Match Overview
In a highly contested match at San Siro, AC Milan scraped a narrow 1-0 victory against Bologna, thanks in large part to the efforts of 40-year-old Luka Modric, who netted his inaugural Serie A goal for the club.
First Half Highlights
The first half saw Milan dominate the play with several close calls, including two attempts that clattered off the woodwork—one from Pervis Estupiñán and another from Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
Decisive Moment
It wasn’t until the 60th minute that Modric managed to break the stalemate, skillfully converting a pass from Alexis Saelemaekers and slotting it expertly past goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski from Poland.
Debuts and Controversies
The match marked a series of debuts following the summer transfer window closures, adding a fresh dynamic to the teams. Among them, Christopher Nkunku made his first appearance for Milan and was immediately involved in a controversial moment when he seemed to have drawn a penalty. However, after a review by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), the call was reversed, inciting anger from the home crowd and resulting in manager Massimiliano Allegri being sent to the stands for reacting visibly to the decision.
Player Interactions
This match also saw interactions between players with history, as former Marseille teammates Adrien Rabiot and Jonathan Rowe shared the pitch again, having previously been involved in a training ground incident that led to their transfers from the Ligue 1 club. Rabiot stood out for Milan, playing the entire match in an advanced midfield role alongside Loftus-Cheek, while Rowe made an appearance off the bench for Bologna.
Late Game Developments
In a further twist, USMNT standout Christian Pulisic entered the match to replace Loftus-Cheek at the 65-minute mark and immediately looked threatening. Nkunku, who came on for Santiago Jimenez in the 85th minute, believed he had made a decisive impact, but after referee Matteo Marcenaro consulted VAR once again, it was determined that a challenge by Bologna’s Remo Freuler did not warrant a foul.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the tension boiled over for Allegri, leading to his expulsion, meaning he will miss the upcoming match against Udinese.
