Milan 1-0 Bologna Player Ratings: Luca Modric Rated 8.5/10 as Milan Secure Narrow Victory

With Luka Modric scoring the winning goal, Milan sealed a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Bologna in a competitive Serie A clash. Modric, who joined Milan this summer, broke the deadlock just after the hour mark. AC Milan played brilliantly, controlling the tempo of the game. Santiago Gimenez was denied twice by the post. If he managed to hit the target, Milan could have secured a comfortable lead against the stubborn Bologna unit, which showed their defensive quality throughout the match. They frustrated the home team for long periods but failed to open the scoring. Luka Modric finally stepped up with a brilliant strike to earn a crucial three points for AC Milan. Here are AC Milan vs Bologna player ratings:

Milan Player Ratings vs Bologna

Goalkeeper

Mike Maignan - 6.5: The captain was largely a spectator before his unfortunate exit. He dealt with what little came his way with his usual composure, including a good high claim. The game was paused for his injury, and his departure on 56 minutes was a worrying sight for the home fans. He did nothing wrong.

Defenders

Fikayo Tomori - 7.5: A commanding presence at the heart of the defence. He was aggressive, making six crucial clearances and two interceptions. The yellow card in the first half was perhaps his only misstep in an otherwise dominant performance. What stood out to us was his reading of the game, snuffing out danger before it developed.

Strahinja Pavlović - 6.0: A difficult first half for the defender. He never really looked settled, committing a couple of fouls and looking a yard off the pace. The decision to replace him at halftime was not a surprise. He just seemed to struggle with Bologna's movement.

Matteo Gabbia - 7.0: A very composed and efficient display. He was a rock, winning his tackles and making six clearances without any fuss. His pass completion rate of 92% shows his calmness on the ball. An unsung hero on the night, he provided a steadying influence at the back.

Midfielders

Pervis Estupiñán - 6.5: A very mixed performance. He was desperately unlucky to see his powerful shot crash off the woodwork. However, he also picked up an early yellow card and was guilty of losing possession 17 times. An error that led to a shot also blemishes his copybook. So much energy but lacked a bit of composure.

Luka Modrić - 8.5: The undisputed man of the match. At an age where most have long since retired, he ran the show. His goal was a thing of beauty, a perfectly placed strike that decided the contest. Beyond the goal, he recovered the ball nine times, created two chances, and controlled the tempo of the game entirely. A vintage performance from the Croatian maestro.

Youssouf Fofana - 6.0: He put in a solid shift without ever grabbing the headlines. He created two chances and was tidy enough in possession. However, he also committed a couple of needless fouls. He did his job before being substituted in the 65th minute.

Alexis Saelemaekers - 7.0: A bundle of energy and creativity. He provided the assist for the chance that Estupiñán hit the post with. What stood out to us were his three key passes, constantly trying to unlock the Bologna defence. He worked hard, drew fouls, but the late yellow card was a silly one to pick up.

Forwards

Santiago Gimenez - 6.0: An incredibly frustrating night for the forward. How do you even rate this? He hit the woodwork twice and had two other shots on target saved. On another day he walks away with the match ball. But football is a game of fine margins, and his two big chances missed were costly. He was a menace but lacked the final touch.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek - 5.5: From our perspective, this was a night to forget for the attacker. He was a ghost for much of his 65 minutes on the pitch. He lost seven of his eight duels and was dispossessed too easily. He offered very little threat and his substitution was justified.

Substitutes

Koni De Winter (for Pavlović, 46') - 6.5: Came on at halftime and immediately looked more solid than the man he replaced. He was strong in the air and nearly scored with a header. A positive change that helped solidify the backline.

Pietro Terracciano (for Maignan, 56') - 6.0: Thrown into the action unexpectedly. He had virtually nothing to do as Bologna failed to register a shot on target after he came on. A clean sheet is a clean sheet.

Samuele Ricci (for Fofana, 65') - 6.5: Added a spark to the midfield. He was desperately unlucky not to score himself, rattling the post with a shot from distance. He looked keen to impress.

