Coppa Italia Final: Milan – Bologna

After beating Bologna 3-1 in week 36 action last weekend Milan meet the same team for a chance at a sixth Coppa Italia title. The game at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome presents a chance at a second trophy this season for Conceicao and Milan. Winning the Supercoppa Italiana very early on at his time at Milan had, many hoped, set the tone for the second half of the season under a new manager but it didn’t turn out that way. Inconsistency, mediocre play, continued rotation that was never fully logical all have played a part in Milan only barely clinging to eighth spot as the Serie A season is winding down.

Winning the Coppa allows the team to compete in next season’s Europa League. The recent switch to a 3-4-3 has Milan becoming stingier in goals allowed and the rossoneri to pile on the wins. The form has led the team to be in a position where UEFA Champions League qualification is still mathematically possible but the chances are remote at best with the team needing to win the final two games of the Serie A season and all of Juventus, Lazio, Roma and Bologna losing.

As is expected the starting 11 for the Coppa will be mostly predictable. The back three is likely to remain Tomori, Gabbia and Pavlovic with Maignan in goal. Jimenez, Reijnders, Fofana and Theo should be in the middle with Leao, back from yellow cards suspension on the weekend, Pulisic and Jovic up front. Some questions may exist regarding Jovic or Gimenez as starter. The latter is finding form with three goals scored.

Bologna, now winless in three, will ty to do better than the weekend. Follow the match and more on the forums.