan's lead.
58'
A. Bertolacci gets yellow.
Bertolacci makes an immediate impression after coming on to the pitch, but it's not quite the one he would have wanted, as he flies into the penalty area and throws his body over the leg of Brienza, resulting in him receiving a yellow card for diving. He isn't at all happy with the decision, but there was no contact between the two players.
57'
A. Bertolacci enters the game and replaces J. Mauri.
Milan have made their first substitition of the night, with Bertolacci coming on to replace Mauri.
55'
Milan keep coming at Bologna as they continue to put the hosts under plenty of pressure, but once again Adriano, who had drifted out to the left wing, is unable to pick out a teammate with his deep cross that sails over everyone inside the penalty area before flying out for a goal-kick.
53'
The first corner quickly results in a second, which Honda then curls towards the near post. It's poorly hit by the Japanese midfielder, however, and fails to beat the first man, allowing Bologna to comfortably clear the ball back up towards the halfway line.
52'
Milan have increased the tempo and are starting to cause Bologna problems at the back. Once again, Bacca plays an important role in the move as he breaks towards the edge of the hosts' penalty area before picking out Adriano, but the Brazilian striker isn't quick enough in releasing the ball and it is closed down by Rossettini before he's able to do so, resulting in a corner for the visitors.
50'
Chance for Bacca! Milan patiently pass the ball around down the right flank as they try to find a way through the well-organised Bologna defence. Calabria is finally able to swing a cross into the heart of the penalty area, where it finds the Colombian striker, but his headed effort ends up bouncing wide of the far post and out for a goal-kick.
48'
Bacca breaks down the left wing and cuts into the Bologna penalty area before picking out Adriano on the edge of the penalty area, but his pass is slightly too heavy for the Brazilian. He's just about able to control it, however, before trying to send a back-heel to Kucka, but it's slightly underhit and is easily cut out by Brighi just outside of the box.
46'
And we're underway once again!
45' +1
Milan try to push forward on one last attacking move of the first half but are unable to do so quick enough and the referee blows his whistle for half-time as they patiently make their way forward. A chorus of boos ring around the stadium as the two sides make their way off the pitch, and it seems that the Bologna fans still aren't best pleased with the referee's decision to send off Diawara.
45'
The fourth official has indicated that there will be just one minute of added time.
44'
Milan burst down the right wing on a determined attack before winning themselves a corner. It's curled into the penalty area and bounces around in a frantic manner before finding Bacca at the far-right of the box, but the Colombian is unable to get a shot away before Bologna eventually thump the ball away from danger.
42'
De Sciglio and Zuniga battle for the ball deep down the right wing before the Colombian is dragged to the ground, resulting in free-kick for the hosts in a very dangerous position. Giaccherini curls a dangerous cross into the middle of the box that looks set to find the head of a Bologna player, but Mexes is just about able to beat them all to the ball before clearing the danger.
40'
Penalty goal scored by C. Bacca for AC Milan!
GOAL! Bacca steps up and fires a shot to the left that Da Costa is able to get a hand to but not save, as it flies through the Brazilian's fingertips before nestling into the back of the net to give Milan a much-needed lead just before half-time.
39'
Angelo da Costa gets yellow.
PENALTY! A thumping clearance from Donnarumma flies over the Bologna back line and into the path of Adriano, who flies past Oikonomou before being clattered to the ground by Da Costa. The referee has no choice but to point to the spot, and he does so before showing the goalkeeper a yellow card.
37'
A loose ball bounces over to Honda, who is in a pocket of space just outside of the Bologna penalty area, and the Japan international immediately unleashes a rocket of a volley that Da Costa does well to hold on to. Bologna then break forward before Brienza tries to open the scoring with a long-range shot of his own, but it sails several yards over the top of the crossbar and out for a goal-kick.
35'
M. Oikonomou gets yellow.
Milan try to break forward on a quick counter-attack down the left wing through Adriano, but the Brazilian is clattered into by Oikonomou, who becomes the latest player to receive a yellow card as a result.
34'
And now it's Floccari's turn! Bologna immediately break away down the left flank after winning back possession inside their own half of the pitch. Giaccherini flies forward on a determined run before cutting inside and chipping a cross over to the number 99, who chests the ball down and tries to spin. He's quickly closed down and is unable to do so, however, resulting in his backwards shot trickling into the hands of Donnarumma.
33'
Almost a chance on goal for Bacca! A cross from De Sciglio finds Adriano inside the Bologna penalty area, and the Brazilian does well to bring the ball down before teeing up his Colombian striker partner. Bacca quickly takes a touch just outside of the six-yard box before looking to shoot, but it's far too heavy and allows Da Costa to cut out the danger.
31'
Kucka carelessly loses the ball midway inside the Bologna half of the pitch, and once again Zuniga takes advantage of sloppy play from Milan by breaking forward on a quick counter-attack. The Colombian sprints through the middle of the pitch before breaking into the right-hand side of the box, but Romagnoli does wonderfully well to dispossess him with a great sliding tackle.
