AC Milan vs Bologna: Injury Crisis Tests Amorim’s Depth as Rossoneri Chase Third Straight Serie A Win

FolioPitch.com – 27 October 2026 | AC Milan return to San Siro on Wednesday night aiming for a third consecutive Serie A victory, but Ruben Amorim’s squad is stretched to its limits as Bologna arrive with renewed purpose under Raffaele Palladino. This Serie A preview AC Milan vs Bologna Team news opposition insight stats and prediction examines a fixture that could reveal much about the Rossoneri’s ambitions, with a derby against Inter looming on Sunday and a mounting injury list threatening to derail momentum.

Milan bounced back from a chastening Europa League defeat at Bournemouth — a night when Mike Maignan was sent off and the Rossoneri conceded two penalties plus a free-kick — by beating Udinese 2-0 on Sunday. Christian Pulisic struck early and Omari Hutchinson netted his first goal for the club after the break, sealing a comfortable win against a struggling side. Yet the victory came at a cost: Ruben Loftus-Cheek tore a muscle at the Stadio Friuli and will almost certainly miss more than a month.

Team News: Eight Absentees and a Reinvented Backline

The injury crisis deepened further, with Adrien Rabiot, Diego Moreira and Mario Gila all ruled out after picking up minor issues. The hope is that all three recover in time for Saturday’s derby, but caution has prevailed for this fixture. Samuel Chukwueze, Matteo Gabbia, Alexis Saelemaekers and Pietro Terracciano remain longer-term absentees, leaving Amorim with eight unavailable players.

What was intriguing about the Udinese win was the coach’s tactical reinvention. Four natural centre-backs — Fikayo Tomori, Koni De Winter, Strahinja Pavlovic and Sankhoun Diawara — formed the back four, with Davide Bartesaghi pushed further forward on the left. Maignan, De Winter and Pavlovic are irreplaceable even with a full squad, while Tomori and Pervis Estupinan will start despite not being held in the same regard. Yunus Musah and Ardon Jashari form the midfield pivot with a huge opportunity to prove themselves, while Hutchinson starts a third game in a row on the right. Alphadjo Cisse is expected to lead the line.

Predicted Milan XI (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Tomori, De Winter, Pavlovic, Estupinan; Musah, Jashari; Hutchinson, Pulisic, Bartesaghi; Cisse.

Opposition Insight: Bologna’s Turbulent Season

Bologna endured a summer of upheaval, with Vincenzo Italiano departing for Besiktas and Domenico Tedesco appointed in his place. Tedesco lasted just four games, sacked after three 1-0 defeats, before Raffaele Palladino took charge. Results have improved: a draw against Torino was followed by wins over Lecce and Cagliari, either side of a defeat to Inter in which they were the better team for the first half. This Serie A preview AC Milan vs Bologna Team news opposition insight stats and prediction notes that Palladino will be without Riccardo Orsolini, Roberto Piccoli and Emil Holm, while Jay Enem will be assessed closer to kick-off.

Bologna’s summer spending focused on midfielders Mikel Amondarain, Tommaso Pobega and striker Jay Enem, with loan arrivals including Samuel Mbangula, Arthur Theate and Artem Dovbyk. Big sales saw Santiago Castro join Roma, Jhon Lucumi move to Juventus and Giovanni Fabbian sign for Fiorentina. After a clean sheet against Cagliari, few changes are expected: Skorupski, Darmian, Casale and Theate form the back three, with Zortea and Juan Miranda flanking them. Pobega returns to San Siro alongside Lewis Ferguson, while Mbangula replaces Cambiaghi in the front three.

Predicted Bologna XI (3-4-3): Skorupski; Darmian, Casale, Theate; Zortea, Pobega, Ferguson, Miranda; Bernardeschi, Odgaard, Mbangula.

Key Stats and Facts

• Milan have lost only one of their last 21 Serie A meetings with Bologna (W16 D4), winning the three most recent.
• The Rossoneri are unbeaten in their last 10 home league games against Bologna (W8 D2), last losing in January 2016.
• Milan could win three consecutive Serie A matches for the first time in 2026.
• Milan have won their first three home games of the season and could make it four from four for only the fifth time in the three-points-for-a-win era.
• Bologna could keep two consecutive clean sheets for only the second time in 2026.
• Palladino could become only the third Bologna manager to win his first three away games in charge.
• Milan have taken the fewest corners in the league this season (25), converting only six.
• Christian Pulisic has been involved in four goals in his last seven Serie A matches and is the only player with at least 30 goals and 20 assists since his 2023-24 debut.

Ones to Watch

Ardon Jashari needs to start repaying the faith shown in him after Milan spent last summer pursuing his signature. Omari Hutchinson, with a third consecutive start, could spark discussion about his role after his instinctive finish at the weekend. For Bologna, Tommaso Pobega will be eager to prove a point against the club that let him go, while Juan Miranda has been the visitors’ biggest threat this season and could exploit a makeshift Milan right side.

Prediction

Bologna have been a mixed bag recently, and their win against Cagliari should not be taken for granted. Nevertheless, they have lost to every ‘typical’ European chaser so far this season, and Milan cannot afford to break that trend. This Serie A preview AC Milan vs Bologna Team news opposition insight stats and prediction ultimately points to a narrow home victory.

Milan 2-1 Bologna

With injuries mounting and a derby on the horizon, Amorim’s men must summon the depth and resilience that has defined their recent upturn. A third straight win would not only keep pace at the top but also send a timely message of intent before Sunday’s showdown with Inter. For Bologna, a positive result at San Siro would validate Palladino’s revival and suggest that their turbulent start is firmly behind them. All eyes will be on whether Milan’s makeshift backline can withstand the visitors’ threat and whether the Rossoneri’s attacking quality can deliver yet another crucial three points.