Milan hosts Bologna this Sunday, September 14, 2025, at 3:45 PM Brasília time, in a direct clash for the third round of the 2025/2026 Italian Championship, held at the iconic San Siro Stadium in Milan, Italy, with live broadcast on CazéTV via YouTube and Disney+, under the refereeing of Italian Matteo Marcenaro, who officiates the main match between two teams with a similar record of one win and one loss in the initial rounds, driven by the pursuit of crucial points to solidify mid-table positions and aim for European spots throughout the season. This match marks the rematch after Bologna’s victory over Milan in the previous season’s Italian Cup final, adding extra tension, as Milan, led by Massimiliano Allegri, relies on new signings like Luka Modric to impose an attacking game at home, while Bologna, coached by Vincenzo Italiano, bets on defensive solidity and quick counterattacks to surprise their historic rival.
The event draws global attention, featuring traditional Serie A clubs, with a packed San Siro of rossoneri fans eager for a reaction after a stumble against Cremonese in the opener. The game’s importance lies in both teams’ chance to balance their inconsistent start, directly impacting early standings and morale for upcoming matches.
Anticipation surrounds the clash due to recent transfer market moves that shifted team dynamics. Milan, after signing players like Modric from Real Madrid and striker Christopher Nkunku from Chelsea for 35 million euros, seeks stability under Allegri, who returned to the club for a new era. Bologna, the reigning Italian Cup champions, bolstered their squad with additions like defender Martin Vitík and full-back Nadir Zortea, aiming to sustain the momentum from their prior title.
Modric may start in midfield, bringing seasoned playmaking vision.
Nkunku is a bench option, awaiting a chance for impact.
Bologna relies on Orsolini and Castro to exploit defensive gaps.
These adjustments promise a balanced game, with Milan pressing early at home.
Shaky start fuels team motivation
Milan began the season with mixed results, sitting eighth with three points. In the opening round, they suffered a surprising 1-0 home loss to newly promoted Cremonese, marked by defensive lapses and lack of attacking creativity. That game exposed vulnerabilities, particularly with key players sidelined. However, in the second round, they bounced back with a 2-0 win over Lecce away, with goals from Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Christian Pulisic, showing resilience and efficiency in quick transitions. These three points set the stage for the current clash, where Allegri stresses the need for home wins to build confidence.
Bologna mirrors this scenario, also with three points in tenth place, reflecting a precarious early balance. The Emilian side lost their opener 1-0 to Como, failing to convert clear chances, but rebounded by beating Sassuolo 1-0, with a lone goal from Riccardo Orsolini, reinforcing their tactical solidity under Italiano. As Italian Cup holders, the rossoblù face pressure to repeat their feats, but their focus now is on the league, where they need points to avoid early stumbles.
Lecce win marked Milan’s first clean sheet of the season.
Orsolini leads Bologna with one goal in the competition so far.
Both teams conceded just one goal in the first two rounds.
Milan remains unbeaten in 18 of their last 19 Serie A games against Bologna at home.
These factors highlight the parity, making the duel unpredictable.
Silky skills from Weah and a fine finish from Blomqvist 🪡@cfigroup_en pic.twitter.com/EopNmsqAvo— AC Milan (@acmilan) September 14, 2025
Signings and absences shape strategies
Massimiliano Allegri tweaks Milan based on strategic signings to address past squad gaps. Luka Modric, the 39-year-old Croatian, arrives as a midfield maestro, offering precise passes and leadership from his European title-winning experience. Alongside him, Youssouf Fofana and Adrien Rabiot form a robust barrier, while up top, Santiago Giménez takes the lead role after a solid early adjustment. However, absences like Rafael Leão, sidelined with an ankle injury, and Nedim Bajrami force improvisations, with Alexis Saelemaekers filling the left wing. Nkunku, the new signing, trains separately and may come off the bench for pace. Allegri’s strategy prioritizes possession and high pressing, leveraging San Siro as a fortress.
Vincenzo Italiano shapes Bologna around a collective, fast-playing identity. The team invested in sturdy defenders like Vitík and Federico Casale, anchoring the backline with Jhon Lucumí. In midfield, Remo Freuler and Lewis Ferguson set the tempo, while the attack hinges on Orsolini on the right and Santiago Castro up top, with Nicolò Cambiaghi as a wildcard. Absences hit harder for the visitors: Tommaso Pobega, Ciro Immobile, Casale (injured), Emil Holm, and Abdul Manaf Nurullah Sulemana are out, forcing adjustments with options like Jens Odgaard. Italiano plans lethal counterattacks, using Zortea’s speed on the flanks to neutralize Milan’s dominance.
The clash of styles—Milan’s possession versus Bologna’s transitions—promises intensity from the first whistle.
