The opening round of the 2020/21 Serie A ends tonight with AC Milan playing host to Bologna at the San Siro.
(Mr Green odds above – AC Milan win/Draw/Bologna win)
After a tough start to their campaign last term, AC Milan recovered under Stefano Pioli to claim a respectable sixth-place in the Serie A. They even finished as the best form team in the post-lockdown period.
The aim now is to build on their strong end to the previous season by ensuring an equally strong start to the new one.
It’s doesn’t hurt either that they won the previous fixture last term either in a 5-1 thrashing at the San Siro courtesy of goals from Alexis Saelemaekers, Hakan Calhanoglu, Ismael Bennacer, Ante Rebic, and Davide Calabria.
AC Milan Form & Stats
The 18-time Serie A champions enjoyed a solid pre-season, winning all four of their friendlies. They even began their 2020/21 campaign on a high by cruising to a comfortable 2-0 win over Shamrock Rovers last Thursday in the second-round Europa League qualifier.
Pioli has also done well in the transfer market this summer by welcoming young talents like Sandro Tonali, Saelemaekers, Pierre Kalulu, and Brahim Diaz to the fold. The addition of veteran defender Simon Kjaer, meanwhile, should help strengthen the backline.
But the Milan boss isn’t expected to make too many changes from the side that defeated Shamrock Rovers as stars such as Rafael Leao and Alessio Romagnoli remain absent.
Key Team Stats
- Unbeaten in their last 14 games in all competitions (W10 D4), just two games shy of their record of 16 games undefeated under Carlo Ancelotti in 2008.
- Won eight of their last nine league games against Bologna (W8 D1).
- Lost their last two opening games in the Serie A.
Bologna Form & Stats
The visitors have languished down the lower half in the Serie A for most of their time back since winning promotion in 2015/16, securing a 12th-place finish in the previous campaign.
Bologna have made changes to their squad over the summer, though. They may have lost around four players on free transfers, but they did well to sign Lorenzo De Silvestri and Luis Binks.
On the bright side, meanwhile, Sinisa Mihajlovic has no fresh injury issues for their season opener. Jerdy Schouten and Federico Santander remain sidelined, while Gary Medel is suspended for the San Siro trip.
Key Team Stats
- Won just three of their previous 15 games in all competitions (W3 D5 L7).
- Have only won one of their last 10 league openers (W1 D4 L5).
- Only the third time they’ll meet Milan in the first matchday of a Serie A campaign (W1 L1).
AC Milan & Bologna Team News
AC Milan: Samu Castillejo, Mateo Musacchio, Leo Duarte, and Lucas Paqueta (out).
Bologna: Federico Santander, Jerdy Schouten
Head-To-Head Record
Match Facts
Betting Tips
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