Bologna vs AC Milan Preview & Prediction | 2023-24 Italian Serie A
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
THE FACTS
When is Bologna vs AC Milan on and what time does it start? Bologna vs AC Milan will take place on Monday 21st August, 2023 – 19:45 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Bologna vs AC Milan? Visit each club’s official website for the latest ticket information
What TV channel is Bologna vs AC Milan on in the UK? TNT Sports have the rights to televise Serie A matches in the UK, so it is worth checking their schedule for Bologna vs AC Milan
Where can I stream Bologna vs AC Milan in the UK? If Bologna vs AC Milan is televised on TNT Sports, then subscribers can stream the match live on discovery+
THE LOWDOWN
BOLOGNA
Bologna had a very bizarre and emotional 2022/23 campaign. The late Sinisa Mihaijlovic was in charge until early September before Luca Vigiani took over for a week or so and then Thiago Motta came in. The Emilia-Romagna club improved massively over the course of the season under Motta, who plays a very innovative and progressive style of football.
The hosts will be hoping to push towards the top seven and the European spots over the course of the campaign. Their summer has been a quiet one but they have added three players for combined fees of around 21 million euros with Nikola Moro, Sam Beukema and Dan Ndoye all joining from Spartak Moscow, AZ Alkmaar and Basel respectively.
AC MILAN
Last season, AC Milan reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League and finished third in Serie A. Despite that seeming reasonable on paper, the Rossoneri will be frustrated by losing the semi-final to their Derby della Madonnina rivals Internazionale and they also underperformed in the league and they would have anticipated a push towards the eventual title winners, Napoli.
Stefano Pioli’s side have enjoyed something of a rebuild over the summer with some impressive business funded by the sale of Sandro Tonali to Newcastle United for a fee of around £55 million. They have added the likes of Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Christian Pulisic from Chelsea, as well as Tijjani Reijnders, Samuel Chukwueze and Yunus Musah.
THE TEAM NEWS
BOLOGNA
Thiago Motta once famously said he wanted to see a formation of 2-7-2 and whilst people misunderstood and began to ridicule, it was a window into his philosophy. It will look more like the classic 4-2-3-1 when on the pitch.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Skorupski; Posch, Beukema, Lucumi, Lykogiannis; Moro, Ferguson; Barrow, Dominguez, Orosolini; Zirkzee
UNAVAILABLE: Soumaoro (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
AC MILAN
It will be very interesting to see how Stefano Pioli lines AC Milan up but the likelihood is that he goes with the tries and tested 4-2-3-1 and tries to adapt some of his new signings into the starting eleven. A dilemma is in attack with Olivier Giroud enduring a poor pre-season.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Calabria, Kalulu, Tomori, Hernandez; Reijnders, Loftus-Cheek; Chukwueze, Pulisic, Leao; Giroud
UNAVAILABLE: Bennacer (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
THE PREDICTION
Up against his former club, Thiago Motta will have his Bologna side ready to attack a rejuvenated AC Milan side. The hosts have been dealt a major blow in the summer transfer window with the loss of Marko Arnautovic to Inter but will remain good to watch going forward and could pose a young Milan defences some problems. Milan, though, remain favourites and just look at the attacking talent in that predicted XI. Pioli has some serious options at his disposal and, whilst it may be an intriguing encounter, an away win is expected for one of the pre-season title favourites.
TIP: AC MILAN TO WIN
