Santiago Gimenez emerged as a pivotal figure for Milan, coming off the bench to score twice in a 3-1 victory over Bologna at San Siro.
This win not only keeps Milan's hopes for a top-four finish alive but also sets an exciting stage for the upcoming Coppa Italia final against Bologna on Wednesday.
The match began quietly, with Riccardo Orsolini breaking the deadlock just after halftime. He executed a swift team move by cutting in from the right and delivering a powerful low shot into the bottom corner, giving Bologna the lead. Milan responded with Theo Hernandez forcing a crucial save from Lukasz Skorupski with a swerving shot from outside the box.
Gimenez made his mark in the 73rd minute. He capitalised on Christian Pulisic's deflected cross, finding himself unmarked and calmly slotting the ball through Skorupski's legs. Pulisic then turned provider again six minutes later, seizing on Joao Felix's blocked attempt to put Milan ahead.
Mike Maignan played a vital role in securing Milan's lead with an impressive save in the 90th minute. He quickly reacted to Nicolo Cambiaghi's shot, diving to parry it away. Gimenez then sealed the victory with another goal during stoppage time, ensuring Milan's triumph.
This result propels Milan to eighth place in Serie A with 60 points, just three points behind fourth-placed Juventus. Juventus will face Lazio next, both teams currently holding 63 points. Meanwhile, Bologna's defeat drops them to seventh place with 62 points.
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Milan's Impressive Comeback Record
Milan has shown resilience this season, often turning games around from losing positions. They have gained 22 points from such situations, second only to Atletico Madrid among Europe's top leagues. This victory marks their third consecutive win in Serie A for the second time this season.
The Rossoneri are rediscovering their scoring prowess, netting seven goals in their last three league matches. Against Bologna, they outperformed their opponents in expected goals (xG), generating 1.64 compared to Bologna's 0.63.
As both teams prepare for their Coppa Italia final clash at Stadio Olimpico next week, this match served as an exciting preview of what's to come.
