Bologna 0-3 AC Milan Player Ratings: Rossoneri Dominate Away Serie A Fixture but Remain 2nd on League Table

AC Milan delivered a ruthless display of authority on the road as they swept aside Bologna 3–0 at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara, turning a much-anticipated Serie A encounter into a one-sided affair.

The visitors seized control early and never loosened their grip. Ruben Loftus-Cheek broke the deadlock inside the opening 20 minutes, powering home a decisive finish that immediately shifted the momentum Milan’s way. From that point on, Stefano Pioli’s side dictated the tempo, pressing aggressively and capitalising on Bologna’s growing unease.

Milan’s dominance was rewarded again just before the break when a rash challenge inside the penalty area handed Christopher Nkunku the opportunity to extend the lead. The forward stepped up confidently and converted from the spot, leaving the hosts facing an uphill battle.

Any hopes of a Bologna comeback were quickly dashed after the restart. Adrien Rabiot struck within minutes of the second half, effectively killing the contest and underlining Milan’s superiority on the night.

AC Milan Player Ratings vs Bologna

Goalkeeper

Mike Maignan - 7.0: A confident performance from the captain. He wasn't peppered with shots but made two important saves when called upon. What stood out was his command of the area, especially on a good high claim. He distributed the ball effectively, launching attacks from the back. A clean sheet well-earned.

Defenders

Koni De Winter - 7.5: We thought he was immense at the back. He won 100% of his duels which is an incredible statistic. With 8 clearances and 3 tackles, he was a rock. He looked so composed on the ball, barely misplacing a pass. A truly standout defensive display.

Strahinja Pavlović - 7.0: Formed a great partnership with De Winter. He was dominant in the air and won almost all of his duels. Made 6 crucial clearances to snuff out any Bologna attacks. He was aggressive but fair, showing great reading of the game. Another player who contributed significantly to the clean sheet.

Matteo Gabbia - 6.5: A slightly mixed bag from our perspective. He was solid for the most part, contributing with 8 clearances and a very high pass accuracy. However, he was a bit too aggressive at times, committing 3 fouls. He did his job, but wasn't as polished as his fellow defenders.

Midfielders

Adrien Rabiot - 8.5: Our man of the match, without a doubt. This was a complete midfield performance from him. He scored a goal, provided the assist for the opener, and created a big chance. He drove forward with purpose and was the engine of the team. A truly sensational game.

Luka Modrić - 7.0: The maestro just oozes class. He dictated the tempo of the game for 72 minutes, rarely giving the ball away. He won the majority of his duels and made key interceptions. You can just see the intelligence in his play, always one step ahead. It was a pleasure to watch.

Youssouf Fofana - 6.5: An energetic and hardworking performance in the middle. He got into good positions, taking two shots, but will be disappointed to have missed a big chance. His engine was vital for Milan's pressing game, even if his final product was a little off.

Zachary Athekame - 7.0: Very impressive outing on the wing before his substitution. He created two big chances, a testament to his vision and delivery. His crossing was a constant threat. It was a shame he couldn't complete the full 90 minutes.

Davide Bartesaghi - 6.5: A steady, if unspectacular, performance. He was defensively sound and didn't put a foot wrong. He kept it simple and effective, though he didn't offer the same attacking threat as Athekame on the other side. His evening was unfortunately cut short by injury.

Forwards

Ruben Loftus-Cheek - 7.5: He was a real handful for the Bologna defence. He took his goal brilliantly, a powerful finish to open the scoring. His physical presence caused problems, though he might feel he should have scored another. A very impactful 67 minutes.

Christopher Nkunku - 7.5: He was sharp and dangerous throughout his time on the pitch. He showed great composure to win the penalty and then convert it with ease. He had a few other big chances that he couldn't take, but his movement and skill were a constant menace.

Substitutes

Fikayo Tomori - 6.0: Came on and slotted in seamlessly to see out the win.

Samuele Ricci - 6.0: Added fresh legs to the midfield and kept possession well.

Niclas Füllkrug - 6.5: Looked lively and forced a good save from the keeper with a header.

Ardon Jashari - 6.0: Did his job in midfield, breaking up play.

Pervis Estupiñán - 6.0: Came on for the injured Bartesaghi and was solid.

Manager

M. Allegri - 8.0: A tactical masterclass. His team was set up perfectly to exploit Bologna's weaknesses. They were organized defensively and absolutely lethal in attack. His game management was spot on, and the result speaks for itself.

Bologna Player Ratings vs AC Milan

Goalkeeper

Federico Ravaglia - 5.0: A day he will want to forget. Conceding three goals is never good, but giving away a penalty was the nail in the coffin. He did make four saves, but it wasn't enough to redeem a poor performance. The yellow card for dissent showed his frustration.

Defenders

Torbjørn Heggem - 4.5: From our perspective, he was the worst performer on the pitch. An error leading directly to a goal is a cardinal sin for a defender. He struggled all game, was dribbled past twice, and looked completely out of his depth. A very, very poor showing.

Nicolò Casale - 7.0: The one shining light in a dismal Bologna defence. He fought like a lion, winning an incredible 10 duels and making numerous clearances and interceptions. He showed immense pride and played with real heart despite the scoreline. He can hold his head high.

Nadir Zortea - 6.0: He had a busy evening. He tried to get forward and contribute to attacks, putting in a few crosses. However, he was often exposed defensively and was dribbled past on a couple of occasions. An average, if frustrating, game for him.

Juan Miranda - 5.5: Another defender who made a catastrophic error leading to a goal. You simply can't do that against a team like Milan. He was tidy in possession and tried to create from the back, but the mistake overshadowed everything else. A disappointing night for him.

Midfielders

Remo Freuler - 6.0: He was neat on the ball, with a high pass completion rate. However, we felt he was too passive. He didn't offer enough protection for his defence or creativity going forward. The yellow card for a clumsy foul summed up his frustrating evening.

Lewis Ferguson - 6.5: The captain put in a real shift. He was combative, making five tackles and trying to drive his team forward. He never gave up, but his frustration boiled over with a yellow card. A battling performance in a losing cause.

Riccardo Orsolini - 5.5: We barely noticed he was on the pitch. He was completely anonymous and failed to make any impact on the game. It was no surprise to see him substituted early in the second half. A very poor outing.

Jonathan Rowe - 6.0: He showed some bright sparks with his dribbling ability. He tried to take players on and make things happen. However, his end product was lacking and he lost possession far too many times. A lot of effort for little reward.

Forwards

Santiago Castro - 6.0: He was isolated for much of the game. He worked hard to win free kicks for his team but had zero service. He didn't manage a single shot before being substituted. A thankless task for the forward.

Jens Odgaard - 6.5: Bologna's biggest threat, by far. He had six shots in total, constantly trying to find a way through. He forced a good save from Maignan. But ultimately, his finishing was wasteful, and he couldn't find the back of the net.

Substitutes

Federico Bernardeschi - 5.5: Came on but missed a couple of chances from range.

Thijs Dallinga - 5.5: Didn't offer much more than the man he replaced.

Nikola Moro - 6.0: Tidy in possession but the game was already lost.

Nicolò Cambiaghi - 6.0: Had little time to make a real impact.

Charalampos Lykogiannis - 6.0: A late sub with the game over as a contest.

Manager

V. Italiano - 5.0: His game plan simply didn't work. His team looked disorganized at the back and lacked a cutting edge in attack. Milan exposed their defensive frailties time and time again. He has a lot to think about after this heavy defeat.