Christian Pulisic (for Loftus-Cheek, 65') - 7.0: A really bright cameo. He looked sharp and inventive, creating chances for both Ricci and Gimenez. His direct running caused problems and made you wonder if he should have started the game.

Christopher Nkunku (for Gimenez, 85') - N/A: Was only on the pitch for a few minutes but his quick feet won a penalty, which was then overturned by VAR. Still, a dangerous cameo.

Manager

M. Allegri - 7.0: He got the three points, which is the bottom line. His substitutions were effective, particularly bringing on Pulisic. However, his team was wasteful and relied on a moment of individual magic to win. He will demand more clinical finishing in the future.

Bologna Player Ratings vs Milan

Goalkeeper

Lukasz Skorupski - 7.0: Beaten by a moment of magic he could do nothing about. He made two important saves inside the box and commanded his area well, coming for crosses and punching clear three times. He was let down by his woodwork four times but can be pleased with his own performance. The late yellow card was likely for dissent.

Defenders

Torbjørn Heggem - 7.5: An outstanding defensive performance. He was Bologna's best player, in our opinion. He made a remarkable seven clearances and two last-man tackles, putting his body on the line. A colossal effort from the defender who did everything he could to keep Milan at bay.

Nadir Zortea - 6.5: A solid and determined performance at the back. He won seven of his ten duels and was a difficult opponent to get past. He tried to support the attack when he could. A disciplined and hard-working display.

Charalampos Lykogiannis - 5.0: A really tough evening for the defender. He struggled to cope with Milan's wide players and lost possession cheaply. He looked off the pace and was rightly substituted shortly after the goal. A performance he will want to forget quickly.

Jhon Lucumí - 6.5: He was busy all night making five tackles and six recoveries. However, he was also a little too rash. An error led to a shot and he also gave away the foul that led to the overturned penalty. A mixed bag of good defensive work and moments of panic.

Midfielders

Remo Freuler - 6.5: Kept things neat and tidy in the middle of the park. His 90% pass accuracy demonstrates his reliability in possession. He worked hard defensively but offered little creativity going forward. A steady, if unremarkable, performance.

Lewis Ferguson - 6.0: The captain led by example in terms of effort, covering a lot of ground and having 112 touches. However, he struggled to contain Milan's midfield, being dribbled past three times. He battled hard but was fighting a losing battle against the quality of Modrić.

Giovanni Fabbian - 6.0: He'll be disappointed not to have buried a good chance in the first half. He worked tirelessly and drew a few fouls to relieve pressure. However, he lacked the quality to make a decisive impact before being substituted.

Forwards

Riccardo Orsolini - 5.5: A very anonymous display from a player known for his attacking threat. He struggled to get involved, completing only five passes. We expected much more from him, but he was a peripheral figure throughout.

Santiago Castro - 5.5: A thankless task leading the line. He was physically dominated, losing most of his duels, and was left completely isolated. He worked hard off the ball but was starved of any real service.

Nicolò Cambiaghi - 7.0: Bologna's most dangerous player by a country mile. He was a constant thorn in Milan's side, drawing an incredible seven fouls. He never stopped running and trying to make something happen. A really spirited performance full of fight.

Substitutes

Juan Miranda (for Lykogiannis, 62') - 5.5: Came on and immediately got himself booked for a poor challenge. Didn't offer any more stability than the player he replaced.

Federico Bernardeschi (for Fabbian, 63') - 6.0: Tried to get on the ball but couldn't influence the game in any meaningful way.

Jens Odgaard (for Orsolini, 74') - N/A: Not on long enough to be rated.

Jonathan Rowe (for Cambiaghi, 74') - N/A: Brought on too late to make an impact.

Thijs Dallinga (for Castro, 83') - N/A: Barely had a kick of the ball.

Manager

V. Italiano - 6.0: His game plan almost worked. He set his team up to be compact and difficult to beat, and they frustrated Milan for over an hour. However, his side offered almost zero attacking threat. The substitutions failed to change the dynamic of the game.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match goes to Luka Modrić of AC Milan