AC Milan secured a hard-fought 1-0 win over Bologna, thanks to Luka Modric’s first goal for the club, scored just days after his 40th birthday.
The match between AC Milan and Bologna was a highly anticipated one, with both teams looking to make a statement in the Serie A standings. Milan, missing key players Rafael Leao and Ardon Jashari, gave Adrien Rabiot his debut, while Bologna were without several injured players, including Ciro Immobile and Tommaso Pobega.
The game got off to a lively start, with Rabiot making an immediate impact. He ran onto Youssouf Fofana’s through ball and forced Nadir Zortea to scramble across to stop him going clear on goal.
Santiago Gimenez also had a chance, turning between three defenders to force a Lukasz Skorupski save. However, it was Milan who came closest to scoring on the stroke of half-time, with Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s header flicking on a Modric corner for Gimenez to slide in and clip the far post.
After the break, Koni De Winter made his Milan debut, while Mike Maignan limped off with a suspected calf strain, and Pietro Terracciano made his debut in goal for Milan.
The hosts finally found the breakthrough when Modric scored his first goal for the club. The former Real Madrid star had begun the move from midfield, as Loftus-Cheek spread it to the right for Saelemaekers, who rolled it back across for Modric to finish with the inside of the right boot from just inside the area.
The goal proved to be the difference-maker in the match. However, the game’s final 10 minutes were marked by controversy. Substitute Christopher Nkunku was fouled by Jhon Lucumi and Remo Freuler, and a penalty was initially awarded. However, after a VAR review, the referee changed his mind, deciding there was no spot-kick. This infuriated Max Allegri, who was sent off and raged at the fourth official with his jacket off before storming down the tunnel.
Despite the controversy, Milan held on for the win, thanks to Modric’s decisive goal. The victory was a significant one for the Rossoneri, who are looking to make a strong start to the season. Modric’s performance was a highlight, showcasing his skill and experience.
The win puts Milan in a good position in the Serie A standings, and they’ll look to build on this momentum in their upcoming matches. Bologna, on the other hand, will be disappointed to have come away empty-handed, but they’ll look to bounce back in their next game.
