With a lineup that was more like a reserve squad than an actual starting 11, Milan dropped points yet again in a 1-1 draw with Bologna. While the Rossoneri controlled the game from the outset, Pierre Kalulu’s early mistake resulted in his side dropping more points to a mid-table opponent.
Mike Maignan – 6
Once again, Maignan really did not have much to do as his side dominated possession and allowed Bologna few shots or scoring opportunities.
Malick Thiaw – 7
At centre-back, Thiaw was in solid form, distributing the ball well and winning aerial battles as needed. When Milan pushed forward, he frequently shifted to the left, taking on greater responsibility with an expanded defensive zone.
Pierre Kalulu – 5
Kalulu got off to a poor start, losing track of Nicola Sansone in the box just 30 thirty seconds into the match, resulting in a shocking opening goal. The defender improved as the match progressed, but the error ultimately cost Milan the game.
Alessandro Florenzi – 7.5
As Milan dominated possession, Florenzi was one of the few players actually creating chances for his side. The wing-back whipped in accurate crosses and was particularly impressive when taking set pieces. At one point, he forced Lukasz Skorupski into a brilliant save with a curling effort from outside the box.
Fode Ballo-Toure – 5
The defender played in Theo Hernandez’s style, pushing high up the pitch to attack while Tommaso Pobega dropped onto the backline. However, Ballo-Toure was clearly out of form, struggling to cross the ball accurately and drifting into other players’ attacking zones.
Tommaso Pobega – 8
Despite playing a reserved role for much of the match, Pobega came through for the Milan offense when no one else would. In the first half, the midfielder took a rebounded ball and fired a wicked long-range strike that glanced off the post and equalized for the Rossoneri.
Aster Vranckx – 6
Featuring for the first time since January, the 20-year-old played a functional, facilitative role in the central midfield. The Belgian made few errors, which, after playing sparingly this season, is certainly a plus.
Charles De Ketelaere – 4
CDK put in the effort to win the ball back when out of possession, but he otherwise failed to galvanize the offense in any way.
Alexis Saelemaekers – 6
Milan’s third Belgian in the starting lineup flashed occasionally, but his creativity was limited and certainly not at the level he has displayed over the past month.
Ante Rebic – 5.5
While Rebic saw a lot of the ball, he yet again struggled to do much with it. Bologna’s right-back, Stefan Posch, had little trouble dealing with the Croatian, though his interior movement did create space on the wing for Ballo-Toure.
Divock Origi – 6
Against Empoli, Origi was a non-factor, but his form subtly improved against the talented duo of Adama Soumaro and Jhon Lucumi. His finishing still needs improvement, but the striker impressed with both his distribution and his hold-up play.
This rotation already backfiring https://t.co/421nN8FOoC
— Matteo Bonetti (@Bonetti) April 15, 2023
Substitutes
Junior Messias – 5
Despite playing well over 30 minutes, Messias did little while replacing Saelemaekers.
Davide Calabria – 5
Another surprising substitution, Florenzi’s departure saw a significant decline in the quality of Milan’s crossing.