Likely line-ups and detailed refereeing
The starting formations reveal the coaches’ bets to balance attack and defense at San Siro. For Milan, Maignan is in goal, with a defensive line of Fikayo Tomori, Matteo Gabbia, and Strahinja Pavlović, supported by full-backs Alexis Saelemaekers and Pervis Estupiñán. In midfield, the trio of Youssouf Fofana, Luka Modrić, and Adrien Rabiot seeks control, feeding Christian Pulisic and Santiago Giménez up front. This line-up emphasizes balance, with Modrić as the creative pivot and Giménez as the finisher.
Bologna counters with Lukasz Skorupski in goal, a backline of Nadir Zortea, Martin Vitík, Jhon Lucumí, and Juan Miranda, with midfielders Remo Freuler, Lewis Ferguson, Riccardo Orsolini, Jens Odgaard, and Nicolò Cambiaghi, culminating in Santiago Castro. Immobile’s absence forces Castro into a pivot role, while Orsolini drifts wide to create imbalances.
Milan: Maignan; Tomori, Gabbia, Pavlović; Saelemaekers, Fofana, Modric, Rabiot, Estupinan; Pulisic; Giménez.
Bologna: Skorupski; Zortea, Vitík, Lucumi, Miranda; Freuler, Ferguson; Orsolini, Odgaard, Cambiaghi; Castro.
Referee: Matteo Marcenaro, experienced in high-stakes matches.
Assistants: Alessio Berti and Marco Ceccon, with Antonio Rapuano as fourth official.
VAR: Michael Fabri, handling critical calls in tight moments.
Marcenaro’s refereeing, known for strictness on tactical fouls, may influence the game’s flow.
Head-to-head history shows tight rivalry
Milan-Bologna clashes have a storied history in Serie A, with Milan holding a statistical edge at home. In the last 87 San Siro encounters, the rossoneri won 51, drew 22, and lost 14, scoring over 150 goals in the period. Bologna’s last win in Milan came in 2015/2016, a 1-0 result with Emanuele Giaccherini’s stoppage-time goal. Since then, Milan has been unbeaten in nine duels, with seven wins and two draws.
Last season, Milan’s 3-1 win in May 2025 showcased Pulisic and Giménez, but Bologna hit back days later in the Italian Cup final, winning 2-1 in Rome’s Olympic Stadium with goals from Orsolini and Castro, claiming the trophy and exposing Milan’s weaknesses in decisive moments. That loss still drives Allegri’s quest for revenge in the league.
Aerial goals have been Milan’s weapon in their two games, with two of three strikes from headers, contrasting with Bologna, who haven’t conceded aerially in their last 15 Serie A matches. Orsolini, with 74 goals for Bologna, nears club records, adding personal stakes to the duel.
Milan unbeaten in 18 of 19 recent Serie A games against Bologna.
Bologna won only once at San Siro since 2016.
Milan averages 2.5 goals per game in these matchups.
The 2025 Italian Cup final shifted the rivalry’s dynamic.
These stats suggest home favoritism but warn of potential upsets.
Broadcasts and global fan access
The match gains wide reach with accessible broadcast options across platforms. In Brazil, CazéTV offers free YouTube coverage with Portuguese commentary and real-time analysis, ideal for fans seeking no-cost immersion. Disney+ streams the game in paid HD with instant replays, catering to premium viewers. Globally, services like DAZN and Paramount+ cover the event in regions like Europe and North America, while Amazon Prime Video handles Asia.
San Siro, with a 75,000 capacity, expects a full house, with tickets sold out weeks prior due to the rivalry. Remote fans can follow via Serie A’s official apps, offering live stats and highlights. The September 14 date aligns with a packed Sunday round, including Roma vs. Torino and Atalanta vs. Lecce, making it a spectacle of Italian football.
CazéTV: Free on YouTube with Brazilian-focused commentary.
Disney+: Streaming with multi-camera and original audio.
DAZN: Global coverage with post-match analysis.
Serie A apps: Real-time mobile updates.
Tickets: Sold out, with official resale via Milan’s site.
This variety broadens access, boosting engagement.
Tactical expectations at San Siro
Allegri sets Milan to dominate possession, using Modric to control tempo and Pulisic for wing infiltrations. The defense, with Tomori and Pavlović, focuses on neutralizing Castro, while Estupiñán pushes forward to overload Miranda. Giménez, with a proven nose for goals, targets aerial balls, exploiting Bologna’s recent weakness. Rabiot, a new arrival, starts on the bench but may enter to bolster midfield in a tight game.
Italiano builds Bologna to absorb pressure and counterattack, with Freuler recovering balls and Orsolini crossing for Castro. Zortea shadows Saelemaekers, while Vitík covers Giménez. Immobile’s absence limits attacking options, pushing Odgaard to create from deeper. The Emilians bank on set pieces, where Lucumí excels in headers.
Marcenaro’s whistle, with a history of cards in physical duels, may demand discipline, especially between Rabiot and Ferguson in midfield.