29'
Milan string together a good series of passes on the edge of the Bologna penalty area, with Adriano finally able to get a touch on the ball in an advanced position. With his back to goal, the Brazilian lays it off to Mauri, who then tries to pick out the top right-hand corner of the net with a curling shot. It's slightly overhit, however, and ends up curling comfortably wide of its intended target.
27'
Bologna try to hit Milan on the counter put are quickly pushed back, allowing the visitors to break forward on a quick attacking move of their own. Montolivo picks up the ball in the middle of the pitch before firing a lofted pass over the hosts' defence and into the penalty area, where it finds Honda on the left-hand side, but the Japanese midfielder's first-time half-volley is poorly hit and ends up trickling into the hands of Da Costa.
25'
It just doesn't seem to be going right for Milan, who can't seem to find any joy inside the final third of the pitch, which has resulted in Bacca and Adriano barely touching the ball. Once again they're unable to penetrate the Bologna back line before launching a hopeful ball forward, but it's completely overhit and fails to find De Sciglio, who had made a good run into the box in an attempt to latch on to it.
23'
Vital interception by De Sciglio! A half-hearted Milan attacking move breaks down, allowing Bologna to break away on a quick counter-attack. Zuniga charges through the middle of the pitch and weaves through white shirts before penetrating the visitors' box, but the left-back is there to dispossess him at the last possible moment before he's able to shoot.
22'
Milan patiently pass the ball around deep inside the Bologna half of the pitch as they desperately try to find a way through the sea of players camped diligently in front of them. De Sciglio is eventually able to find a pocket of space to operate in and then curls a cross into the penalty area, but Masina is there to meet it before it can find either Bacca or Adriano.
20'
A poor pass from Giaccherini is sent across the edge of the Milan penalty area before rolling straight into the feet of Montolivo. The midfielder immediately charges forward after receiving the ball and heads towards the Bologna box before teeing up Honda, but the Japan international brings a promising attacking move to a disappointing end with a poor cross that fails to pick out a white shirt.
18'
Mauri is in the thick of it once again, and this time it's Brienza who he clatters into on the left flank midway inside the Milan half of the pitch. The referee awards a free-kick, which is taken short before being curled towards the penalty area, but it's poorly hit and fails to trouble the visitors' defence.
16'
P. Mexès gets yellow.
The referee's yellow card is out yet again! This time it's Mexes who's on the receiving end of the referee's wrath, as he isn't at all happy with a hefty challenge on Montolivo from Brienza as the two battled for the ball near to the byline. The referee only gives a corner to Bologna, however, before giving the Frenchman a caution.
14'
After plenty of pushing, shoving and arguing, Mexes is finally able to take the resulting free-kick. He sends it short and works the ball down to Honda on the right flank, but the Japan international loses out to Giaccherini before accidentally tripping the winger to the ground.
12'
A. Diawara gets a second yellow card and is sent off.
RED CARD! Bologna are already down to 10 men! Diawara is clearly still frustrated after his earlier coming together with Mauri, and he flies into a challenge against Montolivo in the middle of the pitch. The youngster catches the Milan midfielder halfway up the shin and sends him crashing to the ground, leaving the referee with no choice but to give him his marching orders.
10'
Milan move the ball around quickly before Kucka tries to penetrate the Bologna penalty area, but his first touch is heavy and gifts possession back to the hosts. They immediately lose it, however, allowing a chipped pass to fly over towards the Slovakian, but he raises his foot too high and catches Masina, resulting in a free-kick inside the box.
8'
Great chance for Rossettini! Bologna come back again quickly and win themselves a corner on the right wing, which is curled into the heart of the penalty area. It finds the head of the left-back, who is in acres of space in front of goal, but his effort on goal ends up bouncing just a yard or two wide of the far post.
6'
A. Diawara gets yellow.
J. Mauri gets yellow.
It's heating up already! Diawara and Mauri battle for the ball inside the Bologna half of the pitch on the right wing, resulting in a fierce exchange between the two. The Milan midfielder pushes the Guinean youngster in the face during the fracas, but he only receives a yellow card for his outburst.
Meanwhile, Diawara is also shown a yellow card for his part in the coming together between the two.
5'
Bologna appeal for a penalty, but nothing is given! The hosts break down the left wing and win themselves a throw-in, which is taken quickly and sent to Brienza. The attacking midfielder is completely unmarked and able to reach the byline before chipping the ball over to Zuniga, but the Colombian goes down under a challenge from De Sciglio before he is able to make contact with it. He immediately screams for the referee to point to the spot, but the man in charge shakes his head and waves play on.
3'
After an even start to the game from both sides, Calabria tries to break down the right flank after being set up by Mexes. However, he's quickly closed down by Giaccherini and is unable to find a way past the winger, forcing him into spinning and sending the ball all the way back to Donnarumma.
