AC Milan endured a shocking 4-2 loss to Bologna after letting their lead slip away, as Samuel Mbangula netted three goals to hand Ruben Amorim his first Serie A defeat. Even though Alphadjo Cisse scored twice to put the Rossoneri ahead, costly defensive blunders allowed Bologna to score three times after the break and secure an impressive comeback.
The outcome arrived at an awkward moment for Milan, who were already coping with an extensive injury list before Saturday’s Derby della Madonnina. Bologna, on the other hand, maintained their solid away performances and capitalised fully on their opponents’ defensive vulnerabilities.
Milan injury troubles and Bologna’s initial threat
Milan’s unavailable players increased as Ruben Loftus-Cheek joined Adrien Rabiot, Diego Moreira, Samuel Chukwueze, Mario Gila, Matteo Gabbia, Alexis Saelemaekers, and Pietro Terracciano on the treatment table. With the derby on the horizon, Cisse and Yunus Musah were selected ahead of Christian Pulisic and Luka Modric, who were afforded a chance to recover.
Bologna came into the match having won their last two away fixtures against Lecce and Cagliari, though they were also missing several squad members, including Riccardo Orsolini, Roberto Piccoli, Emil Holm, Jay Enem, and Lorenzo De Silvestri.
The away side carved out the first meaningful chance when Nadir Zortea whipped a threatening ball across the goalmouth from the right, just failing to connect with Jens Odgaard as he slid in towards the six-yard area. Milan did not learn from that warning, and Bologna quickly broke the deadlock.
Musah gave the ball away in the middle of the park, enabling Zortea to advance to the right byline and pull it back for Mbangula. The ex-Juventus man was afforded space and converted from nine yards to give Bologna the lead.
Alphadjo Cisse double flips the contest
Milan hit back following a expensive error from Arthur Theate. The Bologna centre-back was caught out while attempting to play out from defence, letting Cisse pounce on the chance and slot home from close distance to level the score.
The Rossoneri kept struggling on their left side, with Federico Bernardeschi finding room to whip in another dangerous cutback. Nevertheless, Milan soon swung the game in their favour through another close-range conversion from Cisse.
Hutchinson was blocked following a strong solo run, and Fikayo Tomori swept the loose ball across the box from the right. Cisse was ideally placed to meet the delivery, executing an acrobatic volley to put Milan 2-1 ahead.
Tomori picked up an injury just before the interval and was substituted by Modric at the break. Musah therefore shifted to the right-back role as Milan reorganised their backline.
Bologna had a chance to draw level when Bernardeschi won the ball in midfield and delivered a cross for Odgaard, but the forward could not keep his sliding attempt down from close range.
Bologna’s fightback reveals Milan’s defensive issues
Milan’s lead vanished during a disastrous spell after the restart. Davide Bartesaghi inadvertently turned Juan Miranda’s free kick into his own goal at the back post, pulling Bologna level.
The visitors required little time to seize control. Miranda again caused issues down the left, providing a cutback that Mbangula controlled brilliantly before evading two defenders and converting from close distance. His second strike of the game put Bologna in front and left Milan with a mountain to climb.
Bologna kept posing a threat as Milan found it difficult to play out from defence. Niccolò Cambiaghi fired just wide after another turnover in possession, while Martin Vitik dispossessed Goncalo Ramos during the visitors’ attacking pressure.
Milan nearly equalised when Francesco Camarda met a cross with a glancing header, but the ball drifted just beyond the far post. That wasted chance proved expensive as Bologna increased their lead.
Mbangula seals hat-trick as Bologna clinches the win
Bologna landed the decisive punch when Camarda was swarmed in midfield, allowing Odgaard to surge down the right and square the ball for Mbangula. The forward held his position behind the ball before finishing, sealing his hat-trick and making it 4-2.
The goal crowned a remarkable display from Mbangula, whose three goals helped Bologna exploit Milan’s defensive errors and transform a losing situation into a convincing triumph.
Milan still had an opportunity to pull one back when Pulisic threw himself at a header, but goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski responded superbly to tip the attempt out from under the crossbar.
Bologna held firm for a memorable victory, while Amorim was left to contemplate his first Serie A loss and Milan’s defensive troubles just days before their derby clash with Inter.