1'
And we're off!
Good evening and welcome to our live text commentary of today’s Serie A game between Bologna and Milan at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara.
A lacklustre season for Milan resulted in former boss Sinisa Mihajlovic finally getting the sack midway through last month, but since then things have barely improved for the Rossoneri. Despite winning his opening game against Sampdoria, interim head coach Cristian Brocchi has won just one of his four clashes in charge of the club, with Carpi, Frosinone and Hellas Verona, all of whom are battling to avoid relegation zone, managing to avoid losing against a Milan side that seem to be limping over the finish line. The latter were even able to win their encounter, whilst last Sunday’s 3-3 draw with Frosinone was only made possible thanks to a last-minute penalty scored by Jeremy Menez. Wins in all three of those games would have resulted in Milan sitting in fifth place in the table whilst being on course for a spot in next season’s Europa League, but their inability to pick up victories means that they instead lie one point behind Sassuolo in sixth, meaning that positive results in their final two games of the season are imperative if they are to avoid missing out on European football for yet another campaign.
As for Bologna, they have very little left to play for, and it’s shown in their lacklustre performances over the past eight games. Since the middle of March, they have won just once, with that victory coming at home to Genoa two weeks ago. Either side of that they have lost five times and drawn twice, leaving them in 14th place in the table but safe from relegation in their first campaign back in Serie A. Whilst last weekend’s goalless draw away to Empoli wasn’t the worst of results, it did highlight the problems that they have been having in front of goal in recent weeks. Since the 1-0 victory against Udinese on February 14th, Roberto Donadoni’s men have found the back of the net just four times, with two of those goals coming in the recent win against Genoa. However, the Rossoblu did beat Milan 1-0 in the last meeting between the two sides back in January, with Emanuele Giaccherini, who is his side’s top goalscorer this calendar year, scoring the only goal of the game.
Milan substitutes: Lopez, Poli, Zapata, Abate, Simic, Alex, Balotelli, De Santis, Vido, Boateng, Locatelli, Bertolacci.
Milan XI (4-3-1-2): Donnarumma; Calabria, Mexes, Romagnoli, De Sciglio; Kucka, Montolivo, Mauri; Honda; Bacca, Adriano.
Bologna XI (4-2-3-1): Da Costa; Rossettini, Oikonomou, Gastaldello, Masina; Brighi, Diawara; Zuniga, Brienza, Giaccherini; Floccari.
There’s just over 15 minutes left to go until kick-off, so let’s have a look at how the two teams will be lining up this evening…
Roberto Donadoni has decided to make four changes to the Bologna side that drew with Empoli last Sunday, with Angelo Da Costa, Luca Rossetini, Marios Oikonomou and Camilo Zuniga coming into the starting line-up to replace Antonio Mirante, Alex Ferrari, Domenico Maietta and Anthony Mounier, respectively.
Meanwhile, Milan head coach Cristian Brocchi has made just two alterations to the side that were held to a 3-3 draw by Frosinone in their last outing, with Ignazio Abate and Alex making way for Davide Calabria and Philippe Mexes, both of whom are set to make only their third starts of the campaign.
The two sides are making their way out onto the pitch, with just a few minutes to go until kick-off.
HALF-TIME: BOLOGNA 0-1 MILAN
It's a fiery but largely frustrating opening 45 minutes, with a Bacca penalty being the only thing that separates the two teams at the break. Milan have struggled to find much joy in front of goal since Diawara's dismissal, as Bologna are sitting incredibly deep inside their own half of the pitch in an attempt to frustrate the visitors before hitting them on the counter. They have largely done that well, but a rash challenge from Da Costa gave Bacca the perfect opportunity to fire his side into the lead, and it's one that he took with aplomb. As a result, Milan are currently on course for three hugely-needed points, but the second half is sure to be a tough one.
The two teams are making their way back out onto the pitch ahead of the start of the second half. Neither side have made any substitutions during the half-time break.
FULL-TIME: BOLOGNA 0-1 MILAN
Despite battling against 10 men for the vast majority of the game, Milan really struggled to find much joy against Bologna's well-organised defence, but in the end they were just about able to come away with three big points thanks to a first-half penalty that was tucked away by Bacca. The hosts looked dangerous on the counter and caused plenty of problems for the Rossoneri back line, but in the end they only had enough firepower to find the back of the net once, and when they did the goal was rightly flagged offside.
The victory halts Milan's winless run at three games and temporarily moves them two points clear of Sassuolo, with whom they are battling tooth and nail for a place in next season's Europa League. The Neroverdi are in action against struggling Frosinone tomorrow afternoon and will be well aware that a victory there is absolutely vital. Bologna, meanwhile, stay in 14th place in the Serie A table ahead of their game away to Chievo on the final day of the season.
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